Introduction
Oh, fall. The crisp air, the rustling leaves, the smell of cinnamon and spice… doesn’t it just make you want to curl up with a warm drink and something utterly delicious? I know it does for me! And today, we’re diving headfirst into that cozy feeling with a recipe that’s going to be your new go-to: a Spiced Apple Cider Donut Loaf with a delightful Cinnamon Sugar Crust. Seriously, it’s like your favorite autumn donut transformed into an easy-peasy loaf, perfect for any occasion. It’s so simple, you’ll be amazed at how quickly you can whip up this slice of fall heaven.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Fast: From start to finish, you’ll have a warm, fragrant loaf ready in about an hour and a half.
- Easy: No fancy techniques here! Just a few bowls and a whisk, and you’re golden.
- Giftable: Wrap this beauty up, and you’ve got a homemade gift that screams “I care about you and think you deserve deliciousness!”
- Crowd-pleasing: Whether it’s for a brunch, a bake sale, or just a treat for the family, everyone will adore this comforting loaf.
Ingredients
Gather ’round, bakers! Here’s what you’ll need to create this magical loaf:
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour: The backbone of our loaf, just your everyday flour will do.
- 1 teaspoon baking powder: For that lovely lift and tender crumb.
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda: Works with the apple cider to give us even more rise!
- 1/4 teaspoon salt: Enhances all those sweet, spiced flavors.
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon: Hello, fall! This is our first hint of that classic donut spice.
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg: A warm, slightly sweet spice that pairs beautifully with apple.
- 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice: Adds a lovely complexity, a little peppery and a little sweet.
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted: Makes our loaf rich and tender.
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar: For sweetness that’s just right.
- 1/4 cup brown sugar: Adds a little moisture and that caramel-like depth.
- 2 large eggs: To bind everything together and add richness.
- 1/2 cup apple cider: The star! This infuses our loaf with that unmistakable apple flavor.
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract: A touch of warmth and extra sweetness.
For the Cinnamon Sugar Crust:
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar: Our base for that crunchy topping.
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon: More of that cozy spice!
- 2 tablespoons melted butter: To help our sugar-cinnamon magic stick.
How to Make It
Let’s get baking, friends! It’s going to be so fun.
- First things first, let’s get that oven warm! Preheat it to 350°F (175°C). While it’s heating up, grab your 9×5 inch loaf pan and give it a good grease and flour. This is super important to make sure our beautiful loaf comes out in one piece.
- In a medium-sized bowl, we’re going to whisk together all our dry ingredients: the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice. Give it a good whisk until everything is well combined. Think of it as creating our flavor magic dust!
- Now, in a larger bowl, pour in your melted butter. Add the granulated sugar and brown sugar. Whisk them together until they look nice and combined. It’ll be a little clumpy from the brown sugar, and that’s perfectly fine.
- Time for our eggs! Beat them in one at a time, whisking after each addition. Then, pour in your apple cider and that lovely vanilla extract. Give it another whisk to combine everything. This is where the moistness starts!
- Now, we’ll gradually add our dry ingredients (from step 2) into our wet ingredients. Just mix until everything is just combined. Overmixing can make our loaf tough, and we want it nice and tender, right? So, be gentle!
- Pour that glorious batter into your prepared loaf pan. Spread it out evenly.
- Into the oven it goes! Bake for about 50-60 minutes. You’ll know it’s ready when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. No gooey batter sticking to it!
- While our loaf is doing its baking magic, let’s get that irresistible cinnamon sugar crust ready. In a small bowl, mix together the 1/4 cup granulated sugar and the 1 teaspoon of cinnamon.
- Once your loaf is out of the oven, let it hang out in the pan for about 10 minutes. This helps it firm up a bit.
- Now, carefully invert the loaf onto a wire rack. See? It came out beautifully! Grab your pastry brush and generously brush the top of the still-warm loaf with the 2 tablespoons of melted butter.
- This is the fun part! Sprinkle that cinnamon sugar mixture evenly all over the buttered top. Oh, the smell! It’s already amazing.
- Let your loaf cool completely before slicing and digging in. Patience is a virtue, especially when deliciousness awaits!
Substitutions & Additions
Want to switch things up or add a little extra flair? I love playing with recipes, and here are a few ideas:
- Apple Cider Substitutions: If you don’t have apple cider, you can use apple juice, but you might miss out on some of that concentrated apple flavor. For a richer flavor, you could even use a good quality apple cider concentrate diluted with water.
- Spice It Up: Feeling adventurous? Add a pinch of ground ginger or cardamom to the dry ingredients for an extra layer of warmth.
- Add-ins: Fold in about 1/2 cup of chopped apples (like Honeycrisp or Gala) or a handful of chopped pecans or walnuts into the batter before baking for a bit of texture.
- Glaze It: Instead of the cinnamon sugar crust, you could whip up a simple glaze with powdered sugar and a splash of apple cider for a classic donut glaze effect.
Tips for Success
A few little tricks can make your Spiced Apple Cider Donut Loaf absolutely perfect!
- Don’t Overmix: I can’t stress this enough! Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, which can lead to a tough loaf. Mix just until the dry ingredients disappear.
- Room Temperature Eggs: While not strictly necessary for this recipe, using room temperature eggs can help them incorporate more smoothly into the batter, leading to a more uniform texture. Just pop them in a bowl of warm water for about 5-10 minutes if you forget to take them out of the fridge.
- Toothpick Test: Always do the toothpick test! Ovens can vary, so this is the most reliable way to know if your loaf is perfectly baked through.
- Prep Ahead: You can whisk together your dry ingredients the night before and store them in an airtight container. You can also measure out your wet ingredients and have them ready to go.
How to Store It
Got leftovers (if there are any!)? Here’s how to keep your loaf fresh and delicious:
Once completely cooled, wrap the loaf tightly in plastic wrap or place it in an airtight container. It will stay fresh at room temperature for about 2-3 days. For longer storage, you can refrigerate it for up to a week, or freeze slices or the whole loaf for up to 2-3 months. Just thaw at room temperature or gently reheat in the oven or microwave.
FAQs
Got questions? I’ve got answers!
Q1: Can I use regular milk instead of apple cider?
A1: You can, but it will change the flavor profile. Apple cider brings a lovely fruity sweetness and moisture that’s characteristic of this loaf. Regular milk will make it more like a standard quick bread.
Q2: My loaf looks a little dense. What did I do wrong?
A2: The most common culprit for a dense loaf is overmixing the batter. Be sure to mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients just until combined. Also, ensure your baking powder and baking soda are fresh!
Q3: How long does the cinnamon sugar crust last?
A3: The crust is best enjoyed within a day or two of baking for maximum crispiness. After that, it can become a little softer as it absorbs moisture from the loaf, but it will still be delicious!
Spiced Apple Cider Donut Loaf
Equipment
- 9x5 inch loaf pan Greased and floured
- Medium-sized bowl
- Large bowl
- Whisk
- toothpick
- Wire rack
- Pastry brush
- Small bowl
Ingredients
Loaf Ingredients
- 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 0.5 teaspoon baking soda
- 0.25 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 0.5 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 0.5 teaspoon ground allspice
- 0.5 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 0.5 cup granulated sugar
- 0.25 cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 0.5 cup apple cider
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Cinnamon Sugar Crust
- 0.25 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9x5 inch loaf pan.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice.1.5 cups all-purpose flour
- In a larger bowl, whisk together melted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until combined.1.5 cups all-purpose flour
- Beat in eggs one at a time, whisking after each addition. Stir in apple cider and vanilla extract.1.5 cups all-purpose flour
- Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, mixing just until combined. Do not overmix.1.5 cups all-purpose flour
- Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread evenly.
- Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.1.5 cups all-purpose flour
- While the loaf bakes, mix together the 1/4 cup granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon in a small bowl for the crust.1.5 cups all-purpose flour
- Let the loaf cool in the pan for 10 minutes after removing from the oven.
- Invert the loaf onto a wire rack. Brush the top of the warm loaf with the 2 tablespoons of melted butter.1.5 cups all-purpose flour
- Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture evenly over the buttered top.1.5 cups all-purpose flour
- Let the loaf cool completely before slicing and serving.