Apple Cider Loaf of Love

Apple cider is for far more than sipping. There is a myriad of recipes that can be used with this delightful beverage including, of course, the famous apple cider donuts. If you find yourself craving these donuts but lacking the donut pan, this is the recipe for you!

With a texture as dense and delicious as an apple cider donut, this recipe utilizes a concentration of apple cider, which is mixed into a lovely quick bread. After the bread is baked, it's soaked in apple cider and then covered in cinnamon sugar.

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Here's the recipe:

• 1 1/2 c. apple cider

• 1/2 c. butter

• 3/4 c. sugar

• 2 eggs

• 1 tsp. vanilla

• 1/2 c. plain yogurt (or sour cream)

• 1 1/2 c. flour

• 1 1/4 tsp. baking powder

• 1/2 tsp. baking soda

• 1/2 tsp. salt

• 1 tsp cinnamon

• 1/4 tsp. nutmeg

1. Pour your apple cider into a pot on the stove and bring to boil. The goal here is to concentrate the apple cider, reducing it by half. This will take about 10-15 minutes. Be sure at least 3/4 c. of cider remains. Cool a bit before using.

2. Preheat your oven to 325 F. Prepare a loaf pan by placing parchment paper on the bottom and greasing the sides.

3. Beat your butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, then add the eggs, 1 at a time.

4. Mix in your vanilla and yogurt, creaming together. Add in 1/2 c. of your reduced apple cider.

5. In another bowl, whisk together your flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg, distributing evenly.

6. Working in batches, add your dry ingredients to your wet, mixing after each addition. This simply helps incorporate the wet and dry ingredients more easily.

7. Pour your batter into your prepared pan.

8. Bake at 325 F for 1 hour, or until a fork comes out clean.

9. After bread is baked, poke holes all over the loaf. Pour the reserved reduced apple cider onto the loaf. Cool for 10 minutes in the pan, then run a butter knife around the pan to release the sides and flip the loaf onto a cooling rack.

10. Working over parchment paper, brush the loaf with melted butter.

11. Mix 1/4 c. sugar and 1/2 tsp. cinnamon in a bowl. Sprinkle the mixture over the loaf for a delicious cinnamon-sugar crunch.

Try this recipe when you have some spare apple cider and need a great option for breakfast or dessert!