Apple Cider Bread

Enjoy a taste of fall with this Apple Cider Bread. This easy sweet bread is loaded with fresh apples, apple cider, and spices. It's easy to make and even easier to eat.

I don't know about you, but my favorite time of year is fall. I just love everything about it. The cooler temperatures and the leaves changing colors make me so happy. 

Fall also means apples and apple cider. Growing up in northeast Pennsylvania, I remember lots of trips to apple orchards. I'm not going to lie, my favorite part of those trips was always the apple cider donuts. There is just something so delicious about those sweet fried donuts rolled in cinnamon sugar.

I wanted to recreate that donut flavor in an easy to make sweet bread. This apple bread has plenty of apple flavor because I used fresh apples and apple cider. Of course, a coating of cinnamon sugar gives it a sweet flavor.

Why This Recipe Works

• Delicious apple flavor.
• Cinnamon sugar coating.
• Easy to make.
• Makes your kitchen smell like an apple orchard!

What is Apple Cider?

Apple cider is an unsweetened, unfiltered drink made from fresh apples. The apples are chopped, mashed, and pressed to release their juices. It does contain pulp and sediment because it has not been filtered.

Spiced apple cider has cinnamon and nutmeg added to give it more flavor.

Baking with Apple Cider

Regular apple cider is delicious to drink when it is warm or cold. But it will not add much flavor if you bake with it. The trick to getting a good flavor is to reduce it on the stovetop.

Simmer apple cider over low heat until it is reduced down by half and is thicker. This will give your baked goods a much stronger apple flavor.

• Keep a heat safe measuring cup beside the store to measure your progress.
• How long does it take to reduce apple cider? It all depends on the pan size, humidity, and simmer temperature.
• Make sure to cool the reduced cider before adding it to your other ingredients because the warm cider could melt ingredients like butter.

Ingredients Needed

This apple cider donut bread is easy to make with simple pantry ingredients that you may already have on hand.

• Apple Cider - Reduced down and cooled.
• Butter - Unsalted and softened to room temperature.
• Sugar - A mix of granulated sugar and brown sugar sweetens the bread.
• Egg - Helps bind the ingredients together.
• Vanilla Extract & Salt - Adds flavor and balances the sweetness.
• Apple - One large apple shredded in a food processor should give you the amount of apple needed for this recipe.
• All Purpose Flour - Adds structure to the ingredients. See our tutorial on how to measure flour to make sure you are adding the right amount.
• Baking Powder & Baking Soda - The combination provides the lift needed in the recipe.
• Apple Pie Spice - Adds the perfect fall flavor to the apple cider bread.
• Cinnamon Sugar - A homemade or store bought mix will work.

How to make Apple Cider Bread

This apple cider bread recipe comes together in minutes. The longest step is reducing cider and letting it cool before using it.

1. Place apple cider in a medium pan on high heat. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer until reduced by half. Let cool.
2. Beat butter and sugar in a large bowl.
3. Add vanilla, egg, and shredded apple and mix again.
4. Mix in the dry ingredients and cooled cider.
5. Pour batter into a greased loaf pan that has been sprinkled with cinnamon sugar.
6. Bake until a skewer inserted in the center comes out mostly clean.
7. Cool the sweet bread in the pan for 15 minutes; flip out and cool.
8. Brush all sides with melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.

Storage Recommendations

• Counter - Keep the apple bread tightly covered at room temperature for 2-3 days.
• Refrigerator - The bread will keep for 5-6 in a covered container in the refrigerator.
• Freezer - Wrap the cooled bread tightly in plastic wrap and foil. Place in a freezer bag and freeze for 2-3 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge before bringing to room temperature.

Recipe FAQ'S

What are the best apples for baking?

We love using Gala and Honeycrisp apples in our baking. Other great choices are Fuji, McIntosh, Granny Smith, Jonagold, and Braeburn.

Can you use apple juice instead of apple cider?

You can, but it will not give you the same flavor. Apple juice is quite a bit sweeter, so it may make your baked goods even sweeter.

If you cannot find apple cider in the store, look for an opaque apple juice that is unfiltered.

More Fresh Apple Recipes

• Apple Cinnamon Pull Apart Bread
• Snickerdoodle Cake recipe with apples
• Apple Cinnamon Donuts
• Stovetop Apple Pie Filling
• Apple Bars with frosting
• Homemade Apple Butter recipe
• Apple Bread Pudding
• Caramel Apple Scones

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