• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Hungry Enough To Eat Six
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • Nancy Mock Food Writing, including Marry Me Chicken
  • Hungry For Vermont
  • About Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Spring
  • Drinks
  • Recipe Index
  • My Writing
  • Delectable Destinations
  • Hungry For Vermont
  • About Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Cool Treats

    Apple Cider Donut Icebox Cake

    By Nancy Mock September 29, 2022 Updated November 7, 2022 Leave a Comment

    • Share48
    • Tweet
    Icebox cake with donuts and apples.

    What do you get when you layer one of the best treats of fall with spiced apples and cream? Sheer, sliceable heaven! It's an Apple Cider Donut Icebox Cake.

    Icebox cake with donut crumb layers and donuts on top.
    → Jump to Recipe

    This post may contain affiliate links and I may earn a small commission when you click on the links at no additional cost to you. You can read my full disclaimer here.

    Jump to:
    • What is an apple cider donut?
    • What's an icebox cake?
    • Why you'll love it
    • 🔪 How to make Apple Cider Donut Icebox Cake
    • FAQs
    • Tips:
    • 📖 Recipe

    My family and I have been driving all around Vermont to find the best orchards to visit for apple cider donuts. We've been to 13 spots so far! And that means we have a lot of apples and donuts in the house.

    Mana nd woman holding donuts on a porch.

    We had plenty of those donuts with cups of coffee and tea, and then saved out some to make something really special: this Apple Cider Donut Icebox Cake!

    Layers inside and icebox cake with cream and a donut on top.

    This dessert is perfect for September and October when apples are in season and cider donuts are fresh from the fryer at the orchards. However, you can also make it with store-bought or homemade donuts any time of the year.

    What is an apple cider donut?

    Three donuts held in fingertips near apple trees.

    A fall favorite, cider donuts are made using real apple cider that's boiled down to thicken it and concentrate the flavor. The cakey donut batter gets its light texture from baking powder and sweetness from brown sugar. The spices in these donuts are classic apple pie spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice.

    Fried cider donuts have a deep brown color. They often have a sparkly coating of sugar or cinnamon sugar, or they may be left plain so you can really take in the appley flavor.

    Everyone agrees that apple cider donuts taste the very best when they're warm, but they're delicious even when cool.

    What's an icebox cake?

    Layered icebox cake with whole donuts and diced apples on top.

    Icebox cakes, or refrigerator cakes, are old-fashioned, no-bake desserts made by layering ingredients into pie plates or baking pans and letting them set up overnight in the fridge until they become firm, sliceable treats.

    In reading through my vintage cookbooks I found many different recipes for these cool cakes. Though there are numerous variations, in general, icebox cakes are made with layers of:

    • Something already baked (like leftover cake, cookies, or crackers)
    • Something sweet and creamy (pudding, custard, whipped cream)
    • Very often layers of fruit (like berries, mango, and peaches)

    The overnight chill allows the layers to meld, forming a firm, chilled dessert that's easy to slice and serve!

    In this icebox cake, the baked layer is made of apple cider donuts!

    I have other ones to try, like Strawberry Cream Cheese Icebox Cake and Lemon Icebox Cake with Lavender.

    Why you'll love it

    Donuts on top of an icebox cake with cream and apples.

    There are apple cider donut cake recipes out there, but in my humble opinion, this one beats them all! The apple and cinnamon flavors are just scrumptious, and the layers combine creamy and cakey textures, plus a light bite from the cooked apples.

    It has layers of cider donuts along with Spiced Apple Topping—my own recipe that literally takes 10 minutes to make.

    Closeup of apple, donut and cream layers inside an icebox cake.

    The cake has creamy layers too, made with cream cheese, whipped cream, and toffee bits. It's easy to assemble the layers in a loaf pan.

    The cake needs an overnight rest to set properly (a must for icebox cakes,) and then it's ready to decorate and serve.

    It's a wonderful recipe for fall gatherings, Halloween parties, as a special treat for your family, or to bring to work for a potluck.

    🔪 How to make Apple Cider Donut Icebox Cake

    Ingredients

    Ingredients: donuts, cream, graham crackers, cooked apples, toffee bits, and cream cheese.
    • Apple cider donuts: Ideally from a local orchard, but storebought will work
    • Cream cheese: It should be very soft
    • Toffee bits: Mine have chocolate on them, but plain toffee bits are good too
    • Cooked apples: Use my recipe to make them in only 10 minutes
    • Graham crackers: They will form the bottom layer of the cake
    • Heavy cream: To make homemade whipped cream
    • Milk: Just a little
    • Confectioner's sugar: The creamy layer will be sweetened with this sugar
    • Cream of tartar: It will help the whipped cream stay firm

    Step 1: Make the cream

    Whipped cream mixture inside a metal bowl.

    Beat the heavy cream and cream of tartar on high speed until stiff peaks form. Separately, beat the softened cream cheese with the sugar. Fold in the whipped cream and toffee bits.

    Step 2: Turn donuts to crumbs

    Donuts processed to crumbs inside a food processor bowl.

    Use a food processor to grind the apple cider donuts into very coarse crumbs. Stir in the milk until the crumbs are moistened.

    Step 3: Assemble the cake layers

    Donut crumbles in the bottom of a loaf pan.
    Cooked apples layered inside a loaf pan.
    Cream layer spread inside a white loaf pan.
    Graham crackers as a final layer in a white loaf pan.

    Assemble the icebox cake layers in a loaf pan lined with plastic wrap. Add donut crumbs first. Add a layer of apples and cream, and repeat these layers again. End with graham crackers.

    Step 4: Chill it

    Wrap the icebox cake and refrigerate it overnight.

    Step 5: Finish the cake

    Icebox cake unmolded onto metal pan.

    Unmold the cake onto a serving platter. Top it with the remaining whipped cream, whole cider donuts, and diced apples. Slice the cake and serve.

    FAQs

    Where can I find apple cider donuts?

    If it's apple season and you have apple orchards nearby, you should be able to find freshly-baked donuts there. Otherwise, check the bakery department at your grocery store. Another option is to bake your own donuts, with a mix like this one from Stonewall Kitchen. (affiliate link.)

    Tips:

    • This icebox cake includes layers of my 10-Minute Spiced Apple Topping using 4 apples. It cooks up in literally 10 minutes, makes about 2 cups which is just right for this recipe, and cools down quickly, too. So make some!
    • If you really, really can't make the apple topping, you can substitute canned apple pie filling.
    • The cream cheese needs to be really soft, otherwise, it has a curdled texture. Here are some ways to soften cream cheese in a hurry.
    Long narrow icebox cake with cream, apple bits, and cider donuts.

    Are you ready to sink your teeth into this autumn-time treat?

    Find the recipe for Apple Cider Donut Icebox cake below. And do check out some other apple recipes to try!

    • Hands holding round loaf of baked brown bread.
      Irish Brown Bread
    • Round cookie balls covered in sugar
      Little Lime Cookies With Powdered Sugar
    • Slice of cream topped cinnamon pie
      Cinnamon Pie
    • apple blackberry crumble with cream
      Blackberry and Apple Crumble & Dingle, Ireland

    💬 How did you like this icebox cake? Leave a comment below.

    📖 Recipe

    Rectangular icebox cake with cream and crumble layers.

    Apple Cider Donut Icebox Cake

    Nancy Mock
    What do you get when you layer one of the best treats of fall with spiced apples and cream? Sheer, sliceable heaven! It's an Apple Cider Donut Icebox Cake.
    5 from 2 votes. Tap stars to vote
    Print it! Pin This Recipe
    Prep Time 1 hr
    Chilling time 8 hrs
    Total Time 9 hrs
    Course Cake, Chilled Dessert, Comfort Food, Dessert, Fall Dessert, Halloween
    Servings 8 servings

    Ingredients
      

    For the cream layer:

    • 1½ cups whipping cream
    • ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
    • 8 ounces cream cheese, very soft
    • ¾ cup confectioner's sugar
    • ½ cup toffee bits

    Other ingredients:

    • 8 apple cider donuts
    • ⅓ cup milk
    • 2 cups Spiced Apple Topping, cooled
    • 4 graham crackers
    • Optional: extra apple topping or toffee bits to decorate the finished cake

    Instructions
     

    • Place the bowl and whisk of a stand mixer in the freezer to chill for 10 minutes.
    • Line a 9x5-inch loaf pan with plastic wrap.

    Make the cream layer:

    • Assemble the bowl and whisk onto the mixer and pour in the whipping cream. Beat the cream on high speed—when it begins to thicken, add in the cream of tartar. Continue beating the cream until stiff peaks form.
    • Scoop the whipped cream into a separate bowl and hold it aside.
    • Add the softened cream cheese to the bowl; beat the cheese on medium speed until it's very smooth and creamy.
    • Pour the confectioner's sugar in, and mix until it's thoroughly combined with the cream cheese.
    • Fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese by hand, then stir in the toffee bits.
    • Scoop out one cup of the cream, and hold it in a covered dish in the fridge. (This will be to decorate the cake after chilling.)

    Prepare the donuts:

    • Set two of the cider donuts aside in a sealed bag or container—these will be used to garnish the cake at the end.
    • Place the remaining 6 donuts in a food processor, and pulse it to grind the donuts down to very coarse crumbs.
    • (If you don't have a food processor, you can crumble the donuts with your fingers.)
    • Add the ⅓ cup of milk to the crumbs. Stir until all the crumbs are moistened.

    Assemble the cake:

    • Divide the moistened donut crumbs into thirds.
    • Pour one-third of the cider donut crumbs into an even layer in the bottom of the lined loaf pan.
    • Pour half of the cooked apple topping in an even layer over the donut crumbs.
    • Pour another third of the donut crumbs into the pan and spread into an even layer.
    • Spread half of the whipped cream mixture over the donut crumbs in the pan.
    • Spread the rest of the cooked apple topping over the cream layer.
    • Spread the remaining third of moistened donut crumbs over the apples.
    • Spread the rest of the whipped cream mixture in an even layer in the pan.
    • Finally, layer the graham crackers over the cream, fitting them together as tightly as you can. A little overlap is okay. (The crackers will be the base of the cake when it's unmolded.)

    Chill the cake:

    • Cover the pan with plastic wrap. Lightly press the top of the cake to settle the ingredients together. Place the pan in the fridge.
    • Let the cake chill overnight or for at least 8 hours.

    Unmold and finish the cake:

    • Take the plastic off the top of the pan. Invert the cake onto a serving platter, and gently remove the pan.
    • Peel the plastic wrap off the top and sides of the cake.
    • Get the reserved whipped cream mixture from the fridge. Spoon it over the top of the cake.
    • Finish the cake with the two cider donuts you set aside: You can set the whole donuts on top, crumble them, or break them into chunks to decorate the top of the cake.
    • If you want, you can add extra apple topping or extra toffee bits to the top of the cake, too.
    • Slice and serve the cake. Store any leftovers covered with plastic wrap in the fridge for up to one week.

    Notes

    FAQs:

    Where can I find apple cider donuts?
    If it's apple season and you have apple orchards nearby, you should be able to find freshly-baked donuts there. Otherwise, check the bakery department at your grocery store. Another option is to bake your own donuts, with a mix like this one from Stonewall Kitchen. (affiliate link.)

    Tips:

    • This icebox cake includes layers of my 10-Minute Spiced Apple Topping using 4 apples. It cooks up in literally 10 minutes, makes about 2 cups which is just right for this recipe, and cools down quickly, too. So make some!
    • If you really, really can't make the apple topping, you can substitute canned apple pie filling.
    • The cream cheese needs to be really soft, otherwise, it has a curdled texture. Here are some ways to soften cream cheese in a hurry.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 8servingsCalories: 556kcalCarbohydrates: 70gProtein: 9gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 15gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 71mgSodium: 450mgPotassium: 238mgFiber: 1gSugar: 49gVitamin A: 888IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 210mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Leave a comment, tell me what you think!

    More Chilled Treats & Desserts

    • Strawberry Cream Cheese Icebox Cake
    • Three glass jars holding layered fruit and cream
      Cherry Trifle In A Jar
    • Cream and sprinkles-topped green milkshakes.
      Green Milkshakes for St. Patrick's Day
    • Small glass mason jar holding whipped cream with purple lilacs in background.
      Lilac Infused Whipped Cream

    Reader Interactions

    Ask Me Anything! Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Woman smiling and standing next to rack with baking equipment.
    Hungry Enough To Eat Six.com

    Hi-ya! I'm Nancy Mock and I live in beautiful northern Vermont with my family.

    Hungry Enough To Eat Six is comfort food and baking inspiration!

    Find a recipe now - head to the Recipe Index.

    Pies for Pi Day

    • Slice of chocolate and whipped cream pie on plate.
      Baileys Chocolate Irish Cream Pie
    • Whipped cream topped slice of berry pi on a white plate.
      The Best Fruits of the Forest Pie Recipe
    • Slice of cream topped cinnamon pie
      Cinnamon Pie
    • Slice of chocolate cream pie
      Salted Caramel Chocolate Cream Pie

    St. Patrick's Day Recipes

    • Scone with cream, chocolate, and berries.
      Baileys Irish Cream Scones with Whiskey-Chocolate Sauce
    • Round loaf of soda bread in hands and on green cloth.
      Traditional Irish Soda Bread
    • Corned beef sandwiches with slaw on rolls.
      Cold Corned Beef and Cabbage Sandwiches
    • Fruit cake slice on a black plate
      Irish Apple and Blackberry Cake with Vanilla Hard Sauce

    Spring Recipes

    • Frosted lemon roll on a plate.
      Iced Lemon Rolls With Cardamom
    • Small glass mason jar holding whipped cream with purple lilacs in background.
      Lilac Infused Whipped Cream
    • Baked pan of scones
      Orange Cardamom Scones with Maple Glaze
    • White plate with slice of orange carrot quiche.
      Cheddar Quiche with Roasted Carrots and Onion

    Trending Recipes

    • Slice of chocolate cream pie
      Salted Caramel Chocolate Cream Pie

    • Cheesy Cheddar Kielbasa Rice

    • row of baked peanut butter cookies
      Peanut Butter Caramel Cookies

    • Two small glasses of lemon drink
      The Best Lemon Margarita

    As seen on:

    Logos for various websites
    Chocolate pie in dish and slice on a plate.
    Tap Here To See The Stories

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    • Instagram
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest

    About Me

    • ABOUT ME
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • DISCLAIMER
    • WEBSITE TERMS OF USE

    Newsletter

    • SIGN UP! for my newsletter

    Contact

    • CONTACT ME

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Banner with website logos

    © 2013-2023 Nancy Mock, Hungry Enough To Eat Six: Unauthorized use and/or duplication of content from this site without express and written permission is strictly prohibited. Contact Nancy Mock through the About Me page for permissions.

    ©2023 Foodie Pro on the Foodie Pro Theme