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Apple Bundt Cake with Brown Butter Vanilla Bean Glaze
4.2 from 15 votes

Apple Bundt Cake with Brown Butter Vanilla Bean Glaze

This easy Apple Bundt Cake is topped with a smooth and creamy, brown butter vanilla bean glaze. You'll love how much apple flavor is stuffed into this dessert!

Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
1 hr
Total Time
1 hr 20 mins
Servings: 12
Calories: 624 kcal
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

for the apple Bundt cake:
  • 1 tablespoon flour to prepare the pan
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter to prepare the pan
  • 4 apple peeled, cored & shredded (use the big holes on a box grater) to make about 3.5 cups shredded apples - I recommend Haralson, Honeycrisp, or Granny Smith apples, or a combination of them, medium-sized, tart variety
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice freshly squeezed
  • 1 ⅓ cups white sugar divided
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon mace
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • ½ cup applesauce smooth, unsweetened
  • 4 egg large
  • ½ cup apple cider fresh pressed
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract pure
for the brown butter vanilla bean glaze:
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons half and half
  • 2 cups powdered sugar sifted
  • vanilla bean seeds split bean lengthwise and scrape out seeds, scraped from half a vanilla bean
  • 4 ounces butter unsalted
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract pure

Instructions

For the apple bundt cake:
    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat oven to 350° F. Prepare a 12-cup bundt pan by schmearing butter over every little nook and cranny of its interior. Then, add some flour and tilt your pan so flour sticks to all of the buttery surface. Set pan aside.
  2. In a medium bowl, stir the shredded apple with lemon juice and 1/3 cup of the white sugar. Set aside.
  3. In another medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, mace, nutmeg, and salt. Set aside.
  4. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the remaining 1 cup white sugar, brown sugar, oil, applesauce, eggs, apple cider, and vanilla. Mix to combine. Then add the flour mixture and combine once again.
  5. Add the apples and mix on medium-low speed until the apples are evenly distributed. Pour batter into prepared Bundt pan and bake for 1 hour, or until a toothpick comes out of the cake clean. Cool the cake in the pan for 10 minutes, then invert it onto your serving platter. **If you are going to top the cake with the glaze, start making the glaze immediately, while the cake is still warm!
For the brown butter vanilla bean glaze:
  1. First, pour 3 tablespoons 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.
  2. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the sifted (don't skip the sifting!) powdered sugar and vanilla bean seeds. Set aside.
  3. In 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.
  4. Carefully pour browned butter into the powdered sugar and vanilla bean seeds, leaving any overly darkened butter sediment behind in the saucepan. Add 2 tablespoons of the half and half, then add the vanilla. Stir 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.
  5. Pour the glaze over the cake while both the glaze and cake are still warm. The glaze cools quickly, so don't delay!
  6. Let the glaze set. Then slice your cake and enjoy! The cake fares well on the counter for a few days, covered with a cake dome.

Notes

  • Bundt cake inspired by an apple bread recipe that Mom makes. Glaze adapted from Martha Stewart.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1 Calories 624kcal (31%) Carbohydrates 105g (35%) Protein 7g (14%) Fat 21g (32%) Saturated Fat 7g (35%) Polyunsaturated Fat 12g (71%) Cholesterol 87mg (29%) Sodium 353mg (15%) Fiber 4g (16%) Sugar 68g (136%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 12 Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 624

% Daily Value*

Serving 1
Calories 624kcal 31%
Carbohydrates 105g 35%
Protein 7g 14%
Fat 21g 32%
Saturated Fat 7g 35%
Polyunsaturated Fat 12g 71%
Cholesterol 87mg 29%
Sodium 353mg 15%
Fiber 4g 16%
Sugar 68g 136%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.