There are many reasons why Fall is my favorite season. It’s that time of the year that I pull out my favorite sweatpants, walk on top of crunchy leaves, huddle over bonfires, and sip warm apple cider. However, what I really look forward to is baking at home. As this picturesque season comes to an end, I feel the need to make the most out of these great fall flavors and ingredients. There is nothing like the smell that comes from your oven when you bake with apples. They are so versatile and go well with almost anything. I love to make applesauce, apple butter, pies, or simply dice and freeze them.
The inspiration for this recipe goes back to the first week we launched Fab Food Chicago. We ran a contest that surveyed you, our readers, about what recipe resident “Fab Chef” should make – that’s me! The winning suggestion was a dessert recipe with apples and Asian spices. Challenge accepted! After giving this much thought, I decided to share my fresh apple loaf with an unexpected and surprise filling made of cream cheese. I used to whip up this apple loaf for my family back home. It’s an unbelievably moist loaf cake that is studded with fresh apple chunks, spiced with fragrant cinnamon, and filled with a cream cheese mixture in the center. As requested, I added more warm Asian spices and baked it in a bundt pan for a fancier twist on my original recipe.
(Counter Clockwise) Cinnamon, Ginger, Nutmeg, Allspice, Cloves, Kosher Salt and (Center) Baking Soda // Photo: @sherriesavorsthecity
It took me several tries of non-stop experimenting and tweaking before I came up with the perfect ratios. The cake starts with a combination of oil and applesauce which adds delicious flavor and a moist texture to the cake. I prefer to use fresh Granny Smith apples because they are slightly tart and hold their shape during baking. For extra crunch and texture, I like to add either walnuts or pecans to the batter. The cream cheese filling is mixed with a little egg and flour to help bind it together. Then, it is assembled and baked in a gorgeous bundt pan. For most people, the thought of using the intricate looking bundt pan can be intimidating, but don’t fret, I will show you some tricks of the trade. It’s not that hard, and the result will impress your friends and family. Last, but definitely not least, I like to top the cake with my flavorful apple cider glaze which gives it an extra wow factor.
This Spiced Apple Bundt Cake is a great dessert to bring to family gatherings, potlucks, or even better, it’s the perfect holiday gift for your loved ones. After all, homemade gifts from the heart are truly the best.
Spiced Apple Bundt Cake with Cider Glaze // Photo: @sherriesavorsthecity
So, what are you waiting for? Let’s start baking…
- ¼ cup melted butter or just use a baking spray
- 2-3 Tablespoons all purpose flour
- 1 package or (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
- ¾ cup granulated white sugar
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- 2 Tablespoon all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup unsweetened apple sauce
- 1 cup granulated white sugar
- 1 cup dark brown sugar, packed
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 large eggs, at room temperature
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ground allspice
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- 4 cups (about 5-6) peeled, cored and diced Granny Smith apples
- 1 cup toasted walnuts or pecans
- 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
- ¼ -1/3 cup apple cider
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Meanwhile, brush with melted butter or use baking spray to grease the 14-cup nonstick Bundt pan.
- Add enough all purpose flour (about 2-3 Tablespoons) to evenly coat the pan.
- Invert and tap off excess flour.
- Set aside.
- In a Kitchen Aid mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, whip together cream cheese and sugar until smooth and creamy.
- Lower the speed, add the vanilla, flour, and ground cinnamon (optional)
- Mix to combine.
- Lastly, add the egg. FAB TIP: Make sure to scape the bottom in between mixing to avoid lumps.
- Continue to whip until well incorporated.
- Transfer in a large ziploc bag or piping bag.
- Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the oil, applesauce, sugars and vanilla.
- Add the egg, one at a time. Whisking well after each addition.
- Meanwhile, combine all the dry ingredients together with the spices.
- Then, sift all the dry ingredients directly on top of the wet ingredients in three additions.
- Change mixing utensil from a wire whisk to a rubber scraper.
- Fold in fresh apples and nuts.
- Spoon ⅔ of the apple batter and spread evenly into the greased and floured bundt pan.
- Pipe the cream cheese filling over the apple mixture, leaving a 1-inch border around the edges of the pan.
FAB TIP: You can spoon the cream cheese filling but it's a lot easier and cleaner to use a piping bag.
- Spoon remaining ⅓ of the apple mixture over the cream cheese filling.
Make sure to be extra careful when spreading and try your best to completely cover it without showing the cream cheese filling on top. - Bake for 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes or until a long wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let the cake cool in the pan for 15 minutes.
- Invert cake onto a cooling wire rack with a sheet tray underneath.
- Let cool completely.
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, ground cinnamon and nutmeg.
- Add the apple cider, a little at a time until you reached the desired consistency.
FAB TIP: Add the apple cider slowly because an extra 1 Tablespoon can make a difference between a perfectly thick glaze and a runny glaze. You want it to have enough viscosity where it can drip nicely on the side without it being too liquidy. - Let the excess drip onto the sheet tray.
- Serve and enjoy!
I like decorating the finished cake with some adorable fondant fall leaves and sprinkles since this a fall inspired recipe.
Spiced Apple Bundt Cake with Cider Glaze // Photo: @sherriesavorsthecity
The best part is when you cut into the cake and see all the chunks of apples and nuts running through it along with the surprise cream cheese center. It really tastes as good as it looks.
Spiced Apple Bundt Cale with Cider Glaze // Photo:@sherriesavorsthecity
This Spice Apple Bundt Cake with Cider Glaze is my homage to everything wonderful about Fall. Hope you will find time to make this special recipe.
What is your favorite Fall baking recipe? Please share with me!
Savor Every Moment,
Sherrie
Lookss super yummmy…… Of course ur carrot cake recipe that i tweeked myself…… I bet it tasted sooo deelish!
You need to try it! Let me know.
Xoxo, Sherrie