Mini Spiced Bundt Cakes

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. 

⭐ 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).

📖 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! Then use the same method for making this Chocolate & Blackberry Bundt Cake!
• 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.

⏲️ 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

❄️ 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

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! 📧