My apple cider doughnut loaf cake is the fall cake of your dreams, it tastes just like your favorite moist apple cider doughnut. One bite will take you hay riding, apple picking, and leaf peeping ~ imagine what a whole slice can do!
apple cider doughnut loaf cake
This apple cider doughnut loaf cake is the third in my apple cider doughnut cake series. First there was the epic Apple Cider Doughnut Cake, followed by the Apple Cider Doughnut Muffins. With fall in full swing it seems like the perfect time to introduce a loaf cake into the mix. This one, imo, is the best yet! The texture is plush and the apple cider flavor comes through beautifully. That crunchy sugar coating and a touch of nutmeg brings out the cider doughnut vibe loud and clear.
what you’ll need
It’s a rare one of us who’s up to making homemade doughnuts on a fall morning, but this, this is the answer to those bleary-eyed cravings!
- apple cider ~ we’ll be reducing this down to concentrate its flavor. I use fresh (refrigerated) apple cider for this recipe. Can you use bottled cider or apple juice in a pinch? Yes.
- all purpose flour
- butter ~ I usually bake with unsalted.
- eggs ~ large.
- sugar ~ both brown sugar and granulated sugar (for the crust.)
- sour cream ~ enriches and tenderizes the cake, and add moisture.
- cornstarch ~ tenderizes the cake as well.
- baking powder, baking soda, salt
- vanilla extract
- cinnamon and nutmeg ~ cinnamon is used in that classic cider doughnut sugar coating, and nutmeg is the flavor that makes a doughnut taste like a doughnut!
what’s the difference between apple cider and apple juice?
Technically cider is apple juice that has not been filtered, so it will appear cloudier. If you buy your cider from a farm, or in the refrigerated section, it’s raw, and unprocessed. Cider has a lovely tangy flavor that I love. But when you’re comparing bottled cider and juice in the supermarket juice aisle, there is no appreciable difference.
what makes this apple cider cake so good
Truth, you’ll want to put this at the top of your fall baking list, it’s that good. I adapted the recipe from Bon Appétit (it came out in their Sept 2020 issue) and took an already good recipe and made it so much better. I tweaked it, simplified the process, and eliminated unnecessary steps, as the original recipe was written rather awkwardly (sorry BA.) This cake is a keeper!
- The texture. It’s soft and plush, which is rare in a loaf cake. You can see it in the photos.
- The apple flavor comes through nicely thanks to the reduced cider. It’s an extra step but you can set it on the stove while you gather your ingredients and start the cake.
- The cinnamon sugar crust! It’s epic. The effect really is like biting into a cider doughnut.
- It’s the perfect thing to bring this fall, whenever you’re asked.
more loaf cakes and quick breads
- Triple Coconut Pound Cake
- Easy Apple Fritter Bread
- Maple Pecan Pound Cake
- Strawberry Buttermilk Bread
- Easy Spiced Peach Bread
- Date Nut Bread
- Better than Starbucks Banana Walnut Bread
Apple Cider Doughnut Loaf Cake
Equipment
- standard 9×5 loaf pan see options here
Ingredients
- 1 cup apple cider
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 2 large eggs at room temperature
- 3/4 cup brown sugar, lightly packed
- 1 1/4 cups plus 2 Tbsp all purpose flour
- 2 Tbsp cornstarch
- 1 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg (more to taste)
topping
- 3 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Spray a 9×5 loaf pan and line with a sheet of parchment paper so you can more easily lift the bread out after baking. (This is optional.)
- Put the cider in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Boil for about 10 minutes, or until the liquid is reduced to 1/2 cup.
- Pour the cider into a small bowl and set aside to cool slightly. Then stir in the sour cream and vanilla.
- Melt the butter in the same saucepan. Let cool slightly.
- Meanwhile beat the eggs and brown sugar until smooth and frothy. I do this in my stand mixer but you can also do this with a whisk.
- Drizzle the melted butter into the egg mixture, while the machine is running on low. If doing by hand, keep whisking while you add the butter to get everything incorporated.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg until well combined.
- Add the dry ingredients to the egg mixture, alternately with the cider/sour cream mixture, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix just until combined but don't over mix.
- Pour the batter into your prepared pan and bake for about 55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out without we batter on it. Note: if you use a slightly smaller loaf pan your cake may take longer to bake.
- Let the pan cool on a rack for ten minutes, then remove the cake from the pan using the parchment paper sling. Let cool for 5 more minutes.
- For the sugar coating, mix the sugar with the cinnamon. Brush the outside of the cake with melted butter and coat thickly with the cinnamon sugar. I do the top first, then each side, one at a time. For the sides I cup the sugar in my hand and quickly press up against the cake. Do this a few times until you get the surface well covered.
- Do not slice the cake until ready to enjoy. Store at room temperature loosely covered with foil.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
I really love how this cake turned out! My husband also loved it! I think next time I’ll make it as cupcakes! Delicious:)
This recipe is amazing! Made it last night and we already had half of the loaf. The consistency and flavors are perfect. I cannot wait to make it again!
Thanks Natalie, I have to agree, I love it too 🙂
This was delish!! I made it exactly as it was and it came out great. Making two more today for my adult kids and will share the recipe!!
Thanks Mj ~ Happy Fall!
I absolutely loved this recipe! I made it to a t the first time and it came out flat I know it was my ovens fault but still good!
The second time I made it u swapped the sugar for Swerve, 1/2 the flour for plant protein powder and used avocado oil instead of the butter and it was amazing as well!!
Will definitely be making this for every fall going forward!
I am Gluten Free and would sure love it if you would add the metric measurements to your recipes.
Look to the right of where it says ingredients and you’ll see the metric conversion button, just pick which you’d like and it will change.
I only have applesauce or apple juice…can either substitute for the cider?
You can use apple juice, no problem.
After 3 different tries making not great baked apple cider donuts I gave up and decided to try this loaf.
Made it vegan using vegan butter, plain yogurt, flax egg, and applesauce.
Can’t stop eating it.
I’m so glad! And thanks for the tip on veganizing them!
Yogurt isn’t vegan…
Hello, would this recipe work in a sugar-dusted Bundt pan? Would I need to make any adjustments?
I don’t think there would be enough batter for a bundt pan, but I haven’t tried it, Baxter. I do have an apple cider doughnut bundt cake, here. The two recipes are different, though.
Hey there! Could I pour this into muffin tins instead?
I have an apple cider doughnut muffin recipe here. The two recipes are different, so you could also try to muffin-ize this one.
I tweaked this recipe a bit. I used Trader Joe’s spiced bottled apple cider and when I tasted the batter it didn’t seem to have much apple flavor so I added a snack cup of unsweetened applesauce and an additional 1/4 cup of flour. I baked@ 325 for an hour and 5 minutes. Came out really good, vert cake like. Next time I will do this as cup cakes with just the butter and cinnamon sugar topping.