If you love apple cider donuts, just wait until you try them in loaf cake form! This easy Apple Cider Donut Loaf has all the same warm, cozy flavors, including that classic cinnamon-sugar coating that’s SO good. And we’re adding cottage cheese to the mix for a little extra protein and the perfect fluffy texture! Every single bite is full of cozy, fall flavors. My kids and I always love making this easy loaf each year!

Soft & Fluffy Apple Cider Donut Loaf

I look forward to apple season every year and one of my favorite ways to celebrate it is with baked treats! Apple cider donuts are truly the way to my heart, so the fact that I found a way to turn them in to an Apple Cider Donut Loaf at home is a dream come true. There’s something about the warm cinnamon-sugar flavor that just tastes like fall to me!

This recipe is low effort, which is perfect for my busy family, but definitely high reward. It’s sweet, fluffy, and tastes just as amazing as it smells! The batter comes together super quickly and bakes just as fast without sacrificing any apple cider flavor. I love to enjoy a slice as a breakfast treat alongside an Iced Apple Crisp Cream Chai. It’s also just as delicious for dessert and makes a fabulous homemade gift for friends, neighbors, or teachers during the fall!

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Higher-Protein – Each slice has 4 grams of protein, thanks to the addition of cottage cheese, which is perfect if you want just a little more protein in your daily breakfasts or fall treats!
Easy to Prep – The batter comes together with super simple steps. Then, the oven does most of the heavy lifting!
The BEST Texture – The cottage cheese helps keep the loaf soft, fluffy, and perfectly moist, while the buttery cinnamon-sugar coating adds just the right amount of texture on the outside.
Delicious fall flavor – Real apple cider, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice give every bite the sweet, warm flavor of a classic apple cider donut.

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Ingredients

Flour – I use all-purpose flour, but you can substitute 1:1 all-purpose gluten-free flour if needed.
Baking Powder
Spices – Cinnamon, allspice, ground nutmeg, and salt enhance the warm flavor of the apple cider.
Light Brown Sugar – This sweetens the batter while keeping the loaf soft and moist.
Cottage Cheese (opens in a new tab) – I always recommend full-fat cottage cheese for the best taste and texture, but low-fat will also work.
Vanilla Extract
Eggs
Unsalted Butter – This adds flavor and moisture to the batter. I also brush a little extra over the baked loaf to help the spiced cinnamon-sugar coating stick!
Apple Cider (opens in a new tab) – The star of the recipe! Make sure to use apple cider, not apple juice, and DEFINITELY not apple cider vinegar, for the sweet, spiced flavor we want.
Toppings – A mixture of cane sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice creates a classic apple cider donut coating.

How to Make an Apple Cider Donut Loaf

Somewhere between a quick bread and a classic cake, this recipe is super easy to make. All you need is a large bowl, a blender (opens in a new tab), a loaf pan (opens in a new tab), and a wire rack. Here’s how to make an Apple Cider Donut Loaf:

Prepare the batter – Whisk all the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Then, blend the cottage cheese and vanilla until smooth. Pour the blended mixture over the dry ingredients, add the remaining wet ingredients, and whisk just until smooth. The batter will be very thick!
Bake – Transfer the batter to a prepared loaf pan, spreading it out in an even layer. Bake until the loaf is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Cool – Let the loaf cool in the pan slightly. Then, transfer it to a wire rack.
Add the topping – Brush the top and sides of the loaf with melted butter. Then, sprinkle spiced cinnamon-sugar mixture on top.
Serve – Let the loaf cake cool completely, slice, and enjoy as is or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

Tips

Measure the flour correctly. Spoon the flour into your measuring cup and level off the top rather than scooping it directly from the bag. This prevents you from using too much and ending up with a dry, dense loaf.
Blend the cottage cheese until smooth. Give it a good 30-60 seconds in a high-speed blender. You want it completely creamy with no curds remaining so it disappears seamlessly into the batter.
Avoid overmixing. Whisk the batter just until everything is combined. Overmixing can make the loaf dense instead of soft and fluffy.
Adjust the baking time. Every oven is different. So, keep a close eye on your apple cider donut loaf, and start checking for doneness around the 50-minute mark to prevent overbaking. You’ll know the loaf is done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs.
Add the topping while the loaf is warm. Brush the melted butter over the top and sides before the loaf cools completely. This helps the spiced cinnamon-sugar mixture stick.

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Variations

Add fresh apples. Fold finely diced apples into the batter for extra apple flavor and a little texture in every bite.

Add a crunch. Mix chopped pecans or walnuts into the batter, or sprinkle them over the top for a bit of crunch.

Add a glaze. Skip the cinnamon-sugar coating and drizzle the cooled loaf with a simple vanilla or maple glaze, like the one I use with my High-Protein Banana Bread. Or do both!

Make muffins. Divide the batter between lined muffin cups for individual apple cider donut muffins. Just keep an eye on the oven, as they’ll bake much faster than the full loaf.

How to Store

Once completely cool, store the leftover apple cider donut loaf in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the fridge for up to 5 days. Keep in mind that the cinnamon-sugar coating may soften slightly as it sits.

For longer storage, freeze leftovers for up to 3 months. Wrap the entire loaf or individual slices tightly in plastic wrap, and store in a freezer-safe bag or container. Thaw leftovers in the fridge overnight or at room temperature before serving. I love warming individual slices in the microwave for just a few seconds before enjoying!

Apple Cider Donut Loaf