First Step: Preheat and Prepare Your Pan Start by preheating your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. This lower temperature helps bake the cake evenly without burning the edges, perfect for a moist apple cider bundt cake. Grease a 12-cup bundt pan with non-stick spray and dust it with flour, then set it aside. For vegan adaptations, use a plant-based spray to keep things simple.

Second Step: Mix the Dry Ingredients In a medium bowl, whisk together 3 cups all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 1/2 tablespoons baking powder. This step ensures even distribution of flavors and leavening, which is key for a fluffy spiced apple cider bundt cake. If you’re going gluten-free, use a gluten-free flour blend here and mix a bit longer to incorporate air, as it might affect the batter’s texture.

Third Step: Combine the Wet Ingredients In a large bowl, mix 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar, 1/2 cup brown sugar, and 1 cup vegetable oil on medium speed until well combined. Add 3 eggs one at a time, mixing for about two minutes after each addition to build a smooth base. For low-calorie versions, substitute one egg with extra applesauce to cut calories while maintaining moisture in your apple cider cake. Stir in 1 cup unsweetened applesauce and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract until everything blends nicely.

Fourth Step: Alternate Adding Ingredients With your mixer on low speed, alternate adding one-third of the dry mixture with half of the 1 cup apple cider juice, ending with the dry ingredients. Mix just until no streaks remain; the batter will be slightly thin, which is normal for this autumn apple cider cake recipe. If adapting for vegan needs, use a flax egg mixture for binding, and note that you might need to adjust mixing time slightly for the right consistency in your cider-infused bundt.

Fifth Step: Bake the Cake Pour the batter into your prepared bundt pan and smooth the top. Bake for approximately 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out with a few moist crumbs. The baking time might vary if you’re using a different pan size, so keep an eye on it for low-calorie versions, the cake could bake a bit faster due to less oil. This step ensures your spiced apple bundt cake is perfectly done without overcooking.

Sixth Step: Cool and Coat Let the cake cool in the pan for at least one hour to prevent it from breaking when you turn it out. Once cooled, brush it with 1/4 cup melted unsalted butter. For dietary tweaks, use vegan butter here. Combine 1/4 cup granulated sugar and 2 teaspoons cinnamon, then sprinkle it over the cake, patting gently to help it stick. For a gluten-free version, this coating works well as is, adding that final touch to some like apple cider bundt cake.