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Easy Brown Sugar Apple Cider Cake Recipe (Best Quick Dessert)

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A quick and easy one-bowl apple cider cake made with brown sugar, fresh apples, and warm cinnamon. Perfect for busy weeknights, this tender, moist cake comes together in under 10 minutes and fills your kitchen with the cozy aroma of fall.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup neutral oil (vegetable, canola, or grapeseed)
  • 1 large egg (room temperature preferred)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¾ cup apple cider (unfiltered, refrigerated)
  • 1 medium apple, peeled and finely chopped (Honeycrisp, Fuji, Gala, or Granny Smith)
  • 1 tablespoon turbinado or demerara sugar (for topping, optional)
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon (for topping, optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8×8-inch square baking pan or line it with parchment paper.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour, 1 cup packed light brown sugar, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and ½ teaspoon salt. Press out any lumps of brown sugar.
  3. Add the wet ingredients directly to the same bowl: ½ cup neutral oil, 1 large egg, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and ¾ cup apple cider. Stir with a whisk or fork until just combined. Do not overmix; a few small lumps are fine.
  4. Fold in the finely chopped apple using a rubber spatula or wooden spoon until evenly distributed.
  5. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly. If using the topping, mix 1 tablespoon turbinado sugar with ½ teaspoon cinnamon and sprinkle over the batter.
  6. Bake for 28 to 32 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Do not open the oven door during the first 20 minutes.
  7. Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then lift out using parchment handles (if used) or leave in the pan. Transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely, or serve warm.

Notes

Don’t overmix the batter to keep the cake tender. Use room temperature ingredients if possible. Chop the apple finely (about ¼-inch pieces) to prevent sinking. Check doneness with a toothpick. Let the cake cool before slicing to avoid crumbling. The cake tastes even better the next day as flavors meld.

Nutrition

Keywords: apple cider cake, brown sugar cake, quick dessert, easy cake, fall dessert, one bowl cake, weeknight dessert

Find it online: https://ovenmila.com/easy-brown-sugar-apple-cider-cake-recipe-best-quick-dessert/