Spiced Apple Cider Donut Loaf with Cinnamon Sugar Crust Recipe
This Spiced Apple Cider Donut Loaf is a moist, flavorful quick bread that combines the comforting spices of cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice with the sweet tang of apple cider. Topped with a crunchy cinnamon sugar crust, it’s perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a cozy snack during fall or anytime you crave a warm, spiced treat.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45-50 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings (slices) 1x
- Category: Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1 ½ 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
Topping
- ¼ cup granulated sugar (for crust)
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon (for crust)
- 2 tbsp melted butter (for crust)
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare the pan: Preheat your oven to 350 °F (175 °C). Grease a 9×5‑inch loaf pan and lightly dust it with flour to prevent sticking.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and ground allspice until well combined.
- Mix wet ingredients: In a separate large bowl, whisk the melted unsalted butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and eggs until smooth. Then stir in the apple cider and vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
- Combine wet and dry mixtures: Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture using a spatula. Stir until just combined to avoid overmixing, which keeps the loaf tender.
- Bake the loaf: Pour the batter evenly into the prepared loaf pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Prepare the topping: While the loaf is baking, mix together the ¼ cup granulated sugar and 1 tsp ground cinnamon for the crust topping.
- Add cinnamon sugar crust: Once the loaf is out of the oven and slightly cooled but still warm, brush the top generously with 2 tablespoons of melted butter. Then sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture evenly over the top to create a fragrant crust.
- Serve: Slice the loaf and serve warm or at room temperature. Enjoy this spiced apple cider loaf as a comforting breakfast or snack.
Notes
- Do not overmix the batter to keep the loaf tender and light.
- You can substitute apple cider with apple juice if needed, but cider gives a richer flavor.
- Make sure the loaf cools slightly before adding the cinnamon sugar crust to help it stick better.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
- For extra moisture, warm slices slightly before serving.
Keywords: apple cider loaf, spiced donut loaf, cinnamon sugar crust, autumn bread, quick bread, cinnamon nutmeg allspice loaf
