Description
This easy homemade apple cider donut loaf brings all the cozy, nostalgic flavors of classic apple cider donuts into a moist, tender quick bread—no deep-frying required. With a crunchy cinnamon-sugar topping and concentrated apple cider, it’s the perfect fall treat for breakfast, brunch, or dessert.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (240ml) apple cider, reduced to 1/2 cup (120ml)
- 2 cups (240g) all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons (7g) baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon (2g) baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon (3g) salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons (4g) ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon (1g) ground nutmeg
- 1/2 cup (115g) unsalted butter, melted
- 3/4 cup (150g) brown sugar
- 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1/2 cup (120g) sour cream or Greek yogurt
- 1 teaspoon (5ml) vanilla extract
- For the cinnamon sugar topping:
- 1/3 cup (65g) granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon (2g) ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons (28g) melted butter
Instructions
- Pour 1 cup apple cider into a small saucepan and simmer over medium heat until reduced to 1/2 cup (about 10 minutes). Let cool.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan and line with parchment paper for easy removal.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- In a large bowl, whisk together melted butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and reduced apple cider until smooth.
- Add eggs, sour cream or Greek yogurt, and vanilla extract to the wet mixture. Whisk until just combined.
- Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and gently fold with a spatula until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Scrape batter into prepared loaf pan and smooth the top.
- Bake for 45–55 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
- While the loaf bakes, mix 1/3 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon for the topping.
- When the loaf comes out of the oven, brush the top with 2 tablespoons melted butter and sprinkle cinnamon sugar over while still warm.
- Let loaf cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then lift out using parchment. Slice and serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
Reduce the apple cider for concentrated flavor—don’t skip this step. Use room temperature eggs and sour cream for best texture. Don’t overmix the batter. Sprinkle cinnamon sugar topping while loaf is warm for a crunchy crust. Let loaf cool before slicing for neat pieces. Can be made gluten-free or vegan with appropriate swaps.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/10 loaf)
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 17
- Sodium: 180
- Fat: 7
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 32
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 4
Keywords: apple cider donut loaf, apple cider bread, fall baking, cinnamon sugar loaf, easy quick bread, autumn dessert, apple recipes, cozy baking