This apple cider coffee cake taste just like an apple cider donut from a farm! It has a soft apple cider cake, apple cider cream cheese layer, cinnamon crumb topping, and an apple cider icing on top.

Apple cider coffee cake side view on a wood board.

This apple cider coffee cake is such a great snack cake for the fall. The term coffee cake means that it can be enjoyed with coffee and not that there is extra coffee cake in it!
I wanted to make an apple cider version of my pumpkin coffee cake that has a cream cheese layer in the middle. Except I added apple cider to the cheesecake! The apple cider cake is made with reduced apple cider so it has a stronger apple cider flavor.

One piece of cake on it's side.

Tips for making the cake

Here are my tips, so yours turns out like this recipe!

  • Tip 1: The apple cider is reduced to have a stronger apple cider flavor. We cook off some of the water, so that flavor comes off stronger in the cake.
  • Tip 2: Make sure to scoop the flour into your measuring cup using a spoon. If you press the measuring cup into the flour it can compact it. Compacted flour can lead to a dry cake.
  • Tip 3: The cream cheese needs to be room temperature before use to make sure it mixes well. Cold cream cheese can cause lumps and make it difficult to fully incorporate it with the other ingredients.

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Cake batter in a bowl.
This cake batter is a bit runnier because of the apple cider, but it bakes well!
Cake batter in the pan.
Spread the apple cider cake batter in the pan.
Cream cheese layer dolloped on top of cake batter.
Use a small cookie scoop to dollop the cream cheese layer evenly. Go more quickly so it doesn’t sink into the batter.
Crumb topping on top of cake batter.
Break any of the big chunks with your hands before sprinkling this on.
Stack of two apple cider coffee cake slices.

For more apple cider recipes, try my apple cider donut cake and apple cider muffins.

One piece of cake on a plate.

Make sure to leave a star review if you loved this recipe! Make sure to tag me on Instagram @stephaniesweettreats. To get more ideas follow me on Pinterest.

Apple cider coffee cake side view on a wood board.
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Apple Cider Coffee Cake

Stephanie Rutherford
This apple cider coffee cake tastes like apple cider donuts from the farm. There is a soft apple cider cake, apple cider cream cheese layer, cinnamon crumb topping, and apple cider icing.
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Prep Time: 40 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Chilling Time: 3 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 25 minutes
Servings: 16 slices

Ingredients
 
 

Cinnamon Crumb Topping

  • 3/4 cup All-purpose flour
  • 2/3 cup Light brown sugar, packed
  • 1 tsp Ground cinnamon
  • 1/3 cup Unsalted butter, melted

Apple Cider Cake

  • 1 cup Apple cider
  • 1 3/4 cup All-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp Baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp Baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 1 TBSP Cornstarch
  • 2 tsp Ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp Ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 cup Oil, canola or vegetable
  • 1 cup Light brown sugar, packed
  • 1 tsp Pure vanilla extract
  • 2 Large eggs, room temperature
  • 1/3 cup Unsweetened apple sauce

Apple Cider Cream Cheese Layer

  • 12 oz Cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1/4 cup White granulated sugar
  • 1 TBSP All-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp Pure vanilla extract
  • 1 TBSP Apple cider
  • 1 Large egg, room temperature

Apple Cider Icing

  • 1 cup Powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1/2 TBSP Milk
  • 1 TBSP Apple cider
  • 1 tsp Pure vanilla extract

Instructions
 

Cinnamon Crumb Topping

  • In a small bowl, mix the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter using a fork. Place the bowl in the fridge to set.
    3/4 cup All-purpose flour, 2/3 cup Light brown sugar, 1 tsp Ground cinnamon, 1/3 cup Unsalted butter

Apple Cider Cake

  • In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, heat the apple cider to a simmer. Heat until it reduces in half to 1/2 cup. Place in the freezer while you make the batter.
    1 cup Apple cider
  • Preheat the oven to 350℉. Spray a 9X9-inch square baking pan with baking nonstick spray. Line the bottom and all 4 sides with parchment paper. Spray again.
  • In a medium bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cornstarch, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Set aside.
    1 3/4 cup All-purpose flour, 1 tsp Baking powder, 1/4 tsp Baking soda, 1/2 tsp Salt, 1 TBSP Cornstarch, 2 tsp Ground cinnamon, 1/4 tsp Ground nutmeg
  • In a large bowl, mix the apple cider, oil, brown sugar, vanilla, eggs, and apple sauce using a whisk.
    1/2 cup Oil, 1 cup Light brown sugar, 1 tsp Pure vanilla extract, 2 Large eggs, 1/3 cup Unsweetened apple sauce
  • Add in the flour mixture and mix using a rubber spatula. Set aside while you make the cream cheese layer.

Apple Cider Cream Cheese Layer

  • In a small bowl using a hand mixer, beat the cream cheese and sugar on high speed for 2 minutes.
    12 oz Cream cheese, 1/4 cup White granulated sugar
  • Add in the flour, vanilla, and apple cider. Mix on medium speed until smooth. Add in the egg and mix on low speed until just combined.
    1 TBSP All-purpose flour, 1 tsp Pure vanilla extract, 1 TBSP Apple cider, 1 Large egg

Assembly and Baking

  • Spread the apple cider cake batter in the prepared pan. Use a cookie scoop to scoop dollops of cream cheese evenly on top of the cake batter. Use an offset icing spatula to spread the cream cheese evenly.
  • Bring the crumble out of fridge and use your hands to crumble any large chunks. Sprinkle the crumble on top of the cream cheese layer.
  • Bake for 45-50 minutes. Bake until a toothpick inserted comes out with just the cream cheese mixture. If any apple cider batter is on the toothpick, bake for another 3-4 minutes.
  • Let the cake sit in the hot pan for 30 minutes. Then, transfer the cake to a cooling rack. Cool the cake completely before decorating.

Apple Cider Icing

  • In a small bowl whisk together sifted powdered sugar, milk, apple cider, and vanilla.
    1 cup Powdered sugar, 1/2 TBSP Milk, 1 TBSP Apple cider, 1 tsp Pure vanilla extract
  • Drizzle the icing on top of the cake.
  • Place the cake covered in the fridge for at least 3 hours to cool the cream cheese layer down.

Notes

Flour- Make sure flour is spooned and leveled or use a kitchen scale. Compacted flour can dry out the cake.
High altitude baking- Add an extra 1 TBSP of flour.
Pull out dairy ingredients 2 hours before baking.
Calories: 357kcal, Carbohydrates: 53g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 18g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 7g, Trans Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 32mg, Sodium: 192mg, Potassium: 105mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 28g, Vitamin A: 407IU, Vitamin C: 0.2mg, Calcium: 65mg, Iron: 1mg
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