🎉 Introduction
Fall is the season of comfort, and nothing captures that cozy, nostalgic feeling quite like Spiced Apple Cider Donut Loaf. Imagine the sweet aroma of apples, cinnamon, and nutmeg filling your kitchen as a golden loaf bakes to perfection — its soft, tender crumb coated in a spiced sugar topping that tastes just like a warm apple cider donut. 🍁✨
This loaf is everything you love about fall baking rolled into one easy recipe: moist apple flavor, warm spices, and a crunchy sugar coating. It’s the perfect morning treat with coffee, a sweet afternoon pick-me-up, or a stunning centerpiece for your holiday brunch table.
If you love classic apple cider donuts but want a simpler, no-fry version, this Spiced Apple Cider Donut Loaf will be your new go-to fall bake. Each bite brings cozy autumn vibes — the sweetness of apple cider, the warmth of cinnamon and nutmeg, and a soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture that makes it impossible to stop at one slice. 🍎🍂
🧰 Equipment Needed
You won’t need any fancy tools to bake this delicious loaf — just a few basics you already have:
- 9×5-inch loaf pan
- Mixing bowls (large and medium)
- Whisk
- Rubber spatula or wooden spoon
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Saucepan (for reducing cider)
- Cooling rack
- Pastry brush (for buttering and coating the loaf)
🛒 Ingredients
Here’s everything you’ll need for your cozy Spiced Apple Cider Donut Loaf:
🍎 Fruits & Liquids
- 1 ½ cups apple cider (reduced to ½ cup)
- ½ cup unsweetened applesauce (for moisture and flavor)
🍰 Baking Essentials & Spices
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon allspice
- ¼ teaspoon salt
🍯 Sugars & Sweeteners
- ¾ cup brown sugar (light or dark)
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
🥚 Fresh Ingredients
- 2 large eggs
🧈 Dairy
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted (plus 3 tablespoons for coating)
- ¼ cup milk (whole or 2%)
🍬 Cinnamon Sugar Coating
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
👩🍳 Directions
Follow these step-by-step directions for a perfectly moist, flavorful loaf that tastes just like a bakery-style donut:
Step 1: Reduce the Apple Cider
- Pour 1½ cups apple cider into a small saucepan.
- Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook until reduced to ½ cup, about 10–15 minutes.
- Let cool slightly.
- Reducing the cider intensifies the apple flavor, giving your loaf that authentic fall taste!
Step 2: Preheat the Oven and Prepare the Pan
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Grease and line your loaf pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang for easy removal.
Step 3: Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together:
- Flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and salt.
Set aside.
Step 4: Mix the Wet Ingredients
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together brown sugar, granulated sugar, and melted butter until smooth.
- Add the eggs, one at a time, whisking after each addition.
- Stir in the applesauce, milk, and reduced apple cider.
Step 5: Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture.
- Stir gently with a spatula until just combined — do not overmix.
- The batter should be thick, rich, and aromatic.
Step 6: Bake the Loaf
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top.
- Bake for 50–55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let the loaf cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
Step 7: Add the Cinnamon Sugar Coating
- While the loaf is still slightly warm, brush the top and sides with melted butter.
- Mix ¼ cup sugar with 1 teaspoon cinnamon in a small bowl.
- Sprinkle or roll the loaf in the cinnamon sugar mixture until fully coated.
- This coating gives it that signature “apple cider donut” finish — sweet, crunchy, and irresistible.
Step 8: Slice and Serve
- Slice thick pieces and serve warm or at room temperature.
- Enjoy with a cup of hot tea, apple cider, or coffee for the ultimate fall treat. 🍂☕
🍽️ Servings & Timing
- Servings: 8–10 slices
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Cooling Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
This loaf is perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert — simple, cozy, and bursting with fall flavor!
🧊 Storage & Reheating
To Store:
- Store leftovers at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Refrigerate for up to 5 days if you want it to last longer.
To Freeze:
- Wrap the cooled loaf (whole or sliced) tightly in plastic wrap, then foil.
- Freeze for up to 3 months.
- Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat slightly before serving.
To Reheat:
- Warm individual slices in the microwave for 10–15 seconds or toast lightly for a fresh-from-the-oven texture.
🥄 Variations
Try these fun and creative variations on your Spiced Apple Cider Donut Loaf:
- Glazed Version: Drizzle with a simple glaze made of powdered sugar and apple cider for a glossy finish.
- Apple Chunks: Fold in ½ cup diced apples for extra texture and juiciness.
- Maple Twist: Replace part of the brown sugar with pure maple syrup for a deeper sweetness.
- Nutty Crunch: Add ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts for added crunch.
- Mini Loaves: Divide the batter among mini loaf pans — perfect for gifting!
- Apple Butter Swirl: Add a layer of apple butter in the middle before baking for extra moisture.
- Vegan Option: Replace butter with coconut oil, milk with almond milk, and eggs with flax eggs.
- Gluten-Free Adaptation: Use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend for a tender, flavorful loaf.
❓ 10 FAQs
1. Can I use apple juice instead of apple cider?
Yes, but for the richest flavor, apple cider (unfiltered and spiced) works best.
2. Do I have to reduce the apple cider?
Reducing concentrates the flavor — it’s worth the few extra minutes!
3. Can I make this loaf ahead of time?
Absolutely. It stays moist for several days and tastes even better the next day.
4. How do I know when it’s done baking?
The top will be golden brown, and a toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean.
5. Can I use store-bought apple cider?
Yes — just make sure it’s unsweetened or adjust the sugar slightly.
6. What kind of applesauce works best?
Unsweetened applesauce keeps the flavor balanced and prevents it from being too sweet.
7. Can I bake this into muffins instead?
Yes! Divide the batter into a muffin tin and bake for 18–20 minutes.
8. How do I keep it moist?
Don’t overbake and store it tightly covered once cooled. The applesauce and butter help lock in moisture.
9. Can I skip the cinnamon sugar coating?
You can, but it’s what gives that “donut” flavor — so we recommend keeping it!
10. Can I add a glaze instead?
Definitely! Mix ½ cup powdered sugar with 2 tablespoons apple cider and drizzle over the cooled loaf.
🏁 Conclusion
This Spiced Apple Cider Donut Loaf is everything we love about fall baking — warm, fragrant, and full of cozy apple-cinnamon goodness. The moist crumb, sweet apple flavor, and irresistible sugar coating make it feel like biting into a fresh apple cider donut — without ever turning on the fryer.
It’s simple enough for a weekday bake but elegant enough for sharing at brunches or holiday gatherings. Each slice feels like fall wrapped in sugar and spice — the kind of dessert that makes your kitchen smell like a cozy countryside bakery.
So grab your favorite mug, pour yourself some warm cider, and enjoy a slice (or two) of this irresistible autumn treat.
Spiced Apple Cider Donut Loaf – Fall’s Best Cozy Bake
Ingredients
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Equipment
Method
- Follow these step-by-step directions for a perfectly moist, flavorful loaf that tastes just like a bakery-style donut:
- Pour 1½ cups apple cider into a small saucepan.
- Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook until reduced to ½ cup, about 10–15 minutes.
- Let cool slightly.
- Reducing the cider intensifies the apple flavor, giving your loaf that authentic fall taste!
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Grease and line your loaf pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang for easy removal.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together:
- Flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and salt.
- Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together brown sugar, granulated sugar, and melted butter until smooth.
- Add the eggs, one at a time, whisking after each addition.
- Stir in the applesauce, milk, and reduced apple cider.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture.
- Stir gently with a spatula until just combined — do not overmix.
- The batter should be thick, rich, and aromatic.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top.
- Bake for 50–55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let the loaf cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
- While the loaf is still slightly warm, brush the top and sides with melted butter.
- Mix ¼ cup sugar with 1 teaspoon cinnamon in a small bowl.
- Sprinkle or roll the loaf in the cinnamon sugar mixture until fully coated.
- This coating gives it that signature “apple cider donut” finish — sweet, crunchy, and irresistible.
- Slice thick pieces and serve warm or at room temperature.
- Enjoy with a cup of hot tea, apple cider, or coffee for the ultimate fall treat. 🍂☕
Notes
Yes, but for the richest flavor, apple cider (unfiltered and spiced) works best. 2. Do I have to reduce the apple cider?
Reducing concentrates the flavor — it’s worth the few extra minutes! 3. Can I make this loaf ahead of time?
Absolutely. It stays moist for several days and tastes even better the next day. 4. How do I know when it’s done baking?
The top will be golden brown, and a toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean. 5. Can I use store-bought apple cider?
Yes — just make sure it’s unsweetened or adjust the sugar slightly. 6. What kind of applesauce works best?
Unsweetened applesauce keeps the flavor balanced and prevents it from being too sweet. 7. Can I bake this into muffins instead?
Yes! Divide the batter into a muffin tin and bake for 18–20 minutes. 8. How do I keep it moist?
Don’t overbake and store it tightly covered once cooled. The applesauce and butter help lock in moisture. 9. Can I skip the cinnamon sugar coating?
You can, but it’s what gives that “donut” flavor — so we recommend keeping it! 10. Can I add a glaze instead?
Definitely! Mix ½ cup powdered sugar with 2 tablespoons apple cider and drizzle over the cooled loaf. 🏁 Conclusion This Spiced Apple Cider Donut Loaf is everything we love about fall baking — warm, fragrant, and full of cozy apple-cinnamon goodness. The moist crumb, sweet apple flavor, and irresistible sugar coating make it feel like biting into a fresh apple cider donut — without ever turning on the fryer. It’s simple enough for a weekday bake but elegant enough for sharing at brunches or holiday gatherings. Each slice feels like fall wrapped in sugar and spice — the kind of dessert that makes your kitchen smell like a cozy countryside bakery. So grab your favorite mug, pour yourself some warm cider, and enjoy a slice (or two) of this irresistible autumn treat.
