Name: Festive Bourbon Apple Cider Cake Recipe
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 55 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 cups apple cider; 3 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour; 1 tbsp baking powder; 1 tsp salt; 8 ounces of unsalted butter (two sticks); 2 1/4 cups sugar; 3 large eggs; 1 cup whole milk; 2 tsp vanilla; 2 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon; 1/2 tsp ground clove; 1/4 ground nutmeg; 1 1/2 tsp allspice; 2 Honey Crisp apples, peeled and cored, and then pureed; 1 8 ounce package of cream cheese; 1 stick of butter; 5 cups of powdered sugar; 1/4 cup plus 3 tsp bourbon; 1/2 tsp vanilla

Jump to Recipe

If you’re searching for a show-stopping dessert that’s pure autumn celebration on a plate, the Festive Bourbon Apple Cider Cake is just the ticket. Imagine layers of tender, spiced cake kissed with apple and cider, all wrapped in a luxuriously creamy, bourbon-laced frosting. Whether you’re hosting a holiday bash or looking to wow your family on an ordinary weekend, this treat brings the best of fall flavors together—apples, warm spices, buttery cake, and just a hint of bourbon magic. It’s a favorite I can never resist sharing and one you’ll crave long after the last crumb disappears.

Festive Bourbon Apple Cider Cake Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients You’ll Need

This recipe features simple ingredients, each chosen for the unique flavor or texture they bring to the Festive Bourbon Apple Cider Cake. A few minutes of prep work and the right pantry staples will transform into a truly special dessert worth savoring.

Apple Cider: Reducing cider concentrates its apple flavor and creates a moist, aromatic cake base.
All-Purpose Flour: Provides the structure for tender yet sturdy cake layers.
Baking Powder: Gives the cake its beautiful lift and fluffy crumb.
Salt: Balances the sweetness and accentuates the warm spices.
Unsalted Butter: Adds richness and softness to both the cake and frosting.
Sugar: Sweetens every bite and helps achieve a perfect golden crumb.
Large Eggs: Bind the ingredients together and ensure a moist texture.
Whole Milk: Brings extra creaminess and tenderness to the cake layers.
Vanilla: Deepens aroma and echoes the cake’s warm flavors.
Ground Cinnamon: Infuses deep spice, echoing classic apple desserts.
Ground Clove: Just a bit adds boldness for a true holiday taste.
Ground Nutmeg: Brings subtle nuttiness and warmth.
Allspice: Rounds out the spice profile for complexity.
Honey Crisp Apples: Pureed apples keep the cake moist and add true apple flavor.
Cream Cheese: Essential for the tangy, creamy frosting that pairs perfectly with apple and spice.
Powdered Sugar: Makes the frosting silky and sweet without graininess.
Bourbon: Brings warmth, depth, and a festive grown-up kick to the frosting and glaze.
Honey, Caramel, or Dulce de Leche: Adds irresistible shine and sticky-sweet flair as a final garnish.

How to Make Festive Bourbon Apple Cider Cake

Step 1: Reduce the Apple Cider

Pour the apple cider into a small saucepan and set it over medium heat. Let it simmer gently until it has reduced by half, leaving you with one cup of concentrated apple goodness. This step creates a punchy, vibrant base for the Festive Bourbon Apple Cider Cake that you’ll really taste in every slice.

Step 2: Prep the Pans and Oven

Get your party started by preheating the oven to 350 degrees and generously greasing three 9-inch cake pans. A quick spritz of baking spray or a swipe of softened butter ensures those perfect layers pop right out, ready for stacking and frosting.

Step 3: Combine Dry Ingredients

In a big mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and allspice. Each spice brings its own magic, so give them a good whisk for even distribution. This aromatic blend is the backbone of your cake’s autumnal flavor.

Step 4: Cream Butter and Sugar

In a stand mixer, blend the butter and sugar together until the mixture is light, fluffy, and pale—about 3 to 5 minutes. This classic step traps air and creates a cake with a delicate crumb, so don’t rush it!

Step 5: Add Eggs

With the mixer running on low, add the eggs one at a time, making sure each is fully incorporated before adding the next. This helps the cake batter stay stable and smooth, resulting in perfectly moist layers.

Step 6: Alternate Wet and Dry Ingredients

Mix the milk and vanilla together in a small bowl. With the mixer on low, alternate adding the flour mixture and milk mixture, starting and ending with the flour. Add it in thirds and let each new addition blend in before adding the next. This keeps your batter luscious and lump-free.

Step 7: Bring in the Apples and Cider

Pour in the pureed apples and your reduced apple cider, then mix gently until just combined. The apple puree keeps everything moist while the concentrated cider infuses the cake with powerful flavor. It’s the heart and soul of the Festive Bourbon Apple Cider Cake.

Step 8: Bake the Cake

Divide the batter evenly among your prepared pans, smoothing the tops. Slide the pans into the oven and bake for about 25 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean and the kitchen smells like fall dreams. Let the cakes cool in their pans for 10 minutes, then turn onto wire racks to cool completely.

Step 9: Make the Frosting

Clean out your stand mixer, then add the cream cheese and butter. Beat with the paddle attachment until silky and fully combined. Gradually add in powdered sugar, a cup at a time, mixing well after each addition. Pour in the vanilla and bourbon last for a dreamy, grown-up frosting that’s the perfect finishing touch.

Step 10: Assemble and Glaze

Stack up those cake layers with generous swoops of bourbon cream cheese frosting between each. Once the whole cake is frosted, drizzle over honey, caramel, or dulce de leche as a glaze for an epic final flourish. Step back and admire—your Festive Bourbon Apple Cider Cake is ready for its close-up!

How to Serve Festive Bourbon Apple Cider Cake

Garnishes

For a statement finish, try dusting the cake with ground cinnamon, topping with thin apple slices, or adding a sprinkle of toasted pecans. A drizzle of caramel or honey across the top not only looks gorgeous but adds a sticky-sweet pop everyone will adore.

Side Dishes

Pair slices of your Festive Bourbon Apple Cider Cake with hot spiced cider, strong French-press coffee, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Lightly sweetened whipped cream is another wonderful contrast to the warm spices and slight tang of the cream cheese frosting.

Creative Ways to Present

For a cozy, rustic vibe, serve the entire cake on a wooden board sprinkled with autumn leaves and cinnamon sticks. If you’re hosting a party, you can even slice it into squares and serve on individual plates with a piped swirl of extra frosting and a drizzle of bourbon caramel.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Leftover slices of Festive Bourbon Apple Cider Cake can be covered and refrigerated for up to five days. The flavors actually develop more overnight, making each bite even richer!

Freezing

If you’re making the cake ahead, tightly wrap unfrosted layers in plastic wrap and foil before freezing for up to two months. Thaw on the counter and frost the day you plan to serve for the freshest taste and prettiest texture.

Reheating

Bring refrigerated or thawed cake slices to room temperature before serving. If you want an ultra-cozy treat, pop a slice in the microwave for 10 seconds—just enough to soften the frosting and enhance the spicy aroma.

FAQs

Can I make Festive Bourbon Apple Cider Cake without alcohol?

Absolutely! The bourbon is all about the flavor, but you can easily omit it from the frosting and glaze if you prefer—a splash of apple cider or extra vanilla does the trick.

Which apples are best for this recipe?

Honey Crisp apples add natural sweetness and just the right amount of tartness, but Gala or Fuji will also work beautifully if that’s what you have on hand.

Can I bake this cake as a sheet cake instead of layers?

You sure can! Pour the batter into a greased 9×13-inch pan and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick tests clean. Cool fully before adding the luscious bourbon frosting.

How can I tell when the cake is done?

Insert a toothpick into the center of each cake layer—if it comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs, your Festive Bourbon Apple Cider Cake is perfectly baked.

Does the cake need to be refrigerated?

Because the cream cheese frosting is perishable, keep any leftover cake covered in the fridge. Let slices sit out for 15 minutes before serving so the frosting softens up for best flavor.

Final Thoughts

I hope you find as much joy in baking—and sharing—this Festive Bourbon Apple Cider Cake as I always do. The combination of apples, spices, bourbon, and cream cheese frosting is really something special. Whether it’s for a big gathering or your own indulgence, be sure to save yourself a generous slice!