Festive Bourbon Apple Cider Cake Recipe
If you’re searching for a dessert that captures the coziness of autumn in every bite, the Festive Bourbon Apple Cider Cake is your undeniable answer. With layers of spiced apple cake, creamy bourbon-kissed frosting, and the irresistible fragrance of apple cider and warm spices, this showstopper lights up any table. Each element blends classic comfort with a touch of spirited festivity, making every occasion extra special.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Gathering the ingredients for Festive Bourbon Apple Cider Cake is refreshingly simple, but each item is essential for big flavor. The recipe layers luscious apple notes, velvety dairy, and bold spice—every component has a role in creating a cake that tastes as stunning as it looks.
- Apple Cider: Reducing the cider intensifies its flavor, infusing the cake with a deep, apple-forward sweetness.
- All-purpose Flour: The backbone of the cake, providing structure so every slice stands tall and fluffy.
- Baking Powder: Ensures a beautifully risen cake with a tender crumb.
- Salt: Balances sweetness and sharpens the spices.
- Unsalted Butter (8 oz, two sticks): Adds luxurious richness, making the cake moist and flavorful.
- Sugar: Sweetens the cake and helps it caramelize to golden perfection.
- Large Eggs: Provide structure and richness, ensuring a velvety texture.
- Whole Milk: Offers moisture and creaminess, transforming the batter into a smooth dream.
- Vanilla Extract: A subtle note of warmth that ties together the apple and spice flavors.
- Ground Cinnamon: Delivers coziness and autumnal depth in every bite.
- Ground Clove: Intensifies the spice profile for a pleasing complexity.
- Ground Nutmeg: Brings a gentle nuttiness and warmth to the mix.
- Allspice: A secret weapon for rich, rounded spice undertones.
- Honeycrisp Apples (peeled, cored, pureed): Add natural sweetness and a fresh apple punch.
- Cream Cheese (8 oz): Essential for frosting that’s luxuriously tangy and creamy.
- Butter (1 stick for icing): Adds silkiness and balances tang in the frosting.
- Powdered Sugar: Brings sweetness and structure to the creamy icing.
- Bourbon: The star of the frosting, lending gentle warmth and a festive note.
- Vanilla (for icing): Enhances the richness of the frosting with deeper flavor.
- Honey, Caramel, or Dulce de Leche: A final drizzle for shine, sweetness, and irresistible presentation.
How to Make Festive Bourbon Apple Cider Cake
Step 1: Reduce the Apple Cider
Begin with the apple cider—pour two cups into a saucepan and gently heat it over medium, letting it bubble down to just one cup. This concentrates the fresh, tangy apple flavor, transforming it into a seriously punchy syrup that infuses the cake layers with autumn magic.
Step 2: Prep the Pans and Ingredients
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and grease three 9-inch cake pans. A little bit of prep helps the cakes release beautifully, so parchment paper circles are your best friend here. Gather and measure all your ingredients so every step flows smoothly.
Step 3: Combine Dry Ingredients
Whisk the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and allspice together in a roomy bowl. This mix is the flavor foundation for the Festive Bourbon Apple Cider Cake—make sure they’re evenly distributed so every part of the cake sings with spice.
Step 4: Cream Butter and Sugar
Add your butter and sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer and let them dance together until light and fluffy. This step introduces air, ensuring the cake turns out pillow-soft and melt-in-your-mouth tender.
Step 5: Add the Eggs
Crack in the eggs one at a time, mixing completely before you add the next. This technique keeps the batter uniform and helps the eggs blend for that signature richness in the batter.
Step 6: Alternate Wet and Dry Ingredients
Mix the milk and vanilla. On low speed, alternately add a third of the flour mixture followed by a third of the milk mixture, repeating until everything is incorporated. This ensures a silky, lump-free batter that bakes up beautifully.
Step 7: Incorporate Apples and Reduced Cider
Fold in the pureed apples and reduced apple cider. You’ll see the batter become creamy and fragrant—this is where the Festive Bourbon Apple Cider Cake gets its unmistakable apple-forward flavor.
Step 8: Bake the Cakes
Divide the batter evenly between the three prepared pans and slide them into the oven. Bake for around 25 minutes, or until the tops are just turning golden and a toothpick comes out clean. Your kitchen will be filled with the scent of spices and caramelized apple!
Step 9: Make the Bourbon Cream Cheese Frosting
In a stand mixer, whip together the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, one cup at a time. Finish with vanilla and bourbon, mixing until your frosting is cloud-like, luscious, and infused with that festive bourbon note.
Step 10: Frost, Glaze, and Serve
Frost the cooled cakes generously, then finish with a drizzling of honey, caramel, or dulce de leche for glossy elegance. The crowning touch makes the Festive Bourbon Apple Cider Cake a centerpiece worthy of any celebration.
How to Serve Festive Bourbon Apple Cider Cake
Garnishes
For a picture-perfect finish, try topping your cake with thin apple slices, pecan halves, or a sprinkle of cinnamon. A drizzle of even more caramel or honey around the edge adds drama and intensifies the flavors.
Side Dishes
This cake pairs perfectly with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, a dollop of softly whipped cream, or even a mug of hot apple cider. Each accent enhances the sweet, spiced notes and makes every bite even more celebratory.
Creative Ways to Present
Transform your Festive Bourbon Apple Cider Cake into a true showstopper by serving it on a vintage cake stand or layering the slices in individual trifle glasses with extra cream. For a cozy brunch, serve thick slices with a pour of warm cider or a shot of bourbon on the side.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
To keep your cake moist and flavorful, store any leftover slices in an airtight container in the fridge. The flavors only deepen with time, so this is one dessert that’s just as good the next day (if not better)!
Freezing
You can freeze cake layers (unfrosted) wrapped tightly in plastic and foil. The frosting can also be frozen separately—just give it a good whip after thawing to bring back its creamy texture. For best results, thaw overnight in the refrigerator before assembling.
Reheating
Enjoy the Festive Bourbon Apple Cider Cake cold, or let slices sit at room temperature for 20–30 minutes to bring out the flavors. If you’d like to enjoy it warm, give each slice a quick 10-second zap in the microwave—just enough to soften the frosting and bring back fresh-from-the-oven vibes.
FAQs
Can I make Festive Bourbon Apple Cider Cake without alcohol?
Absolutely! Simply swap the bourbon in the frosting for extra vanilla or apple cider. You’ll still have all that rich, spiced flavor without the spirited kick.
Do I have to use Honeycrisp apples?
Honeycrisp apples offer natural sweetness and a lovely texture, but you can substitute with another firm, sweet apple like Fuji or Gala if desired. Avoid mealy varieties like Red Delicious for the best results.
What’s the best way to puree the apples?
After peeling and coring, chop the apples and process them in a blender or food processor until smooth. If you don’t have either, a box grater followed by a quick mash with a fork will also do the trick.
Can I bake the cake as cupcakes instead?
Yes, you can! Simply divide the batter between lined muffin tins and bake at the same temperature, checking for doneness around 18–20 minutes. Pipe the frosting high for a festive touch.
How do I prevent the cake from sticking to the pan?
Grease your pans thoroughly and line the bottoms with parchment paper for extra security. Let the cakes cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before turning out gently onto a rack to finish cooling.
Final Thoughts
I can’t wait for you to taste the magic of this Festive Bourbon Apple Cider Cake! Whether you’re baking for a holiday, a birthday, or just because, this recipe promises layers of flavor, cozy nostalgia, and plenty of smiles. Gather your friends, pour an extra splash of cider, and savor every bite—you deserve it!
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Festive Bourbon Apple Cider Cake Recipe
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Yield: 1 3-layer cake
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Indulge in the rich flavors of fall with this Festive Bourbon Apple Cider Cake. Moist layers of spiced apple cake are sandwiched between a luscious cream cheese bourbon frosting, topped with a sweet glaze for the ultimate autumn dessert.
Ingredients
Cake:
- 2 cups apple cider
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 8 oz unsalted butter (2 sticks)
- 2 1/4 cups sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground clove
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 1/2 tsp allspice
- 2 Honey Crisp apples, peeled, cored, and pureed
Cream Cheese Bourbon Frosting:
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 1 stick butter
- 5 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup + 3 tsp bourbon
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Glaze:
- 4-5 tbsp honey, caramel, or dulce de leche
Instructions
- Cake: Heat apple cider in a saucepan until reduced by half. Preheat oven to 350°F and grease 3 cake pans.
- Whisk flour, salt, spices, and baking powder in a bowl.
- Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time.
- Mix milk and vanilla, then alternate adding flour and milk to the butter mixture. Fold in apples and reduced cider.
- Divide batter into pans and bake for 25 minutes.
- Frosting: Beat cream cheese and butter in a mixer. Gradually add powdered sugar, then mix in bourbon and vanilla.
- Frost the cake and drizzle with honey, caramel, or dulce de leche.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 35g
- Sodium: 280mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 68g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
Keywords: Bourbon, Apple Cider, Cake, Fall Dessert, Cream Cheese Frosting
