Description
This Cider Donut Bread is a delightful, spiced quick bread bursting with warm autumn flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Made with apple cider and buttermilk for moistness and a tender crumb, it’s topped with a cinnamon-brown sugar crust that mimics the classic cider donut experience in a convenient loaf form. Perfect for breakfast, a snack, or dessert, this bread pairs wonderfully with butter, honey, or cream cheese.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup apple cider
- ½ cup buttermilk
Topping
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan to prevent sticking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground cloves, and salt to evenly distribute the spices and leavening agents.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a separate large bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter with granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, which helps create a tender texture.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Incorporate the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition to ensure they combine fully. Then mix in the vanilla extract for flavor.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Alternately add the dry ingredient mixture and the combined apple cider and buttermilk to the butter mixture, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix gently just until combined to avoid overworking the batter.
- Fill Pan and Add Topping: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan evenly. In a small bowl, blend the brown sugar with ground cinnamon and sprinkle this mixture evenly over the batter to form a sweet spiced crust.
- Bake: Place the loaf pan in the preheated oven and bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, indicating the bread is fully baked.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Slice and serve with butter or a drizzle of honey for a delicious treat.
Notes
- For a richer flavor, use fresh homemade apple cider.
- Reduce the spices slightly if you prefer a milder taste.
- This bread pairs wonderfully with cream cheese or a light glaze made from powdered sugar and cider.
- You can add chopped nuts or dried cranberries for extra texture and sweetness.
- Store leftovers tightly wrapped at room temperature for up to three days or freeze for longer storage.
