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Cozy Brown Butter Apple Cider Cake (Easy Fall Recipe)

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This moist and tender apple cider cake features nutty brown butter and a rich brown butter glaze. It’s an easy, one-bowl recipe that comes together in about an hour, perfect for cozy fall gatherings or a simple weekday treat.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
  • 1 ¼ cups apple cider
  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup light brown sugar, packed
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ½ cup buttermilk
  • For the Brown Butter Glaze:
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
  • 2–3 tablespoons apple cider
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang on the long sides. Lightly grease the short sides.
  2. Brown the butter: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt 1 cup unsalted butter. Swirl occasionally until it foams and turns golden with amber specks, about 5-7 minutes. Remove from heat immediately and pour into a heatproof bowl. Let cool for 10 minutes.
  3. Reduce the apple cider: In a small saucepan, bring 1 ¼ cups apple cider to a simmer over medium heat, then reduce to low. Let it bubble gently until reduced to about ¾ cup, about 10-12 minutes. Set aside to cool.
  4. Whisk dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  5. Mix wet ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together cooled brown butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, whisking well after each. Stir in vanilla, then whisk in reduced apple cider and buttermilk until smooth and glossy.
  6. Combine: Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Fold gently with a rubber spatula until just combined—no streaks of flour remain. Do not overmix.
  7. Bake: Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and spread evenly. Tap pan on counter to release air bubbles. Bake for 50-60 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Tent with foil after 40 minutes if browning too quickly.
  8. Cool: Let cake cool in pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Use parchment overhang to lift out and transfer to rack to cool completely.
  9. Make glaze: In a small saucepan, brown 3 tablespoons butter over medium heat until amber specks appear. Remove from heat. Whisk in powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons apple cider, and a pinch of salt. Add more cider if too thick, more sugar if too thin.
  10. Glaze and serve: Once cake is completely cool, drizzle glaze over top. Let set for 10 minutes before slicing.

Notes

Don’t walk away from browning butter—it can burn quickly. Room temperature ingredients ensure a smooth batter. Measure flour by spooning and leveling. Let cake cool completely before glazing. Start checking for doneness at 50 minutes. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: brown butter apple cider cake, easy fall cake, apple cider loaf, brown butter glaze, fall dessert, apple cake recipe

Find it online: https://tablemira.com/cozy-brown-butter-apple-cider-cake-easy-fall-recipe/