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Apple Cider Pudding Cake is a soft & fluffy apple spiced cake that creates it's own apple cider caramel syrup as it bakes! Topped with a brown sugar streusel for crunch and then served with vanilla ice cream.

APPLE CIDER PUDDING CAKE

This apple cider pudding cake was one of the very first recipes I posted to this site! It has been in desperate need of a makeover. To say this is my very favorite apple dessert would be an understatement. 

It’s a homemade apple cake that gets a boiled mixture of apple cider poured over the top and then as it’s baking it creates it’s own caramel apple cider syrup. 

You get so many amazing textures with the soft, spongey apple spiced cake and the sweet apple cider caramel syrup. Top it with a brown sugar streusel for some crunch and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. You will fall in love

I always buy a big jug of apple cider in the Fall. So if you have extras like I always do then be sure and make my apple cider muffins and apple cider beef stew to go along with this cake. 

Apple Cider Pudding Cake is a soft & fluffy apple spiced cake that creates it's own apple cider caramel syrup as it bakes! Topped with a brown sugar streusel for crunch and then served with vanilla ice cream.

HOW TO MAKE APPLE CIDER PUDDING CAKE

  • Apple Spiced Cake

    • Mix up the dry ingredients in a large bowl. In a separate smaller bowl combine the wet ingredients and then pour into the flour mixture. Stir together. Chop and peel 2 large apples into really small pieces and gently stir them into the batter. Spread the cake batter into the prepared pan. 
  • Apple Cider Syrup

    • In a saucepan, over medium-high heat, combine the apple cider, brown sugar, vanilla extract, and cinnamon. Bring to boil. Once boiling take it off the heat and immediately pour it over the apple cake. DO NOT stir. Just pour it over the cake and leave it. Trust me. 
  • Brown Sugar Streusel

    • Simple mixture of flour, brown sugar, and cold butter. Use your clean hands/fingers, a fork, or a pastry cutter to mix it into crumbs. I find using my hands is the easiest way. 

Apple Cider Pudding Cake is a soft & fluffy apple spiced cake that creates it's own apple cider caramel syrup as it bakes! Topped with a brown sugar streusel for crunch and then served with vanilla ice cream.

MY TIPS & HELPFUL HINTS FOR THIS RECIPE

  1. It’s best to use a sweet & tangy apple like Golden Delicious, Gala, or Fuji. Traditionally Granny Smith Apples are used in apple desserts, but I have found that they are too tart and not sweet enough for this apple cider pudding cake. 
  2. Be sure and chop the apples really small! If you prefer larger, not soft chunks of apple then keep the pieces larger. But for best taste and texture chop the apples small. About the size of black beans but maybe slightly larger. 
  3. As tempting as it may be do not stir the boiling water into the cake. As it bakes, the boiled apple cider mixture goes to the bottom of the cake and creates a sweet caramel apple cider syrup. It’s perfection with the soft, fluffy apple spiced cake texture. 

Apple Cider Pudding Cake is a soft & fluffy apple spiced cake that creates it's own apple cider caramel syrup as it bakes! Topped with a brown sugar streusel for crunch and then served with vanilla ice cream.

Apple Cider Pudding Cake is a soft & fluffy apple spiced cake that creates it's own apple cider caramel syrup as it bakes! Topped with a brown sugar streusel for crunch and then served with vanilla ice cream.
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Apple Cider Pudding Cake


Author Jessica
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 6 people
Apple Cider Pudding Cake is a soft & fluffy apple spiced cake that creates it's own apple cider caramel syrup as it bakes! Topped with a brown sugar streusel for crunch and then served with vanilla ice cream.

Ingredients
  

Apple Cake

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons butter melted
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/3 cup milk I use whole milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups peeled & chopped apples about 2 large apples

Apple Cider Syrup

  • 1 cup apple cider
  • 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Brown Sugar Streusel

  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons cold butter chopped small

Instructions

  • Heat oven to 350°. Prepare an 8x8-inch baking dish and spray with cooking spray. Set aside.
  • In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt. Stir with a wire whisk to break up any clumps.
  • In a larger mixing bowl, combine the melted butter, brown sugar, egg, milk, and vanilla extract. Stir with the wire whisk until combined.
  • Add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and stir together with a wooden spoon or spatula. Add the chopped apples and mix together.
  • Evenly spread the cake batter into the prepared baking dish.
  • MAKE THE APPLE CIDER SYRUP : In a saucepan, over medium high heat, combine the apple cider, brown sugar, vanilla extract, and cinnamon. Stir with a whisk to combine. Bring to a boil. Once boiling, take it off the heat and gently pour it over the cake batter in the baking dish. DO NOT stir it into the cake. Just pour it over top and let it be.
  • Bake for 25-30 minutes.
    * Cake should look puffy on the edges but it does not have to be entirely cooked as it will cook 10 more minutes after the streusel.
  • While the cake is baking make the BROWN SUGAR STREUSEL : Combine all ingredients into a small bowl and use your hands/fingers, a fork, or a pastry cutter to mix it together until coarse, moist crumbs form.
  • After the bake time take the cake out of the oven and sprinkle the streusel over top. Put it back in the oven to bake for 10 more minutes.
    * A toothpick inserted into the top portion of the cake should come out clean. Beneath the cake will be the apple cider caramel so it will come out wet if you stick the toothpick all the way to the bottom of the pan. Just test the top cake portion for doneness.
  • Serve the cake warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and caramel drizzle if wanted.

Notes

Apples : It's best to use a sweet & tangy apple like Golden Delicious, Gala, or Fuji apples. I have found that Granny Smith apples are too tart and not sweet enough. But use what you prefer. Cut the apples really small so they will soften in the bake time. If you prefer crunchier apples then cut them a bit larger. 
Apple Cider : Please use it! You may be tempted to just substitute with apple juice but don't do it. It's so much better with the apple cider. 
 

Nutrition

Calories: 473kcal | Carbohydrates: 95g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 52mg | Sodium: 249mg | Potassium: 356mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 71g | Vitamin A: 323IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 143mg | Iron: 2mg

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