Apple Cider Doughnut Bread Recipe With Cinnamon Sugar Topping
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Can’t get to the orchard for fresh apple cider doughnuts? Try this apple cider doughnut bread recipe! Topped with a cinnamon sugar coating for sweetness and crunch, it’s perfect for breakfast, dessert, or a cozy snack.
There’s nothing quite like the taste of a freshly made apple cider doughnut in the fall with the warmth of cinnamon, the sweetness of apples, and the perfect sugary crunch in every bite.
But what if you could recreate that cozy, orchard experience at home, anytime of the year?
Enter this apple cider doughnut bread recipe.
It’s the perfect way to bring those comforting autumn flavors into your kitchen.
This delicious quick bread is everything you love about apple cider doughnuts, but in convenient loaf form.
Topped with a buttery cinnamon sugar coating, each slice offers the same sweet and spiced flavors, with a moist and tender crumb.
So…is your mouth watering yet, because mine sure is!
Whether you’re enjoying it for breakfast with a cup of coffee, as an afternoon snack, or dessert after dinner, this bread will make your home smell like fall and satisfy your cravings for all things cozy.
Let’s whip up this simple, comforting bread in just a few easy steps!
What you’ll love about this recipe:
Apple Cider Doughnut Loaf Cake Ingredients
To create this deliciously spiced and perfectly sweet apple cider doughnut loaf, gather the following ingredients…
For the Bread
For the Cinnamon Sugar Topping
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How to Make Apple Cider Donut Bread
Follow these step by step instructions to transform simple ingredients into a delicious fall treat that combines the warm, comforting flavors of apple cider doughnuts with the convenience of a quick bread.
One. Preheat and Prep
Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees.
Spray a 9×5 loaf pan with baking spray, line it with parchment paper, and set it aside.
Two. Reduce the Apple Cider
Pour the apple cider into a small saucepan, bring it to a gentle simmer over medium heat, and reduce it by half.
This process will concentrate the apple flavor, which is key to the doughnut-like taste in the bread.
Allow it to cool while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.
Three. Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice.
These dry ingredients will create a warm, spiced base for your bread.
Four. Cream the Butter & Sugars
In a large bowl, cream the softened butter with brown sugar and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
This will give your bread a tender texture.
Add the eggs one at a time, then mix in the applesauce and vanilla extract until well combined.
Five. Combine the Wet Ingredients With the Dry Ingredients
Alternate adding the flour mixture and the apple cider reduction to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined.
pro Tip
- When combining the wet and dry ingredients, be sure to mix just until everything is incorporated. Over mixing the batter can cause the gluten in the flour to overdevelop which will give you a dense, tough bread.
Six. Bake the Bread
Pour the cake batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Transfer the warm cake to a wire rack.
Seven. Cinnamon Sugar Topping
While the bread cools, melt the butter in a small bowl.
In a separate dish, mix together the sugar and cinnamon.
Once the bread has cooled, brush the melted butter over the top of the cake and on all sides, then generously sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar mixture.
Eight. Cool & Enjoy
Allow the bread to cool completely before slicing.
Each slice will have a buttery, cinnamon sugar crust that tastes just like a cozy apple cider doughnut!
Tips & Tricks
- For the best apple cider flavor, reduce the apple cider by half.
- Using room temperature butter, eggs, and applesauce can help create a smoother batter and ensures that the ingredients blend evenly.
- Mix the wet and dry ingredients just until combined. Overmixing can lead to a dense, less tender loaf.
- Don’t be shy with the cinnamon-sugar topping! It’s what gives this bread its signature doughnut like flavor and texture.
- Allow the bread to cool completely before slicing. This helps the flavors to set and prevents the bread from falling apart when you cut into it.
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Can I use apple juice instead of apple cider?
If you’re not able to find apple cider you can replace it with apple juice.
If you can find an unsweetened apple juice that would work best, otherwise, your bread may be a little too sweet.
What is the difference between apple cider and apple juice?
Apple cider is typically made from fresh-pressed apple juice that has not been filtered to remove pulp and sediment, giving it a thicker, more textured consistency with a slightly cloudy appearance. It often has a more robust, tangy flavor because it includes the apple’s natural sugars and acids. On the other hand, apple juice is usually filtered to remove solids and then pasteurized, resulting in a clearer, smoother liquid with a sweeter taste.
What is the best way to store apple cider cake?
The best way to store the bread is to keep it in an airtight container or wrapped with plastic wrap at room temperature for 4-5 days.
You want to make sure the bread is completely cooled before storing to prevent moisture buildup, which will make the bread soggy.
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Can I freeze the apple cider donut loaf cake?
Yes!
Once the bread is cooled, wrap the entire loaf or individual slices tightly in plastic wrap.
For added protection, you can also wrap it in foil or place it in a freezer-safe bag. Label the wrapped bread with the date and freeze it for up to 3 months.
When you’re ready to enjoy it, simply thaw the bread at room temperature.
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Apple Cider Doughnut Bread
Ingredients
For the Bread
- 1 cup Apple Cider
- 2 cups All Purpose Flour spooned & leveled
- 1 ½ teaspoons Baking Powder
- ½ teaspoon Baking Soda
- ¾ teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon Nutmeg freshly grated
- ¼ teaspoon All Spice
- ½ cup Unsalted Butter softened
- ½ cup Brown Sugar packed
- ½ cup Granulated Sugar
- 2 Large Eggs room temperature
- 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
- ½ cup Unsweetened Apple sauce
For the Topping
- 1/2 cup Granulated Sugar
- 2 teaspoons Ground Cinnamon
- 4 tablespoons Unsalted Butter melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Spray 9 x 5 loaf pan with baking spray, line with parchment paper, and set aside.
- Pour apple cider into a small saucepan and place on stove over medium heat. Bring to a gentle simmer, for 20-25 minutes or until reduced by half, stirring occasionally.
- Remove from heat and cool completely, approximately 10 minutes. You should have about ½ a cup of cider.
- While the cider cools, add the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and all spice) to a medium sized mixing bowl. Using a whisk or fork, mix until well combined.
- In a large mixing bowl combine butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar with a handheld or stand mixer. Mix on medium speed until light & fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, as necessary.
- With mixer on low add eggs, one at a time. Then mix in the applesauce and vanilla until combined.
- To the wet ingredients add the flour mixture, alternating with cooled apple cider. Mix just until blended making sure not to over mix.
- Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.
- Bake 50-55 minutes until lightly browned and cooked through. Transfer to a cooling rack and cool for 10 minutes.
- While the bread cools, melt butter in a small dish. In a separate dish combine sugar and cinnamon.
- Remove bread from loaf pan and allow to cool an additional five minutes.
- Once bread has cooled brush butter on all sides and top of the loaf pan. Sprinkle generously with cinnamon and sugar.
- Allow it to cool completely before slicing. Enjoy!
Notes
- For the best apple flavor, reduce the apple cider by half.
- Use room temperature butter, eggs, and applesauce can help create a smoother batter and ensures that the ingredients blend evenly.
- Mix the wet and dry ingredients just until combined. Overmixing can lead to a dense, less tender loaf.
- Don’t be shy with the cinnamon-sugar topping! It’s what gives this bread its signature doughnut like flavor and texture.
- Allow the bread to cool completely before slicing. This helps the flavors to set and prevents the bread from falling apart when you cut into it.
Nutrition
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I’m so glad to know you and your family loved this recipe! Thank you for letting me know!!!
I love baking anything apple and I dearly love apple cider doughnuts. This bread really fills that niche. I’ve made it twice this month. My adult grandchildren loved it and asked for the recipe. I used homemade applesauce and apple cider fresh from the orchard. I cut back on the amount of melted butter and sugar used for the topping but other than that, changed nothing. This with a cup of tea is the perfect fall treat.
That is very strange Lynn, I don’t have that problem on my end. I’m going to email you the apple cider donut recipe.
Not sure what I am doing wrong, but whenever I try to print one of your delicious looking recipes, it shows up blank or blacked out pages.
Yay!!! Thank you letting me know!
Delicious!
Thank you Colleen, I’m so glad you like this recipe!
Thank you!
This will be made on repeat all fall! The flavors in this bread are perfect and it truly tastes like an apple cider donut! I have made several loaves to share with friends and family and everyone has loved it!
This apple cider loaf is delicious and so easy to make! It’s moist & tender and tastes just like a hot apple cider donut…yummy!