Spiced Apple Cider Donut Loaf is the essence of fall baked into a tender, aromatic loaf, infused with concentrated apple cider and classic warm spices. Soft crumbs, a golden crust, and a cinnamon-sugar finish create a comforting balance of sweetness and spice. Ideal for chilly mornings, relaxed weekends, or an afternoon coffee break, this loaf brings bakery-style coziness straight to your kitchen.
Servings
Servings: 8–10 slices
Time Required for Spiced Apple Cider Donut Loaf
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Prep Time: 20 minutes
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Cook Time: 50–55 minutes
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Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Ingredients
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Apple cider, 360 ml (reduced to 120 ml)
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All-purpose flour, 300 g
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Baking powder, 8 g
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Baking soda, 4 g
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Fine sea salt, 4 g
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Unsalted butter, melted and cooled, 115 g
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Brown sugar, 150 g
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Granulated sugar, 50 g
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Large eggs, 2 (room temperature)
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Vanilla extract, 10 ml
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Plain yogurt or sour cream, 120 g
Spices / Seasoning
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Ground cinnamon, 6 g
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Ground nutmeg, 2 g
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Ground allspice, 1 g
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Ground cloves, 0.5 g
Cinnamon Sugar Coating (Optional but Recommended)
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Granulated sugar, 50 g
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Ground cinnamon, 3 g
Step-by-Step Instructions – How to Make Spiced Apple Cider Donut Loaf
Prepare the flavor base: In a small saucepan, simmer the apple cider over medium heat until reduced to 120 ml. This concentrates the apple flavor; meanwhile, allow it to cool slightly.
Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and all spices until evenly distributed.
Build the batter: In another bowl, whisk melted butter with brown sugar and granulated sugar until glossy. Next, add eggs one at a time, then vanilla, yogurt, and the reduced cider.
Combine gently: Add dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Then, fold gently just until combined to avoid overmixing, which can toughen the crumb.
Bake: Pour batter into a parchment-lined 9×5-inch loaf pan. Smooth the top and bake at 175°C for 50–55 minutes, until a skewer inserted comes out clean.
Finish and coat: Cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Finally, remove and brush lightly with melted butter, then roll in cinnamon sugar for a donut-style finish.
Variations of Spiced Apple Cider Donut Loaf
With meat: Serve warm slices alongside crisp bacon or maple-glazed breakfast sausage for a sweet–savory brunch pairing.
Vegetarian version: The base recipe is naturally vegetarian; ensure yogurt is dairy-based or swap for plant-based yogurt.
Creamier version: Add 60 g cream cheese to the batter for a richer crumb.
Spicier version: Increase cinnamon by 1 g and add a pinch of ground ginger.
Seasonal swaps: Replace half the cider with pear cider or add finely diced apple (120 g) for texture.
Tips for Perfect Results – Spiced Apple Cider Donut Loaf
Enhance aroma: Always reduce the cider fully; this step intensifies apple notes without excess moisture.
Mixing technique: Moreover, fold the batter gently to preserve a light, tender crumb.
Baking accuracy: However, if the top browns too quickly, tent loosely with foil for the final 10 minutes.
Storage: Wrap tightly and store at room temperature for 2 days, or refrigerate up to 5 days. Freeze slices up to 2 months.
Avoid mistakes: In addition, avoid adding hot cider to eggs to prevent curdling.
Final Notes
With its soft crumb, fragrant spices, and nostalgic cinnamon-sugar finish, Spiced Apple Cider Donut Loaf delivers bakery-quality comfort at home. Furthermore, it adapts beautifully to seasonal twists while remaining reliably moist and flavorful—perfect for sharing, gifting, or savoring slice by slice.
