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Cozy Baked Apple Cider Donut Bread with Cinnamon Sugar

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This cozy baked apple cider donut bread captures the spiced, tender crumb of a donut in a loaf pan. With a double hit of apple cider flavor and a crunchy cinnamon sugar coating, it’s the perfect fall treat that tastes like everything good about autumn.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups (480 ml) apple cider
  • 2 cups (250 grams) all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup (100 grams) light brown sugar, packed
  • 1/2 cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
  • 2 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) buttermilk
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, freshly grated if possible
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • For the Cinnamon Sugar Coating:
  • 1/2 cup (100 grams) granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup (57 grams) unsalted butter, melted

Instructions

  1. Reduce the Apple Cider: Pour 2 cups of apple cider into a medium saucepan. Bring it to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Let it bubble away for about 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it’s reduced to about 1/2 cup. It should be syrupy and deeply fragrant. Set it aside to cool slightly.
  2. Preheat and Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease your 9×5-inch loaf pan and line it with parchment paper, leaving some overhang on the sides for easy lifting.
  3. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons of baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 2 teaspoons of cinnamon, and 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg. Make sure everything is evenly distributed.
  4. Combine Wet Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together 1 cup of granulated sugar and 1/2 cup of packed light brown sugar. Add 2 large eggs and whisk until smooth and pale, about 1 minute. Pour in 1/2 cup of melted butter, 1/2 cup of buttermilk, 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract, and the cooled reduced apple cider. Whisk until everything is well combined.
  5. Combine Wet and Dry: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Use a rubber spatula to fold everything together gently. Mix just until you no longer see streaks of flour—overmixing will make the bread tough. A few small lumps are totally fine.
  6. Bake the Bread: Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan and spread it evenly. Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs. The top should be golden brown and cracked. If the top is browning too quickly (after about 40 minutes), tent it loosely with aluminum foil.
  7. Cool in the Pan: Let the bread cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. Then, use the parchment paper to lift it out and transfer it to a cooling rack. Let it cool for another 10 minutes—just until it’s cool enough to handle but still warm.
  8. The Cinnamon Sugar Coating: While the bread is still warm, brush the top and sides generously with melted butter. In a shallow dish, whisk together 1/2 cup of granulated sugar and 2 tablespoons of cinnamon. Roll the warm, buttered bread in the cinnamon sugar mixture, pressing gently so it sticks.
  9. Slice and Serve: Let the bread cool completely before slicing (if you can wait that long!). Use a serrated knife for clean slices. The coating will be slightly crunchy, and the inside will be tender and moist.

Notes

Don’t rush the cider reduction—this is where all the concentrated apple flavor comes from. Room temperature ingredients blend more evenly, creating a smoother batter and more tender crumb. Let the bread cool for about 10 minutes before coating; if too hot, the butter will run off and the sugar won’t stick. For a gluten-free version, use a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend. For a dairy-free version, use melted coconut oil or plant-based butter and buttermilk substitute (1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk + 1/2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar).

Nutrition

Keywords: apple cider donut bread, baked donut bread, fall bread, cinnamon sugar bread, apple cider recipe, easy fall dessert, quick bread

Find it online: https://sweetstirring.com/cozy-baked-apple-cider-donut-bread-with-cinnamon-sugar/