Nothing says fall like this soft, moist Apple Cider Donut Loaf! Warm and spiced apple loaf finished with a buttery cinnamon-sugar coating, giving you the classic donut flavors!
Check out my Pumpkin Banana Bread recipe for another fall bread loaf dessert!
APPLE CIDER DONUT LOAF
If you love apple cider donuts, you are going to be obsessed with this delicious loaf! This simple apple cider donut loaf is soft, moist and loaded with spiced apple flavors. Skip the work of making apple cider donuts and make this simple, easy to slice dessert loaf instead. The perfect sweet treat no matter the occasion or time of day!
WHAT YOU NEED-
- Flour– Be sure to use a high-quality all-purpose flour to ensure that your bread loaf comes out perfectly! I love using Bob’s Red Mill All-Purpose flour.
- Baking Soda & Powder– Adding baking powder and baking soda to the batter is what helps the loaf rise and become fluffy. Be sure to use fresh baking powder and baking soda.
- Apple Pie Spice– To elevate the apple cider flavors in this loaf, you want to use apple pie spice. I do not recommend skipping this spice!
- Salt– Adding salt to the batter doesn’t make the bread salty but elevates the flavors!
- Apple Cider– The main ingredient in this apple cider donut loaf is the reduced apple cider! Be sure to use apple cider NOT apple juice. Be sure the reduced apple cider is slightly cooled before adding it to the batter.
- Sugar– To sweeten this dessert loaf, both granulated sugar and brown sugar is used. You can use either light or dark brown sugar for this dish.
- Eggs– Fresh large eggs are what helps bind all the ingredients together.
- Vanilla- You can use either vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste in this dessert loaf batter.
- Butter– Either salted or unsalted butter can be used in this recipe. Just be sure the melted butter is slightly cooled before adding it to the batter.
- Apple Sauce– Either sweetened or unsweetened apple sauce will work for this recipe. Apple sauce gives this load additional moisture and apple flavors.
- Cinnamon Sugar Topping– To ensure you get all the apple cider donut flavors, you want to finish this loaf off by brushing the loaf with melted butter then a cinnamon sugar topping!
- Brown Sugar Icing– I love drizzling this loaf with a little brown sugar icing for additional flavors, it’s like a cherry on top! This is totally optional. All you need for this icing is powdered sugar, milk, cinnamon and brown sugar.
HOW TO MAKE APPLE CIDER LOAF
Have this warm spiced apple cider dessert loaf baking in under 15 minutes of prep time!
- Start by reducing the apple cider until it’s cut in half, then let it cool slightly.
- Preheat the oven and line a bread pan with parchment paper.
- Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl and set aside.
- In a separate bowl, combine all the wet ingredients for the apple cider loaf. Add the dry ingredients to the wet batter and mix just until combined.
- Pour the apple cider loaf batter into the lined bread pan.
- Bake until the apple cider donut loaf is golden around the edges, and the toothpick comes out clean.
- Let the loaf cool slightly, then brush it with melted butter and coat it with cinnamon sugar.
- For an extra-sweet finish, drizzle with brown sugar icing before slicing and serving.
QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE:
The reason for reducing the apple cider is removing extra water giving you stronger cider flavors. I do not recommend skipping this step.
No! Be sure NOT to use apple juice or apple cider vinegar. This recipe calls for apple cider.
I used a classic 9×3 bread pan for this dessert loaf. You can also use a smaller bread loaf pan, the bake time might change a little.
Yes! You can divide the batter into classic or mini muffin pans, bake then coat in the cinnamon sugar mixture. This is the perfect batter for a bread loaf or muffins. You will just need to adjust the bake time, since the muffins are smaller the bake time will be less.
You can make mini baked donut holes, by dividing the dough into a mini muffin pan or mini donut pan for mini donuts. Bake for about 8-12 minutes, then dip in butter and then the cinnamon sugar.
No, you can totally skip the icing but for the ultimate apple cider donut flavors you don’t want to skip the cinnamon sugar topping.
Once the donut loaf is cooled, store at room temp for 3-4 days.
OTHER APPLE RECIPES-
Check out these other delicious apple desserts, the perfect dessert ideas for fall!
Best Apple Cider Donut Loaf
Ingredients
Apple Cider Donut Loaf Batter-
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- ½ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 2 tsp apple pie spice
- ½ tsp salt
- 1/2 cup apple cider reduced (1 cup before reducing)
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup unsalted or salted butter melted and cooled
- 1/2 cup applesauce 4 oz cup
Cinnamon Sugar Topping-
- 1 Tbsp unsalted butter melted
- 1 1/2 Tbsp granulated sugar
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
Brown Sugar Icing-
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 Tbsp whole milk
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 Tbsp brown sugar
Instructions
- Add 1 cup apple cider to a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium-low heat. As the cider is simmering, it will begin to reduce. Continue for about 5–10 minutes, or until the cider has reduced by half. (You will need ½ cup of reduced apple cider for the loaf batter. Set aside to cool slightly.)
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a loaf pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang on the sides for easy loaf removal.
- In a bowl, sift together the dry ingredients and set aside.2 cups all purpose flour, ½ tsp baking soda, 1 tsp baking powder, 2 tsp apple pie spice, ½ tsp salt
- In a separate large bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients until combined.3/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 2 large eggs, 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract, 1/2 cup unsalted or salted butter, melted and cooled, 1/2 cup applesauce, 4 oz cup, 1/2 cup apple cider, reduced (1 cup before reducing)
- Add in the dry ingredients and whisk just until combined. Do not overmix.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Bake at 350°F for 40–45 minutes, or until a toothpick or fork inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
- Allow the loaf to cool in the pan for 10–15 minutes, then use the parchment paper to lift it out and transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Once the bread loaf is slightly cooled, brush the top of the loaf with melted butter and then sprinkle it with cinnamon sugar topping. (Drizzle with brown sugar icing if desired.)1 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted, 1 1/2 Tbsp granulated sugar, 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- In a small bowl, whisk together the ingredients for the brown sugar icing. Drizzle the brown sugar icing over the apple cider donut loaf. (This step is optional.)1 cup powdered sugar, 1/2 Tbsp whole milk, ½ tsp ground cinnamon, 1/2 Tbsp brown sugar
- Slice and serve warm.
Leave a Reply