Apple Cider Doughnut Cake Recipe

My repertoire of yummy desserts is long, so it isn't alwayseasy choosing what to bake. But, this delicious Apple-Cider Doughnut Bundt Cake always makes it to the list, for a variety of reasons:

• It’s a versatile treat, equally suited to the breakfast table as it is to a dessert buffet with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
• Fresh Nutmeg
• Very easy to make
• More Fresh Nutmeg
• This delicious cake freezes well

I’m convinced that is the nutmeg that gives apple cider donuts their unique and popular taste. This Apple Cider Donut Cake benefits from nutmeg both in the batter and in the cinnamon-sugar coating.

Apple Cider vs Apple Juice

One note, this is an Apple CIDER Doughnut Cake, not an Apple JUICE Doughnut Cake for a reason. If you have a glass of fresh apple cider next to a glass of apple juice, you’ll notice some obvious differences. As fresh cider still has the pulp and sediment, it is typically cloudier and maybe darker than the juice. Essentially apple juice is apple cider that has been pasteurized, which changes the color, flavor, and texture. The color of the juice is transparent and the flavor is sweeter, while the cider has an earthy, deep, and complex flavor, with both sweet and tart notes.

All that being said, if you are all set to make the cake but can’t find cider, then, by all means, get the juice. Look for the cloudiest juice on the shelf. And consider reducing the juice down a bit to deepen the apple flavor (I’d take 2 cups of juice, put it in a medium saucepan and reduce it down to 1 cup)

Fresh Nutmeg or Ground Nutmeg in this Apple Cider Dougnut Cake?

And, one last thing before we get to the recipe…have you discovered fresh nutmeg? I’m telling you, once you try fresh nutmeg, you are hooked. I have the nutmeg grater that belonged to my Grandma and exclusively grate my nutmeg now.

Fresh nutmeg is more flavorful and aromatic than the ground nutmeg you would purchase in the grocery store. Nutmeg gets its flavor and aroma from volatile oils that evaporate quickly after grinding. Because the oils evaporate quickly, it is best that you use ground nutmeg right away to ensure that you get as much of the flavor as possible. Ground nutmeg is likely to have lost much of its oil content and therefore much of its flavor.

With 10-12 nutmeg pods costing less than $5.00 and a nutmeg grater costing less than $4.00, you owe it to yourself to buy yourself an early, pre-baking, Christmas present. You will thank me!