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Spiced Apple Cider Donut Loaf

Spiced apple cider donut loaf bakes a golden, cinnamon-sugar crust after reducing apple cider down to 1/2 cup and mixing into a tender quick-bread batter. Expect classic cider-donut flavor in a loaf form with a quick 40 to 45 minute bake and a buttery cinnamon-sugar topping.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 10 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 360
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Spiced apple cider donut loaf
  • 1 cup apple cider Reduce to 1/2 cup before using.
  • 1 cup butter Soften for batter; melt 3 tbsp for topping.
  • 1 cup sugar Used for batter sweetness and combined topping.
  • 2 eggs Large eggs.
  • 2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1.5 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp for batter.
  • 0.5 tsp nutmeg
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 0.5 cup milk
  • 3 tbsp butter Melted, for topping.
  • 0.33 cup cinnamon sugar For topping.

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan
  • 1 stand mixer

Method
 

Reduce the cider and prep the pan
  1. Simmer the apple cider in a small saucepan until reduced to 1/2 cup, then let it cool completely.
  2. Preheat the oven to 350°F, then grease a loaf pan.
Mix the batter
  1. Cream the softened butter and sugar together until smooth, then beat in the eggs one at a time.
  2. Whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a separate bowl.
  3. Alternate folding in the dry ingredients and milk, then stir in the reduced cider until just combined.
Bake and finish
  1. Pour the batter into the loaf pan and bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
  2. Brush the hot loaf with melted butter and roll in cinnamon sugar for a crisp, donut-style crust.

Notes

Key pro tip: reducing the cider concentrates its flavor—don’t skip it, and let the reduced cider cool before mixing so the batter stays smooth and bakes evenly. Store leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 4 days. Freezing is yes—wrap tightly and freeze up to 2 months, thaw overnight in the refrigerator. For a lighter option, you can use half the butter (replace with an equal amount of unsweetened Greek yogurt) while keeping the topping butter unchanged.