The Best Apple Cider Pound Cake

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Apple Cider Pound Cake

This cake has all the flavor of apple cider donuts but is so much easier to make!
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword apple cider pound cake
Servings 12 servings

Equipment

  • 9x5 loaf pan

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Apple cider pure apple cider, not apple juice or apple cider vinegar
  • 1 cup Unsalted butter, room temperature 2 sticks
  • 1 cup Packed light brown sugar
  • 4 Large eggs room temperature
  • 1 tsp Vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups All-purpose flour spoon & leveled
  • 1 1/2 tsp Ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp Ground nutmeg
  • 1 tsp Baking powder
  • 3/4 tsp Kosher salt

For the "Donut" Sugar Coating:

  • 2 tbsp Unsalted butter melted
  • 1/4 cup Granulated sugar
  • 2 tsp Ground cinnamon

Apple Cider Glaze

  • 1 cup Confectioners sugar
  • 2 tbsp Apple Cider
  • 1/2 tsp Cinnamon

Instructions

Concentrate the Cider

  • Pour 1 cup of apple cider into a small saucepan over medium-low heat.
  • Simmer for 15 to 20 minutes until it reduces down to exactly 1/2 cup. It should look like a thin, dark amber syrup.
  • Pour it into a small dish and let it cool completely before using it in the batter.

Prep the Oven and Pan

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  • Grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan with butter and line it with a parchment paper.

Cream the Butter and Sugars

  • In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or using a hand mixer), beat the softened butter and brown sugar on medium-high speed for 4 to 5 minutes until light, pale, and fluffy.
  • Turn the mixer to medium speed. Add the apple cider, cinnamon and nutmeg. Then add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition to completely blend. Mix in the vanilla extract.

Build the Batter

  • Turn the mixer to its lowest speed.
  • Add your flour mixture and mix until just combined. Do not overmix, or the cake will lose its tender texture.

Bake

  • Transfer the thick batter into your prepared loaf pan and smooth the top.
  • Bake for 60 to 70 minutes. A knife inserted into the center should come out clean. Note: If the top looks dark around the 50-minute mark, loosely tent a sheet of foil over the pan.

The Warm "Donut" Coating

  • Let the cake cool inside the loaf pan for 15 to 20 minutes. It should still be quite warm, but stable enough to move.
  • In a small bowl, mix together the ¼ cup of granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon for the coating.
  • Carefully lift the warm cake out of the pan, place it on a wire rack or cutting board.
  • Brush the melted butter generously over the top and sides of the warm cake.
  • Immediately sprinkle and press the cinnamon-sugar mixture all over the buttered surfaces until heavily coated.
  • Let the cake finish cooling completely before adding the glaze.

Apple Cider Glaze

  • Mix confectioners sugar, cinnamon and apple cider in a bowl until smooth.
  • Once the cake has cooled, drizzle the cake with the glaze.