Go Back

Apple Cider Donut Bread

Apple cider donut bread with a tender spiced crumb and a thick cinnamon sugar crust. The loaf is baked until a toothpick comes out clean, then brushed with melted butter and coated for a donut-like finish.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
cooling + cider reduction 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes
Servings: 10 servings
Course: Desserts & Baking
Cuisine: American
Calories: 340
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Apple cider reduction
  • 1.5 cup apple cider
Dry ingredients
  • 2.5 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 0.5 tsp baking soda
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 1.5 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 0.5 tsp nutmeg
Wet ingredients
  • 0.5 cup butter, softened
  • 0.75 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 2 large eggs
  • 0.5 cup sour cream
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
Topping
  • 3 tbsp butter, melted
  • 0.33 cup sugar mixed with 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan
  • 1 9x5-inch loaf pan
  • 1 mixing bowl
  • 1 loaf pan

Method
 

Reduce and prep
  1. Simmer apple cider for 15-20 minutes until reduced to 1/2 cup, then cool.
  2. Preheat the oven to 350F and grease and line a 9x5-inch loaf pan.
Mix the batter
  1. Whisk all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ground cinnamon, and nutmeg together.
  2. Beat butter and brown sugar until fluffy, then beat in eggs, sour cream, vanilla extract, and the reduced cider.
  3. Fold in the dry ingredients just until combined, then spread the batter into the loaf pan.
Bake and coat
  1. Bake for 50-55 minutes at 350F until a toothpick comes out clean, then cool the loaf 10 minutes.
  2. Brush the warm loaf all over with melted butter and press on the cinnamon sugar topping.

Notes

To keep the loaf tender and evenly spiced, cool the reduced cider before mixing so it doesn’t affect the batter’s texture. Store airtight at room temperature up to 2 days or refrigerate up to 5 days; freeze slices for up to 2 months. For a lighter option, use low-fat sour cream and replace half the butter with neutral oil, keeping the same amount for best texture.