Description
A soft, moist apple cider loaf cake made with reduced cider, sour cream, warm spices, and a thick buttery cinnamon-sugar coating.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup apple cider
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 1/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, for coating
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, for coating
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°F. Coat a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with baking spray and line it with parchment paper.
- Pour the apple cider into a small saucepan. Bring it to a boil and cook for about 10 minutes, or until reduced to 1/2 cup.
- Transfer the reduced cider to a bowl and cool slightly. Stir in the sour cream and vanilla extract.
- Melt 1/2 cup butter and let it cool slightly.
- Beat the eggs and brown sugar until smooth, pale, and frothy.
- Slowly drizzle the melted butter into the egg mixture while whisking constantly.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Add the dry mixture to the egg mixture alternately with the cider mixture, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix only until combined.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top.
- Bake for about 55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
- Cool the loaf in the pan for 10 minutes. Lift it out with the parchment and cool on a rack for 5 more minutes.
- Mix the granulated sugar with 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon.
- Brush the warm loaf with 3 tablespoons melted butter, then press the cinnamon sugar thickly over the top and sides.
- Cool completely before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Reduce the apple cider to exactly 1/2 cup for concentrated flavor and the correct batter consistency.
- Use a standard 9-by-5-inch loaf pan. A smaller pan may require additional baking time.
- Mix the batter only until the flour disappears to keep the crumb tender.
- Apply the cinnamon-sugar coating generously while the loaf remains warm.
- Store the loaf loosely covered at room temperature and slice only when ready to serve.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 307
- Sugar: 24
- Sodium: 203
- Fat: 16
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Unsaturated Fat: 5
- Trans Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 38
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 3
- Cholesterol: 77