This apple cider coffee cake is moist and full of fall flavor, with grated apples in every bite and a pretty cider glaze drizzled over the top. It stirs up in just minutes in one bowl, and it's perfect with a cup of coffee or a glass of milk.
If you love how this recipe sounds, our Banana Bread Bundt Cake with bourbon glaze is another amazing brunch and dessert classic. And if you're curious about where old-school tricks like baking with mayonnaise came from, take a look at Southern Food Then and Now.
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Blue Plate Mayonnaise for IZEA Worldwide. All opinions are 100% mine.
Apple cider coffee cake is made moist with grated apples as well as mayonnaise. If you love nuts like we do, they can be added to the cake and sprinkled on top of the glaze. Easy is the middle name of this coffee cake, since we used mayonnaise in place of eggs and oil.
There's no creaming butter and sugar and no cracking eggs. Everything goes into one bowl, gets a quick mix, and heads to the oven. Because it bakes in a bundt pan, you get a big, pretty cake that's ready for a holiday brunch or a weekend with family in town.
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Why use mayonnaise in our coffee cake?
Many of you may remember Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake. It was popular in the 1960s and 70s, and the reasons why still make sense today. Using mayonnaise means you don't need to have oil and eggs on hand, it results in a supremely moist cake, and maybe best of all, it's easy!
Blue Plate Mayonnaise has the pure ingredients you want in your cake, or anything you make for that matter. Did you know this? They were Voted #1 Mayonnaise by Epicurious.

There are really tons of other ways to use mayonnaise in your cooking. Don't just spread it on a sandwich! Find recipes using Blue Plate Mayonnaise here
This coffee cake has a great apple taste!
We used reduced apple cider and grated apples to give it a rich apple taste and moist texture. Grating the apples not only adds moisture, but also spreads the apple flavor more evenly through every bite. Grating also means you won't bite into any chunks of apple that didn't cook all the way through.
Apple cider is definitely the way to go if you can get it, and reducing it intensifies the flavor. It only takes a few minutes on the stove to simmer it down. If cider isn't available yet in your area, you can certainly use apple juice. We use cider as the liquid in the glaze as well, and it gives a subtle hint of apple there, too.
We're big believers in buying local, so if there's an orchard or farmers market near you, that's the best place to pick up your cider and apples. Here in Georgia, the North Georgia mountains are apple country every fall.
Ingredients Needed
- Mayonnaise: This takes the place of eggs and oil. I used Blue Plate, and I love that it's been made from the same recipe since 1927.
- Apple cider: Reduce ¾ cup down to ½ cup for the batter, and save a few tablespoons for the glaze. If you can't find cider, apple juice will work.
- Sugar and brown sugar: A mix of the two gives the cake a deeper, caramel-like flavor.
- Cinnamon and allspice: These are the warm fall spices that go so well with apples.
- All-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt: These make up the base of the cake.
- Vanilla: Just a teaspoon rounds out the flavor.
- Apples: You'll need 3 cups grated. I recommend a tart, firm apple like Granny Smith.
- Pecans: These are optional, but I love them in the cake and on top of the glaze. Walnuts would work too.
- Powdered sugar and butter: Whisked with apple cider, these make a simple glaze that pours right over the cake.

How to Make Apple Cider Coffee Cake
- Reduce the cider. Simmer ¾ cup of apple cider over medium heat until it's down to ½ cup, then let it cool a bit.
- Mix the batter. Add everything from the mayonnaise through the vanilla to a large bowl and mix on medium-low speed until well blended.
- Stir in the apples. Use a large spoon to stir in the grated apples and ¾ cup of pecans, if using.
- Bake. Pour the batter into a greased 10-inch bundt pan and bake at 350°F for 35 to 40 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool and flip. Let the cake cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then turn it out onto a serving plate.
- Glaze. Whisk together the powdered sugar, butter, and apple cider until smooth. Pour the glaze over the cooled cake and sprinkle with the rest of the pecans.
Pam's Expert Tips
- Grease your bundt pan really well. Spray every nook and cranny with cooking spray so the cake comes out in one pretty piece.
- Use the large holes on a box grater. The apples melt right into the cake, and you won't have to worry about chopping.
- Let the reduced cider cool a bit. Give it a few minutes off the heat before it goes into the bowl with the mayonnaise.
- Wait until the cake is cool to glaze. If the cake is still warm, the glaze will melt and run right off. Add that last tablespoon of cider only if the glaze is too thick to pour.

Storage Information
Keep leftover apple cider coffee cake covered at room temperature for up to 2 to 3 days. For longer storage, move it to an airtight container in the refrigerator, where it will keep for up to 5 days. Let slices come back to room temperature before serving, or warm them for a few seconds in the microwave.
This cake freezes well, too. For the best results, freeze it without the glaze, then glaze it after it thaws. If it's already glazed, let the glaze set and harden completely before wrapping. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator.
Recipe FAQs
Sure! Wrap it tightly with aluminum foil, plastic freezer wrap, or store it in a heavy-duty freezer bag. When stored properly, it maintains its best quality for around 2 to 3 months.
Tart, firm apples are your best bet. Granny Smith is the go-to for most bakers, and it's what we recommend. The tartness balances the brown sugar and glaze so the cake doesn't taste too sweet.
If you'd rather use something else, other bakers making apple cider coffee cake also like Honeycrisp, McIntosh, Mutsu, and Golden Delicious. You can even mix two varieties if that's what you have in the fruit bowl.
Yes. Apple cider has a stronger, more tart apple flavor, so it's our first choice. But apple juice works fine in both the cake and the glaze if cider isn't in stores yet.
You can skip it and just use ½ cup of cider straight from the jug. Reducing it intensifies the apple flavor, though, so it's worth the few extra minutes if you have them.
Mayonnaise is mostly oil and eggs, which are the same things that would normally go into a cake. What you'll taste is the apple, cider, and warm spices.
Absolutely. The pecans are optional in both the cake and the topping, and the cake is just as good without them.

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Equipment Needed
- A box grater like this is the easiest way to grate apples
- A mini chopper like this is how we like to chop nuts
- A 10-inch bundt pan
- Our favorite non-stick spray for baking
When doing your shopping be sure to look for Blue Plate Mayonnaise. Keep in mind that it's a family owned business and they've been making their mayonnaise from the same recipe since 1927. We like that! Find the product near you.
A few more apple recipes:
- Fall Salad with Cider Vinaigrette
- Apple Berry Crisp
- Baked Brie with Apples & Bacon
- Apple Pecan Cheesecake
- Grilled Apples
- Apple Cobbler with Bisquick
📖 Recipe

Apple Cider Coffee Cake
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup mayonnaise
- ¾ cup apple cider reduced to ½ cup over medium heat
- ¾ cup sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon allspice
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 3 cups grated apples we recommend tart, firm apples like Granny Smith
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 1¼ cup powdered sugar
- 1 Tablespoon butter room temperature
- 3-4 Tablespoons apple cider
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients through vanilla in a large bowl with mixer at medium-low speed until well blended.
- Stir in apples and ¾ cup pecans (if desired) with a large spoon until well blended.
- Bake in 10 inch bundt pan (prepared with cooking spray) at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes, or until toothpick comes clean.
- Cool for about 10 minutes and then flip onto serving plate.
- Whisk powdered sugar, softened butter and 3 Tablespoons apple cider until smooth. Add additional Tablespoon of cider if needed to reach pouring consistency.
- Pour glaze over cooled cake. Sprinkle with remaining ¼ cup chopped pecans if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Sweet Breakfast Recipes
- Fresh Peach Bread Recipe
- Spiced Plum Coffee Cake
- Hummingbird Bread Recipe with Cream Cheese Glaze
- Blueberry Crumb Cake with Cream Cheese
- Breakfast Bar Recipe with Peanut Butter
- Blueberry Orange Bread
- Homemade Pineapple Preserves (no canning required)
- Easy Sweet Potato Biscuit Recipe
















Kushigalu says
This cake looks gorgeous woyh interesting flavors. Would love to try this soon.
Pam says
Thanks so much, Kushigalu!
Sara says
This was so delicious and I love the super apple flavor. I never thought to use mayo before but it worked and kept the cake moist.
Pam says
It really works well for keeping the cake moist, doesn't it? Thanks, Sara!
Marie-Charlotte Chatelain says
OMG - YESSS! Adding mayo to this cake is SUCH A GREAT IDEA! It looks so moist without being too dense! And apple cider is THE FLAVOR in my home right now! We are very much ready for fall hahah! LOVE!
Pam says
We are ready too! Just wish the weather would cool off. Thanks, Marie-Charlotte!
Haley D. Williams says
I'm all about the cider this time of year. I never knew mayonnaise would make a cake so moist!
Pam says
It's really amazing, but when you think about it - it just makes sense. Thanks, Haley!
Andrea Metlika says
Wow! This is a great looking cake and sounds so flavorful! Yummy!
Pam says
Thank you, Andrea!
Erin says
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Rachelle Williams says
I don't have a Bundt pan, can it be made in a Loaf Pan? What changes to baking time do you think it would be??
Pam says
Rachelle, We haven't tried it in a loaf pan, but I'm sure it would be great. I would start checking for doneness at about 40 minutes, but my guess is it will take closer to 50 minutes.
Carol says
Recipe calls for 1/2 cup brown sugar, not sure if it should be 1/2 cup PACKED brown sugar or just 1/2 cup brown sugar
Pam says
Hi Carol, Yes, the brown sugar should be packed.
Thomas says
Looks delicious I will try it soon as I get all of the ingredients .