apple bundt with brown-butter vanilla bean glaze
This is apple cake perfection, full of moist apple goodness and a thick buttery glaze. If you are going to top the cake with the glaze, start making the glaze immediately, while the cake is still warm. Another option for serving this cake would be to finish it with a simple dusting of powdered sugar once it is cool. A dollop of slightly sweetened whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream would also be very good.
Blue Ribbon Recipe
This apple Bundt cake gives fall vibes, but it's so good you'll want to eat it all year long. The warm spices (cinnamon, mace, and nutmeg) in this rich and tender cake are subtle and not overpowering. Grating the apples ensures there are bits of apple in every bite. What elevates this Bundt cake is the brown-butter vanilla bean glaze. We could have eaten it with a spoon! Browning the butter adds a depth of rich flavor. The vanilla beans add vanilla flavor and nice specks. This is an amazing apple cake for fall.
Ingredients
- CAKE
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, divided
- 4 medium apples, peeled, cored, and shredded (use the big holes on your grater)
- 1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lemon juice
- 1 1/3 cups granulated sugar, divided
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground mace
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup applesauce
- 4 large eggs
- 1/2 cup apple cider
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- BROWN-BUTTER VANILLA BEAN GLAZE
- 3 tablespoons half and half, divided
- 2 cups sifted powdered sugar
- 1/2 - vanilla bean, scraped for its seeds
- 4 ounces butter
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
How To Make apple bundt with brown-butter vanilla bean glaze
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Step 1For the apple Bundt cake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare a 12-cup Bundt pan by smearing 1 Tbsp of butter over every little nook and cranny of its interior. Then add 1/4 cup of flour and tilt your pan so the flour sticks to all of the buttery surface. Set the pan aside. -
Step 2Stir the shredded apple with lemon juice and 1/3 cup of the granulated sugar. Set aside.
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Step 3In a medium bowl, whisk together the remaining 3 cups of flour, baking powder, cinnamon, mace, nutmeg, and salt. Set aside.
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Step 4In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the remaining 1 cup of granulated sugar, brown sugar, oil, applesauce, eggs, apple cider, and vanilla. Mix to combine.
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Step 5Then add the flour mixture and combine once again.
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Step 6Add the apples and mix until the apples are evenly distributed.
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Step 7Pour into prepared Bundt pan.
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Step 8Bake for 1 hour, or until a toothpick comes out of the cake clean. Cool the cake in the pan for 10 minutes, then invert onto your serving platter.
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Step 9For the brown-butter vanilla bean glaze, pour 3 Tbsp of half and half into a small bowl and set aside. This is just to take the chill off while you prepare the rest of the glaze.
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Step 10Scrape the inside of the vanilla bean.
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Step 11In a medium mixing bowl, combine the sifted (don’t skip the sifting!) powdered sugar and vanilla bean seeds. Set aside.
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Step 12In a large saucepan over medium-low heat, warm the butter until golden brown. It should smell delicious and toasty. If it smells burnt, you went too far! This should take about 6 to 8 minutes.
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Step 13Carefully pour browned butter into the powdered sugar and vanilla bean seeds, leaving the darkened butter sediment behind.
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Step 14Add 2 Tbsp of the half and half.
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Step 15Then add the vanilla.
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Step 16Stir vigorously until smooth. You want the glaze to be somewhat thick, but easily pourable. If it seems too thick, add the remaining tablespoon of half and half.
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Step 17Pour the glaze over the cake while both the glaze and cake are still warm. The glaze cools quickly, so don’t delay! Let the glaze set.
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Step 18Then slice and enjoy! The cake fares well on the counter for a few days, covered with a cake dome.
- Last Step: Don't forget to share! Post a picture of your finished recipe here and on your favorite social network. Don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes!
