Grease a large bowl and set aside. In a stand mixer bowl, combine apple cider, granulated sugar, and yeast. Let sit until yeast dissolves, about 5 minutes.

Add the eggs and salt; mix on low until combined. Add flour; mix on low until incorporated, about 1 to 2 minutes. Add butter one piece at a time, mixing until incorporated after each addition. Increase speed to medium and beat until incorporated, about 1 minute. The dough will be sticky.

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rise for 30 minutes. Remove plastic wrap and fold the dough over itself several times. Cover and let rise for another 30 minutes. Repeat this folding process three more times for a total rise time of 2 hours.

Tightly cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight or up to 72 hours.

In a small bowl, mix together the granulated sugar, cinnamon, and salt for the filling.

Grease and line a Pullman pan with parchment paper. Roll the dough into a 20 by 12 in rectangle. Spread melted butter over the dough, then sprinkle cinnamon-sugar mixture and press gently.

Cut the dough into five strips and stack the rectangles. Slice into six equal strips. Fit strips into prepared loaf pan, cut edges up and side by side.

Cover the pan with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until almost doubled in size, 45 to 60 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 350F. Place a sheet pan on a lower oven rack to catch drips.

Bake until the top is golden brown and registers 200F on an instant-read thermometer, about 40 to 50 minutes. Cover with foil if browning too quickly.

While the bread is baking, cook the apple cider and salt in a saucepan until reduced to ¼ cup, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat and whisk in cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and optional apple brandy until smooth. Gradually whisk in confectioners’ sugar until glossy.

Transfer the loaf pan to a wire rack and pour half of the icing over the bread. Let sit for 15 minutes, then remove loaf from pan using the parchment sling. Drizzle remaining icing over the loaf. Let cool slightly before serving.