Make this warm, delicious Apple Bundt Cake recipe to celebrate fall! This easy cake is filled with fresh apples, a healthy dose of cinnamon, and rich brown sugar, then finished with a sweet cinnamon sugar topping. Everyone will love the simple flavor of this seasonal dessert!
This post may include affiliate links that earn us a small commission from your purchases at no extra cost to you.
What’s in this Apple Bundt Cake Recipe?
This moist, rich bundt cake is studded with apples and topped with cinnamon sugar!
- Vegetable Oil: Makes this cake moist and tender.
- Sugar: A combination of brown and granulated sugar sweetens the cake, while turbinado sugar creates a crunchy topping.
- Eggs: Give the cake structure and add richness.
- Sour Cream: Infuses the cake with lots of moisture!
- Vanilla Extract: Adds a subtle vanilla flavor that enhances the sweetness of the cake.
- All-Purpose Flour: Gives this cake structure.
- Baking Soda: Helps the cake rise in the oven.
- Kosher Salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the cake and balances the sweetness.
- Cinnamon: Adds a warm, spicy flavor to the cake and the topping.
- Apples: I used Granny Smith apples, but you can use any firm apples you like!
- Unsalted Butter: Helps the topping stick to the cake.
Pro Tip: Try browning the butter for the topping for even more flavor!
Variations on Apple Cinnamon Bundt Cake
You can use any firm apple in this bundt cake recipe, or try swapping out the apples for pears or peaches! For even more autumnal flavor, swap out the cinnamon for pie spice.
I recommend firm-tart apples, like Granny Smith, Northern Spy, or Pink Pearl; or firm-sweet apples, like Ginger Gold, Golden Delicious, Jonagold, and Pink Lady.
A bundt cake is baked in a special bundt pan with a hole in the middle that allows for better airflow in the oven. This causes the cake to bake up thick and moist!
Bundt batter needs to be extra moist to compensate for the additional heat that is touching more of the cake, so that is why they tend to be much more moist and dense than a traditional cake.
Yes, bundt cake usually take quite a bit longer to bake than regular cake layers.
For this recipe, I recommend waiting an hour for the cake to cool before unmolding it. This is due to the additional moisture from the apples that could make the cake stick to the pan if you try to turn it out while it is still hot.
You sure can! I love the cinnamon-sugar topping, but if you’re looking for something a bit sweeter, try icing this cake with vanilla frosting or a simple icing made from powdered sugar and milk!
How to Store
Store leftover apple bundt cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Let come to room temperature before enjoying.
How to Freeze
Freeze this fruity apple bundt cake whole, or cut into individual slices, tightly wrapped in 2 layers of plastic wrap and 1 layer of aluminum foil for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before enjoying.
Serving Suggestions
This bundt cake is one of my favorite apple recipes for fall. Serve slices with a side pumpkin spice ice cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce. Some whipped cream or pumpkin spice whipped cream would also be delish!
For a beverage, try apple cider mimosas, or an apple crisp macchiato.
Apple Bundt Cake Recipe
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- 12-cup Bundt Pan
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 1¼ cups vegetable oil 250 grams
- 1 cup brown sugar 213 grams
- 1 cup granulated sugar 200 grams
- 3 large eggs 150 grams, room temperature
- ½ cup sour cream 114 grams
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 8 grams
- 3 cups all-purpose flour 360 grams
- 1½ teaspoons baking soda 9 grams
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 3 grams
- 3 cups chopped apples 339 grams (from about 2½ apples)
For the Cinnamon Sugar
- ¼ cup turbinado sugar 45 grams
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 6 grams
- ¼ cup unsalted butter 57 grams, melted (½ stick)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°F. Prep a bundt pan with nonstick spray.
- In a large bowl, whisk the vegetable oil, brown sugar, granulated sugar, eggs, sour cream, and vanilla.1¼ cups vegetable oil, 1 cup brown sugar, 1 cup granulated sugar, 3 large eggs, ½ cup sour cream, 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet and stir until mostly combined with a few streaks of flour.3 cups all-purpose flour, 1½ teaspoons baking soda, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Fold in the apples until they are evenly distributed.3 cups chopped apples
- Pour into the prepared bundt pan and bake for 55-70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
- Let the cake cool in the pan on a wire rack for 1 hour. Invert the cake onto your serving platter.
- In a small bowl, stir together the turbinado sugar and cinnamon.¼ cup turbinado sugar, 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- Brush the cake with the melted butter and sprinkle over the cinnamon sugar. Serve and enjoy.¼ cup unsalted butter
Video
Becky’s Tips
- You can substitute plain yogurt for the sour cream.
- Measure the flour using the spoon-and-level method to avoid a dense, dry cake.
- Try using a variety of 2-3 different apples to improve the flavor of this cake!
- Take care not to overmix the batter once the apples are added; otherwise, the cake could turn out gummy.
- Try browning the butter to make the topping even richer.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you make this? Leave a comment!
