Preheat the oven to 450 degrees and generously grease a cast iron skillet.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Reserve about ½ cup of grated cheese and stir the rest into the flour, making sure to coat the cheese with the flour mixture. Stir in the apple cider.
Spread the batter into the prepared pan, sprinkle the reserved cheese evenly over the top, and bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Let cool in the pan for 15 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to finish cooling.