You can’t live in the Midwest and not fall in love with fall. The first crisp blue skied day of the season has me longing to be outdoors. I grew up in South Texas where changing leaves and apple trees were things I only experienced in glossy magazines, tv shows and movies.
It wasn’t until our family moved to Chicago that I really experienced fall in its full technicolor glory. A few years ago friends invited us to go apple picking. One trip to the orchard and I was smitten. Is there any better way to spend a day? Our family walked and talked as we navigated the seemingly endless rows of trees. We picked, sampled and marveled at the all the different types of apples. And for a moment it seemed as if all the noisiness and worries of the world just disappeared. When our sacks were heavy and filled to the brim we made our way back to the barn to pay for our apples and head home.
Now every year no matter how busy or schedules get we clear a day to go out to our favorite orchard because we all love picking apples together. So this year I decided to create a nostalgic cake apple cider donut cake that has all the flavors of a midwest fall.
Apple Cider Donut Cake
- 2 cups flour
- 1½ cups sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon all spice
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 large egg
- 1¼ cup apple cider (Martinelli’s or another all juice based cider)
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Prepare two six inch cake pans by lining the bottom with a parchment paper circles and then spray the sides and bottom with Baker’s Joy, flour based cooking spray
In a large bowl whisk together the dry ingredients: flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, ground ginger, allspice and salt. Then add in your apple cider, melted butter and egg. Whisk the cake bater with a fork until it is well combined.
Evenly split the batter between the two cake pans.
Bake the cakes in the center rack of the oven for 35 minutes. Let the cakes cool before making the cinnamon sugar topping.
Cinnamon Sugar Topping
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 3 tablespoons butter melted
In a shallow bowl or plate mix together the cinnamon and sugar. Then melt the butter in a small bowl. Using a pastry bush coat the flat bottoms of the cake and sides with the melted butter and then dip or sprinkle the buttered sides and tops with the cinnamon sugar mixture.
Next make the mascarpone buttercream.
Mascarpone Buttercream
- 2 sticks of unsalted butter
- 1/4 teaspoon of salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons milk
- 1/4 cup mascarpone cheese
Use a stand mixer or a large bowl and a hand mixer to beat the butter and salt together on medium for 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the vanilla, powdered sugar and milk. Beat the buttercream on medium speed for another two minutes and then scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add in the mascarpone cheese and mix it in on low speed for just under a minute. You don’t want to over beat the mascarpone cheese.
Prepare a pastry bag with a coupler and a large star tip. Put the bag in a large drinking glass to hold it open while you fill the bag with buttercream. Place the flat cinnamon sugared sides up and pipe stars on the top of one of the cakes. Then layer the second cake on top and place it on a plate or serving dish.
Finish the cake with tall swirls of buttercream and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. This cake can sit out for a few hours but it does need to be refrigerated. When serving allow it to come to room temperature.
The only thing better than apple cider donuts is apple cider donut cake because the mascarpone buttercream takes it to a whole new level of deliciousness. My daughter Gabriella says that the buttercream is tastes like “it’s been kissed by angels.” So you don’t just have to take my word on this on. This spiced apple cider cake is one scrumptious cake.