Apple Cider Donut Bread

We wait all year for the local apple orchard to open up so we can enjoy their freshly fried apple cider donuts! This year we took matters into our own hands with this apple cider donut bread. It has that same crackly texture on the outside and loads of apple flavor packed in this tender loaf.

Course Bread

Cuisine American

Prep Time 40

Cook Time 50

Total Time 1 30

Servings slices (1 loaf)

Calories 370kcal

Author Karly Campbell

Ingredients

For the bread:

2 cups apple cider
½ cup butter room temperature
1 cup brown sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flour
1 tablespoon apple pie spice
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt

For topping:

1/4 cup melted butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon

Instructions

Add the apple cider to a saucepan over medium heat and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook until reduced by half, about 20-30 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool while the oven preheats.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter or grease a 9x5 loaf pan.
Add the butter and brown sugar to a mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
Beat in the egg and vanilla until combined.
Add all of the dry ingredients to the mixture along with the reduced apple cider. Stir by hand until just combined.
Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and bake for 50 minutes or until a tester comes out clean.
Let cool in the pan for 15 minutes.
Remove the bread to a cooling rack set over a sheet pan.
Brush the top and sides of the bread with melted butter.
Combine the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.
Sprinkle liberally over the top and sides of the bread to coat, letting excess cinnamon sugar fall to the pan below.
Let cool for 1 hour before slicing and serving.

Video

Notes

You may use apple juice if that's all you can find in store, though the end result may be a bit sweeter.

Reducing the apple cider will take 20 to 30 minutes, depending on how high your heat is. Don't skip this step - it really concentrates the flavor and helps the apple cider shine in the bread. You'll start with 2 cups of apple cider and reduce it down to 1 cup. 1 cup of reduced cider will be added to the bread.

Brushing the bread with melted butter and liberally sprinkling on the cinnamon and sugar is key to giving donut vibes to what is technically a loaf of bread. The richness of the butter and the crackly sugar crust really mimic the flavor and texture of an apple cider donut here.

Nutrition