Spiced Apple Cider Donut Loaf With A Cinnamon Sugar Crust Recipe
This Spiced Apple Cider Donut Loaf is a moist and flavorful quick bread infused with comforting autumn spices and apple cider. It features a tender crumb made with cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice, and is topped with a buttery cinnamon sugar crust that adds a delightful crunch. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a cozy snack, this loaf captures the essence of fall in every bite.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 1 loaf (about 8-10 slices) 1x
- Category: Dessert, Breakfast, Snack
- 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 a standard 9×5-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper, allowing some overhang for easy removal of the loaf later.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and ground allspice until well blended.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In another bowl, whisk melted unsalted butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, apple cider, and vanilla extract until smooth and fully combined.
- Mix Batter: Pour the wet ingredient mixture into the dry ingredients. Gently fold with a rubber spatula until just combined and no dry flour streaks remain. Be careful not to overmix to keep the loaf tender.
- Bake Loaf: Transfer the batter evenly into the prepared loaf pan. Bake for 50 to 65 minutes or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. If the top starts browning too fast, loosely tent with foil to prevent burning.
- Cool Loaf: Remove the loaf from the oven and let it cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 to 15 minutes. Then carefully lift the loaf from the pan using the parchment overhang and continue cooling on the rack until it is warm to the touch, about 15 to 20 minutes.
- Prepare Cinnamon Sugar Crust: While the loaf cools, mix granulated sugar and ground cinnamon in a shallow dish. Melt unsalted butter separately for brushing the loaf.
- Apply Crust: Brush all sides of the warm loaf generously with the melted butter. Immediately roll or sprinkle the loaf with the cinnamon sugar mixture until fully coated, covering every side evenly.
- Final Cooling and Serve: Place the crusted loaf back on the wire rack and allow it to cool completely to room temperature before slicing with a serrated knife. Serve and enjoy this spiced treat fresh.
Notes
- Be careful not to overmix the batter to keep the loaf tender and moist.
- If the top browns too quickly during baking, cover the loaf loosely with foil to prevent burning.
- Using parchment paper with an overhang helps remove the loaf easily once baked.
- The cinnamon sugar crust adds a delicious crunchy texture and sweetness—don’t skip this step!
- Store leftovers tightly wrapped at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for longer storage.
Keywords: apple cider donut loaf, spiced loaf, cinnamon sugar crust, fall baking, quick bread, autumn dessert
