Spiced Apple Cider Donut Loaf With A Cinnamon Sugar Crust Recipe
This Spiced Apple Cider Donut Loaf is a moist, flavorful treat perfect for fall. Infused with warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice, and complemented by a sweet cinnamon sugar crust, this loaf brings the classic taste of apple cider donuts to an easy-to-make baked good. The loaf combines the comforting flavors of autumn in every bite, ideal for breakfast, snack, or dessert.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 8 to 10 servings 1x
- Category: Baked Goods
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- ½ tsp ground allspice
Wet Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup apple cider
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Cinnamon Sugar Crust
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 4 tablespoons (56g) unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- Prepare Oven and Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease or line a 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper, ensuring you leave an overhang for easy removal of the loaf.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and allspice until evenly mixed.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk melted butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, apple cider, and vanilla extract until smooth and fully combined.
- Mix Batter: Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients. Gently fold the ingredients together with a rubber spatula just until no dry flour streaks remain—avoid overmixing to keep the loaf tender.
- Bake Loaf: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top. Bake for 50 to 65 minutes or until a wooden skewer inserted in the center comes out clean. If the top browns too fast, loosely tent with foil to prevent burning.
- Cool Loaf: Remove the pan from the oven and let the loaf cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 to 15 minutes. Carefully remove the loaf from the pan and allow it to continue cooling on the rack until just warm, about 15 to 20 minutes.
- Prepare Cinnamon Sugar Crust: While the loaf is cooling, mix ¼ cup granulated sugar and 1 tsp ground cinnamon in a shallow dish. Melt 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter separately for brushing.
- Apply Crust: Brush the warm loaf generously on all sides with the melted butter, then roll or sprinkle it in the cinnamon sugar mixture until fully coated.
- Final Cooling and Serve: Return the coated loaf to the wire rack and allow it to cool completely to room temperature before slicing with a serrated knife and serving.
Notes
- Be careful not to overmix the batter to keep the loaf tender and moist.
- If apple cider is unavailable, you can substitute with apple juice but reduce other liquids slightly.
- The cinnamon sugar crust is best applied while the loaf is still warm to ensure it adheres well.
- Store leftover loaf wrapped at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
- This loaf freezes well; slice before freezing and thaw slices as needed.
Keywords: apple cider loaf, spiced donut loaf, cinnamon sugar crust, fall desserts, baked apple cider bread
