• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Emily Laurae
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Contact
  • Portfolio
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Fall Recipes
  • All Recipes
  • About
  • Subscribe
  • Portfolio
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Fall Recipes
    • All Recipes
    • About
    • Subscribe
    • Portfolio
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Cakes & Cupcakes

    Mini Spiced Bundt Cakes

    Published: Jan 16, 2023 · Modified: Sep 26, 2023 by Emily Laurae · This post may contain affiliate links.

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    These Mini Spiced Bundt Cakes are warm and comforting thanks to the porter beer and spiced cake batter. Baked in mini bundt pans, the adorable cakes are finished with cream cheese frosting on top and are perfect for fall gatherings and holiday get-togethers. 

    Mini Spiced Bundt Cakes
    Jump to:
    • ⭐ Why You’ll Love This Recipe 
    • 🍴Ingredients
    • 📖 Step by Step Instructions
    • 👩🏻‍🍳 Expert Tips
    • ⏲️ Substitutions & Variations
    • 💭 Recipe FAQs
    • ❄️ Storing and freezing
    • More fall desserts you’ll love
    • Mini Spiced Bundt Cakes
    • 💬 Comments

    ⭐ Why You’ll Love This Recipe 

    There’s something special about revamping traditional cakes into elegant single-serving desserts. They’re adorable, and delicious! Whether you’re serving Mini Limoncello Lemon Bundt Cakes, Cherry Chocolate Mini Cakes, or these Mini Spiced Bundt Cakes, a mini cake in hand with a cup of coffee will always make the event or party so much better.

    Instead of baking the cake batter in one large pan, I used mini bundt cake molds to make a dozen mini cakes. Bundt pans feature sharp ridges and elegant designs, giving each warmly spiced cake plenty of character without having to rely on garnishes or decoration. A dollop of cream cheese frosting is all you need!

    This is the best spiced bundt cake recipe on account of one ingredient you’d never expect …beer in the form of a rich porter! I’ll spare you the science-y details behind it, but baking cakes with beer gives extra lift, an extra moist and fluffy crumb, and intensifies the indulgent flavors. You’ll quickly fall for these mini cakes because they’re so beautifully simplistic and packed with some seriously comforting flavors.

    🍴Ingredients

    Here's some key simple ingredients you'll need to make these spiced bundt cakes:

    • Cake flour - It’s made from soft wheat and has less protein than all purpose flour, leaving you with cakes that have an extra-fine, dense crumb.
    • Warming spices - This wouldn’t be a spiced cake without the spices! You’ll need ground ginger, allspice, cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, and freshly ground nutmeg. 
    • Brown sugar and molasses - Yes, you should use both. Brown sugar adds a necessary sweetness and chew, while the molasses adds moisture and lends a dynamic caramel-like taste.
    • Beer - A nice porter is a great way to enhance the warm spices with malted chocolate flavor, while a creamy stout creates notes of cocoa and coffee. You won’t need the entire bottle, so use a beer you’ll enjoy sipping as you bake! If you can’t find a porter or stout, you can use a full-bodied dark lager or brown ale.
    • Cream cheese frosting - This creamy, tangy frosting is easy to make using room temperature unsalted butter, cream cheese, sifted confectioners' sugar, and vanilla paste (or vanilla extract).
    Mini Spiced Bundt Cakes
    Mini Spiced Bundt Cakes

    📖 Step by Step Instructions

    Step 1: Make the spice cake batter. Whisk the dry ingredients - spices, flour, baking soda, and salt together in a medium bowl. In a larger bowl, whisk the wet ingredients - oil, brown sugar, molasses, beer, and egg together. Add the flour mixture to the wet mixture and stir to combine.  

    Step 2: Bake the mini cakes. Divide the smooth batter evenly in your greased mini bundt pan and bake until a toothpick comes out clean. Let the cakes cool on a cooling rack while you make the frosting. 

    Step 3: Make the cream cheese frosting. Beat the butter and cream cheese together. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla, and continue beating until the mixture becomes smooth and fluffy.

    Step 4: Frost the cakes, then serve. Using a piping bag or ziplock bag, pipe a dollop of cream cheese frosting on top of each bundt cake. Serve and enjoy! 

    Looking to create delicious and homemade garnishes to elevate your creations? Try adding Sugared Flowers, Candied Rose Petals, Dried Orange Slices or Sugared berries!

    👩🏻‍🍳 Expert Tips

    • Always bake with room temperature ingredients - Set your chilled ingredients out on the counter at least 30 minutes in advance. Room temperature ingredients are always easier to work with, are easier to incorporate into batters, and produce better bakes.
    • Grease the cake molds VERY well - Use non-stick cooking spray or melted butter and a pastry brush to ensure you get into all of the nooks and crannies. There’s nothing worse than these little cakes sticking to the pan!
    • Baking in a standard bundt pan instead - Pour the batter into a greased standard bundt cake pan and bake at 350ºF for about 1 hour. Check out my Spiced Bundt Cake With Cranberries for more detailed instructions.
     Mini Spiced Bundt Cakes

    ⏲️ Substitutions & Variations

    This spice cake recipe is delicious on its own and doesn’t require any frostings or decorations. However, if you’re feeling fancy, feel free to push the cream cheese frosting aside and use any of these ideas instead:

    • Powdered sugar and berries - Sugared cranberries would also be delightful here. 
    • Chocolate ganache - Drizzle a smooth dark chocolate ganache or white chocolate ganache over each cake.
    • Buttercream frosting - Add a dollop of brown butter buttercream or raspberry French buttercream instead.
    • Caramel sauce or chocolate syrup - Drizzled all over the tops. 
    • Textured toppings - Garnish your mini spice cakes with crunchy toppings like toasted coconut flakes, chopped nuts, or toffee bits.

    💭 Recipe FAQs

    Can you make these cakes without beer?

    Typically, when a cake recipe calls for beer, you can replace it with brewed coffee, carbonated cola, seltzer, or ginger ale. I’ve only made these cakes with porter or stout, but root beer could also work well as a non-alcoholic option. 

    How long do you bake mini spiced bundt cakes?

    Begin checking for doneness with a toothpick after about 16 minutes. After that, they shouldn’t take much longer than 20 minutes. For best results, make sure not to over bake to ensure you have moist cake!

    Some of my favorite bundt cakes are made of all kinds of flavors - malted chocolate bundt cake, valentine's day bundt cakes, and a chocolate olive oil bundt cake!

    I don’t have cake flour. Can I use all purpose flour instead?

    Cake flour really is the best option here because it produces a light and delicate crumb. Thankfully, DIY cake flour is easy to make at home! For every one cup of flour, remove one tablespoon of flour and replace it with one tablespoon of cornstarch.

    Mini Spiced Bundt Cakes

    ❄️ Storing and freezing

    To store: Refrigerate any extra mini cakes in a shallow airtight container for up to 5 days.

    To freeze: Wrap each of the cooled, unfrosted mini cakes in plastic wrap and keep them in a freezer-safe bag in the freezer for up to 1 month. Thaw at room temperature before frosting and serving.

    More fall desserts you’ll love

    • Stacked vanilla macarons.
      Vanilla Macarons
    • Overhead view of a bubbly negroni.
      Negroni Spritz Cocktail Recipe
    • Sliced Seeded Pumpkin Loaf
      Simple Seeded Pumpkin Loaf
    • Simmer pot on a stove with apples and spices.
      How to Make a Simmer Pot

    If you try this recipe for Mini Spiced Bundt Cakes, please leave a 🌟 review and share your creation with me on social media! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube and Pinterest - for more delicious recipes sent straight to your inbox, sign up for my newsletter! 📧 

    Mini Spiced Bundt Cakes

    Mini Spiced Bundt Cakes

    The perfect spiced cake treat to start the holiday season off right! 
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 16 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 46 minutes minutes
    Servings: 12 Petit Cakes
    Calories: 268kcal
    Author: Emily Laurae

    Equipment

    • Bowls
    • Whisk
    • Spatula
    • Mini Bundt Cake Pan
    • Toothpick
    • Cooling Rack
    • Stand or Hand Mixer
    • Piping Bag & Piping Tip

    Ingredients
     

    Spice Cakes

    • 175 g (1 ⅓ Cups + 1 Tbsp) Cake Flour
    • ½ tablespoon Ground Ginger
    • ¼ teaspoon Allspice
    • ¼ teaspoon Cloves
    • ½ teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
    • ½ teaspoon Ground Cardamom
    • ½ teaspoon Freshly Ground Nutmeg
    • ½ teaspoon Baking Soda
    • Pinch Salt
    • 87 g (⅓ Cup + 1 Tbsp) Canola or Grapeseed Oil
    • 75 g (⅓ Cup) Brown Sugar
    • 165 g (½ Cup) Molasses
    • 100 ml (½ Cup) Porter or Stout
    • 1 Large Egg

    Cream Cheese Frosting

    • 60 g (¼ Cup) Unsalted Butter, room temperature
    • 225 g (1 Cups) Cream Cheese, room temperature
    • 120 g (1 Cups) Sifted Powdered Sugar
    • ½ tablespoon Vanilla Paste, or vanilla extract

    Instructions

    Spice Cakes

    • Preheat oven to 330°F
    • Whisk together all your dry ingredients in a medium bowl - the spices, flour, baking soda and salt then set aside.
      175 g Cake Flour, ½ tablespoon Ground Ginger, ¼ teaspoon Allspice, ¼ teaspoon Cloves, ½ teaspoon Ground Cinnamon, ½ teaspoon Ground Cardamom, ½ teaspoon Freshly Ground Nutmeg, ½ teaspoon Baking Soda, Pinch Salt
    • Add all of the wet ingredients into a large bowl and whisk to completely combine. Then, add the dry ingredients and mix until smooth.
      87 g Canola or Grapeseed Oil, 75 g Brown Sugar, 165 g Molasses, 100 ml Porter or Stout, 1 Large Egg
    • Add ¼ cup of batter into your greased molds and bake for 16-20 minutes - testing for doneness with a toothpick before removing from the oven.
    • Allow the cakes to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before removing them. Once completely cool you can spoon, pipe, or dollop a bit of cream cheese frosting on top before enjoying!

    Cream Cheese Frosting

    • Beat together the softened butter and cream cheese on medium speed until it’s smooth and somewhat fluffy. 
      60 g Unsalted Butter, 225 g Cream Cheese
    • Scrape down the sides, then add in the powdered sugar slowly and vanilla paste – you’re now prepared to frost and enjoy your cakes!
      120 g Sifted Powdered Sugar, ½ tablespoon Vanilla Paste

    Notes

    Tips and variations
    • Always bake with room temperature ingredients - Set your chilled ingredients out on the counter at least 30 minutes in advance. Room temperature ingredients are always easier to work with, are easier to incorporate into batters, and produce better bakes.
    • Grease the cake molds VERY well - Use non-stick cooking spray or melted butter and a pastry brush to ensure you get into all of the nooks and crannies. There’s nothing worse than a bundt cake sticking to the pan!
    • Baking in a standard bundt pan instead - Pour the batter into a greased standard bundt cake pan and bake at 350ºF for about 1 hour. Check out my Spiced Bundt Cake With Cranberries for more detailed instructions.
    Storing and freezing
    To store: Refrigerate any extra mini cakes in a shallow airtight container for up to 5 days.
    To freeze: Wrap each of the cooled, unfrosted mini cakes in plastic wrap and keep them in a freezer-safe bag in the freezer for up to 1 month. Thaw at room temperature before frosting and serving.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 268kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 45mg | Sodium: 119mg | Potassium: 263mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 397IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 1mg
    Enjoyed this recipe?Mention @emilylaurae or tag #emilylaurae!

    More Cupcake, Single Layer Cake and Layer Rake Recipes

    • One Pan Double Chocolate Cake Recipe with Fluffy Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
    • Spiced Bundt Cake With Cream Cheese and Cranberries
    • Caramel Apple Spice Cake.
      Salted Caramel Apple Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
    • Cream Cheese Frosting Without Butter

    About Emily Laurae

    Emily is the recipe developer, writer, and food photographer behind Emily Laurae. After finishing Pastry School and working as a chef in the restaurant industry, she created this blog to share those skills with home bakers and creators all over the world!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Tanya

      August 13, 2023 at 5:22 pm

      This recipe looks amazing! Can you share where your mini bundt pans came from? I would love to create something pretty close to your presentation. So pretty and sounds delicious! I'm eager to try it!

      Thank you!

      Reply
      • Emily Laurae

        August 25, 2023 at 3:08 pm

        Of course! The most similar bundt pan looks to be the Nordic Ware Brilliance Bundtlette - I see that it's on amazon as well!

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    HELLO MY FRIENDS, I'M EMILY!

    Welcome to my blog, where I'm sharing a collection of my favorite recipes, tips and tricks for you to create and enjoy in your home kitchen! I'm a professionally trained pastry chef, recipe developer and food photographer currently living in Los Angeles - looking forward to baking with you!

    ✨ Learn More About Emily ✨

    Fall Recipes

    • Coffee Macarons with Coffee Ganache on the counter.
      Coffee Macarons with Coffee Ganache
    • Air Fryer butternut squash on the counter.
      Air Fryer Butternut Squash (Cooked Whole)
    • Raspberry Banana Sour Cream Muffins.
      Raspberry Banana Sour Cream Muffins
    • Scooped edible sugar cookie dough with sprinkles.
      Edible Sugar Cookie Dough
    • Pumpkin Spice Macarons with Dark Chocolate Ganache.
      Pumpkin Spice Macarons with Dark Chocolate Ganache
    • Honey latte in a glass mug with ground cinnamon on the top.
      Honey Latte with Cinnamon (Easy Starbucks Copycat Recipe)

    Trending Recipes

    • Dutch oven sourdough bread - baked in a dutch oven.
      How to make Sourdough Bread (Dutch Oven Method)
    • 15+ Flavored Simple Syrup Recipes for Cakes, Cocktails, Coffee, and More!
      15+ Flavored Simple Syrup Recipes for Cakes, Cocktails, Coffee, & More!
    • How to make Sugared Berries
      How to make Sugared Berries
    • Chewy Molasses Cookies with Candied Ginger Stack
      Chewy Molasses Cookies with Candied Ginger
    • Medicine ball tea - Starbucks copycat.
      Medicine Ball (5 Minute Starbucks Copycat Hot Tea Recipe)
    • Sourdough grilled cheese sandwich on a plate.
      The Ultimate Sourdough Grilled Cheese Sandwich

    FEATURED ON

    Featured image including martha stewart, sur la table, southern living,walmart and albertsons.

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Page
    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility
    • Photography Gear Guide
    • Shop

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up so you're the first to know about new recipes, kitchen tips, and events!

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Classes & Events
    • Collaborations & Partnerships
    • Special Orders

    Copyright © 2023 Emily Laurae of ACD Studio - All Rights Reserved