Apple Cider Bread is the perfect fall themed quick loaf recipe! This bread is full of chunks of fresh apples. It’s very generous with the apples! That makes this kind of a rustic loaf. It’s deliciously lumpy. The bread is flavored with cinnamon and cloves, and it has great flavor. Slices of apple cider bread are perfect for breakfast or afternoon snacking.
When you detect a chill in the air and the apples are ready for picking, it’s time to bake all of the apple things. Fresh apple bread has fall written all over it. And it’s the first thing I bake when summer comes to an end (along with my pumpkin bread). Apple Cider Bread is a quick loaf that I make often in the fall months when apples are plentiful!
Apple cider is not always obvious in the store. Locate it in the juice aisle, but there will be far more varieties of apple juice than apple cider. Keep looking though. It’s there! Additionally, during apple season you may find it in a seasonal area of your market.
What kind of apples are best for baking Apple Cider Bread?
The apples in the store are looking good. We usually hit up our local mountains for a day of apple picking. The balance of sweet and tart is perfect for apple bread. You want an apple baked into the bread that won’t fall apart in the process of baking it. Granny Smith is a good choice. Honeycrisp, Fuji or Gala apples can be used for baking Apple Cider Bread too.
Ingredients Needed:
- Baking Basics: all purpose flour, white sugar, brown sugar, eggs, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and cloves.
- Butter: I like to use salted butter. The salt adds flavor!
- Lemon Juice: Use freshly squeezed lemon juice. It’s used to prevent the apples from browning.
- Apple Cider: Apple juice can be substituted if you don’t have cider.
- Apples: Use apples with good flavor. Variety suggestions are included above.
How to make Apple Cider Bread:
The complete, printable recipe is in the recipe card at the end of this post. Here is a brief overview.
- Whisk together the dry ingredients in one bowl. Use an electric mixer to combine the wet ingredients in a 2nd bowl. Add the dry ingredients to the wet, alternately with the apple cider.
- Toss the apples with lemon juice. Stir the apples into the batter.
- Scoop the batter into a loaf pan. Bake 50 to 60 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean.
This is a quick loaf bread that is full of apple chunks. It’s slightly sweet with a hint of fall spices. It’s so simple to make and bake and eat. And it’s the perfect bread for gifting too. Think of your neighbors… or your children’s teachers! It would also make a great hostess gift if you are invited to dinner.
Recipe Tips
- I like to use a combination of apples- for this recipe I use Granny Smith and Gala.
- If you want a really intense apple flavor in the bread, you can use apple cider syrup instead of apple cider. Boil 2 cups of apple cider in a pan, reduce to a simmer and let the liquid reduce to 1/2 cup. It will take 10 to 15 minutes. Use the 1/2 cup of “cider syrup” for the batter.
- If you happen to have apple pie spice, you can use 1 1/8 teaspoons of apple pie spice in place of the cinnamon and cloves.
- This bread is one of those that tastes much better the next day. It will keep for several days- just keep in a covered container or wrap well.
- To store: Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, aluminum foil, or place in an airtight container for 1 to 3 days. Refrigerate in a sealed container for up to 1 week. To freeze, Wrap the bread tightly in plastic wrap or foil. Place the wrapped loaf (or slices) in a freezer-safe bag or airtight container. Freeze up to 3 months.
What’s the difference between apple juice and apple cider?
Apple Cider has not gone through a filtration process of removing the pulp or sediment. Apple Juice has been filtered and processed, and it’s pasteurized to extend the shelf life. Apple Juice is generally not a good substitute for apple cider in recipes because it’s much sweeter. But you can use it in a pinch.
Heated with a smear of butter (real butter) is the best way to serve this. And look at all that fruit tucked in there all nice and perfect. It’s my celebratory, kick-start to fall. Bake some Apple Cider Bread sometime soon. Enjoy!
Apple Bread Recipes:
- Dutch Apple Bread
- Fresh Apple Bread
- Apple Butterscotch Bread
- Applesauce Oatmeal Bread
- Praline Topped Apple Bread
- Caramel Apple Monkey Bread
- Apple Fritter Bread
Apple Cider Bread
Ingredients
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
- ⅔ cup granulated white sugar
- ⅓ cup packed light brown sugar
- ¼ cup (½ stick) butter, at room temperature
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup apple cider
- 2¼ cups peeled and finely diced apples
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 8×5-inch loaf pan with nonstick spray.
- In a medium bowl, sift the dry ingredients (flour through cloves).
- In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream together the sugars and butter. Beat in the eggs. Add in the flour mixture alternately with the cider- about half at a time, and mix just until combined.
- In a small bowl, toss the apples with lemon juice. Stir into the batter.
- Scoop the batter into the prepared pan. Bake 50 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool for at least 20 minutes, then remove to a wire rack and let cool completely.
Notes
- I like to use a combination of apples- for this recipe I used Granny Smith and Gala.
- This bread is one of those that tastes much better the next day. It will keep for several days- just keep in a covered container or wrap well.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This was absolutely the best moistest easiest apple bread I’ve ever made
I am using apple juice cider in my apple cider bread. Do I need to cut down how much sugar I need to add?
I think it will be fine for an equal swap. No need to adjust sugar.
I have apples, applesauce, and cider vinegar, but NO apple cider. Anything I can do with what I have??? It looks so good!
You need apple juice or apple cider!
I am making 2 loaves right now. I did add chopped walnuts. It smells amazing in my kitchen.
Delicious.. Substitute cake four as added quarter two nutmeg. It is very moist and great the first day.
Ummmmmmmm!!!!!! So Good!!!! I love it!!!!
I loved this recipe and included it in an apple cider round up on my blog. Thanks for making and sharing this, it sounds fabulous!
I’ll bet in mini loaf pans this recipe would be a lovely gift to many. I can’r wait to try it.