This easy Apple Bundt Cake was made for fall baking! A moist apple cake topped with an irresistible brown butter vanilla bean glaze. You’ll love how much apple flavor is stuffed into this dessert!
Looking for more apple dessert ideas? Try this simple Apple Crisp recipe!
Easy Apple Cake with Vanilla Glaze
This easy apple cake is everything I love about fall baking. Fresh apple flavor is pushed to the limits thanks to shredded apples, apple cider, and applesauce in the cake batter. Add a beautiful combination of warm spices to all that apple goodness, and you have coziness in every bite of this Apple Bundt Cake.
To make this cake even more autumn-magical, a brown butter vanilla bean glaze compliments the apple cake with just the perfect amount of sweetness. The glaze is thick and silky smooth, with a deep almost caramel-like flavor from the browned butter.
This apple cake makes your home smell like heaven. You are going to love this simple cake!
What is the Point of a Bundt Pan?
One of the questions I often get is: Why use a Bundt cake pan? Why not just use a regular loaf or springform pan?
The defining characteristic of a Bundt cake is a tube (called a “chimney”) down the center, as well as grooved sides. (Sometimes these sides will have a fancy design as well.) The shape allows more of the cake batter to come into contact with the edges of the pan, which results in a crisp cake edge with a moist interior. So that’s the point of a Bundt pan: It reduces the cake batter-to-pan ratio so that you get a perfectly baked, tender cake.
And I’ll also add another great point, from an eater’s point of view. Bundt cakes are pretty!!
Recipe Ingredients
You won’t need anything complicated to make this cake. Here’s a quick run down – be sure to scroll down to the recipe card for specific amounts.
FOR THE APPLE BUNDT CAKE:
- Unsalted butter
- Apples – I recommend Haralson, Honeycrisp, or Granny Smith apples, or a combination of them. You want crisp, tart apples that hold up well when baked.
- Lemon juice – This helps prevent the apples from browning and also adds a little brightness to the flavor.
- White sugar
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Spices: Cinnamon, mace & nutmeg.
- Kosher salt
- Brown sugar
- Vegetable oil
- Unsweetened applesauce – You could also use homemade applesauce!
- Eggs
- Apple cider – I love using fresh pressed apple cider in my fall baking!
- Vanilla extract – Please only use pure vanilla extract (not imitation vanilla extract).
FOR THE BROWN BUTTER VANILLA BEAN GLAZE:
- Half and half – This adds creaminess to the glaze.
- Powdered sugar – Make sure you sift it before using it, to avoid lumps.
- Vanilla bean seeds – I like to use the scraped inside of a vanilla bean for the glaze instead of an extract alone. It gives the glaze incredible vanilla flavor, plus makes it extra pretty!
- Unsalted butter
- Vanilla extract – Same as in the cake, only pure vanilla extract please!
How to Make Apple Bundt Cake with Vanilla Glaze
Let’s make this cake! Even though it looks all fancy schmancy, it’s super easy to make. Here’s how:
Make the Apple Cake
Prep your tools. Preheat oven to 350° F. Prepare a 12-cup Bundt pan by schmearing butter over every little nook and cranny of its interior. Add some flour and tilt the pan so flour sticks to all of the buttery surface. Set pan aside.
Prep the apples. In a medium bowl, stir the shredded apple with lemon juice and 1/3 cup of the white sugar. Set aside.
Mix dry ingredients. In another medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, mace, nutmeg, and salt. Set aside.
Combine wet ingredients. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the remaining 1 cup white sugar, brown sugar, oil, applesauce, eggs, apple cider, and vanilla. Mix to combine.
Add dry ingredients and apples. Then add the flour mixture and mix once again. Add the apples and mix on medium-low speed until the apples are evenly distributed.
Bake. Pour batter into prepared Bundt pan and bake for 1 hour, or until a toothpick comes out of the cake clean.
Cool & invert. Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then invert it onto a serving platter.
Make the Glaze & Add to the Cake
If you are going to top the cake with the glaze, start making the glaze immediately, while the cake is still warm!
Measure half and half. First, pour 3 tablespoons of half-and-half into a small bowl and set aside. This is just to take the chill off while you prepare the rest of the glaze.
Mix sugar and vanilla bean seeds. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the sifted (don’t skip the sifting!) powdered sugar and vanilla bean seeds. Set aside.
Melt the butter. In a large saucepan over medium-low heat, warm the butter until golden brown. It should smell delicious and toasty!
Make the glaze. Pour browned butter into the powdered sugar and vanilla bean seeds, leaving any overly darkened butter sediment behind. Add 2 tablespoons of the half and half, then add the vanilla. Stir vigorously until smooth.
Pour the glaze over the cake while both the glaze and cake are still warm. The glaze cools quickly, so don’t delay!
Let the glaze set. Then slice your cake and enjoy! The cake fares well on the counter for a few days, covered with a cake dome.
Tips for Success
Here are a few simple tips to keep in mind:
- Add the glaze while the cake is still warm (but not hot). This will help you get that beautiful drizzle down the sides of the cake. The glaze will set fairly quickly so be sure to add it before the cake has cooled to room temperature.
- Don’t over mix. After you add the dry ingredients and apple, only mix the batter until the apples are well incorporated and no visible bits of dry batter are visible.
- Add dried fruit. If you wanted to, you could add some dried cranberries or raisins to this cake. I would not add more than 1/2 a cup.
- Try confectioners sugar. Instead of the glaze, another option for serving this cake would be to finish it with a simple dusting of powdered sugar once it is cool.
- Serving ideas? A dollop of slightly sweetened whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream would be very good additions.
How to Store
You can store this cake on the counter for up to 3 days. I recommend storing it in a cake stand that has a cover, or loosely covered with saran wrap.
You can also store the cake in the fridge for up to 5 days, in a covered container.
Can I Freeze This?
Yes! Either leave the cake whole or cut into individual slices. Then place in a freezer-safe container. If freezing individual slices, separate any layers of cake with parchment paper. The cake will keep well for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to eat it, simply defrost in the fridge overnight or on the counter for a few hours.
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Apple Bundt Cake with Brown Butter Vanilla Bean Glaze
Ingredients
for the apple Bundt cake:
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter + some flour to prepare the pan
- 4 medium-sized tart apples peeled, cored & shredded (use the big holes on a box grater) to make about 3.5 cups shredded apples – I recommend Haralson, Honeycrisp, or Granny Smith apples, or a combination of them
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 ⅓ cups white sugar divided
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon mace
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- ½ cup smooth unsweetened applesauce
- 4 large eggs
- ½ cup fresh pressed apple cider
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
for the brown butter vanilla bean glaze:
- 2 to 3 tablespoons half and half
- 2 cups powdered sugar sifted
- vanilla bean seeds scraped from 1/2 a vanilla bean split bean lengthwise and scrape out seeds
- 4 ounces unsalted butter
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Instructions
For the apple bundt cake:
- Preheat oven to 350° F. Prepare a 12-cup bundt pan by schmearing butter over every little nook and cranny of its interior. Then, add some flour and tilt your pan so flour sticks to all of the buttery surface. Set pan aside.
- In a medium bowl, stir the shredded apple with lemon juice and 1/3 cup of the white sugar. Set aside.
- In another medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, mace, nutmeg, and salt. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the remaining 1 cup white sugar, brown sugar, oil, applesauce, eggs, apple cider, and vanilla. Mix to combine. Then add the flour mixture and combine once again.
- Add the apples and mix on medium-low speed until the apples are evenly distributed. Pour batter into prepared Bundt pan and bake for 1 hour, or until a toothpick comes out of the cake clean. Cool the cake in the pan for 10 minutes, then invert it onto your serving platter. **If you are going to top the cake with the glaze, start making the glaze immediately, while the cake is still warm!
For the brown butter vanilla bean glaze:
- First, pour 3 tablespoons of half and half into a small bowl and set aside. This is just to take the chill off while you prepare the rest of the glaze.
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine the sifted (don’t skip the sifting!) powdered sugar and vanilla bean seeds. Set aside.
- In a large saucepan over medium-low heat, warm the butter until golden brown. It should smell delicious and toasty. If it smells burnt, you went too far! This should take about 6 to 8 minutes.
- Carefully pour browned butter into the powdered sugar and vanilla bean seeds, leaving any overly darkened butter sediment behind in the saucepan. Add 2 tablespoons of the half and half, then add the vanilla. Stir vigorously until smooth. You want the glaze to be somewhat thick, but easily pourable. If it seems too thick, add the remaining tablespoon of half and half.
- Pour the glaze over the cake while both the glaze and cake are still warm. The glaze cools quickly, so don’t delay!
- Let the glaze set. Then slice your cake and enjoy! The cake fares well on the counter for a few days, covered with a cake dome.
Notes
Nutrition Information:
Have 2 of these Babies in the oven now. I was wondering why the cake has to be warm when pouring the glaze? Does the glaze harden?
Hello Anne! Oooooo…can I come over for a piece?! You will want to glaze the cake while both the glaze and cake are a bit warm, as the glaze thickens up quickly as it cools. If you want that smooth droopy appearance like in my photos, this is important. Please let me know how it turns out for you!
Hi Brenda
Thank-you for responding so quickly to my post . Well the cakes turned out beautifully and were delicious. The frosting is to die for and I really liked that the frosting stiffens slightly so you don’t get that accumulation of frosting on the plate. This is a keeper. Moist and delicious!
Yay!!! I’m so happy you liked this cake, Anne. It’s on my list to make again. Thank you so much for coming back to let me know.
Well the picture of this delicious looking cake caught my eye so I had to try it. I have 2 of these cakes in the oven. One for the family and one for the church.I have one question however.What happens if the cake is not warm when you pour the glaze over it?
Your Apple Bundt Cake w/ Browned Butter Glaze was a HUGE hit at our house!! I didn’t have apple cider, so I substituted Homemade Apple Pie Moonshine……LOL!!! It was DELISH!
Homemade Apple Pie Moonshine?! That sounds fantastic!! I want some for my own apple bundt cake! :)
That looks relish..so can’t wait to make!! Where do you buy vanilla beans?! Thanks for sharing
Hi Kerri! I get my vanilla beans at a variety of places, but mostly from Penzey’s Spices and a bakery in Minneapolis.
In the oven right now. I love a good bundt cant wait to taste. If it tastes as good as it smells will br making a few more times. Glad I found your site!
This cake is so beautiful (just saw it in your “day in the life” and had to come see it myself). I love an apple bundt and that glaze is perfection!
Pretty pictures, cake looks great! So excited for fall flavors.
Thanks, Jessie – I have been craving this cake again!!!
Hello….I made your cake, it was so amazing that I had to blog about it and you site!!! Thanks for sharing such wonderful recipes with us all:) what a blessing!
lISA
http://Oonefineday.blogspot.com
THAT is spectacular. It screams Fall & warm & cozy & soul satisfying.
Just lovely as can be.
Thank you so much, Wenderly. It’s all of those words you used. :)
We are heading to the apple orchard this afternoon. I see apple cake in our immediate future!
Oh, yay! We are heading to the orchard later this week – can’t wait to bake more apple treats!
This sounds like has a good spice cake taste also which I love!
Brenda’s Dad and I were fortunate to be at the Score home when this cake was served. Delicious! The glaze is so smooth and yummy too.
OH – gorgeous! What a stunning, luscious-looking cake! Perfect for fall. Can’t wait to try it!
OMG. I’m speechless. Most likely because I’m drooling.
Yum, this looks soooooo good! The glaze just looks divine! Will definitely have to try your recipe with some fresh Georgia apples. I just discovered your site — will definitely follow. :)
Oh my! This cake looks amazing…and perfect for fall!
Thank you so much, Robin. :)
Delicious! I might have to try this recipe out for Thanksgiving!
Hi Natalie, nice to hear from you. This would be a very nice addition to the Thanksgiving sweets buffet, indeed!
I saw your photo at Foodgawker and just had to come visit! Beautiful pictures! It makes me want a slice now :).
Thanks for stopping by, Jenn – nice to meet you!
I would love to make this fabulous looking cake, but can you please clarify what is half-and-half and what is mace? I’m sure I can find it in South Africa, if I knew what I was looking for …;-)
Hello, Grieta! In the United States, half and half refers to a liquid dairy product that is half milk, half cream. I found several places online that suggest this substitute: Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a measuring cup, let cool for a minute, then fill with whole milk to equal one cup. And mace is a sweet and flavorful spice from the dried covering of the nutmeg, with a softer flavor than nutmeg. I hope this helps. Best wishes!
Thanks very much. Don’t know that we have half and half on the shelves, but I’ll make my own. And mace sounds a little bit like All Spice which is lovely to use in this type of cake anyway. I’ll simply have to try it out and taste how it goes! Cheers from Johannesburg, RSA
This looks crazy good! You had me at Brown Butter Vanilla Bean Glaze! Mmmmm… :-D
Thanks much, Erika. And, yes, that glaze is crazy tempting and delicious!