There’s something magical about the combination of apples and cinnamon, especially when baked into a soft, moist bread.
This Cinnamon Apple Bread recipe is the ultimate comfort food for fall, featuring a luscious swirl of brown sugar apples in the center and a crisp cinnamon sugar topping. Drizzled with a light cinnamon glaze, it’s a treat that’s as beautiful as it is delicious. Whether you’re an experienced baker or just starting out, this easy-to-make quick bread is sure to become a favorite in your home.
Why You’ll Love This Cinnamon Apple Bread
- Bursting with Flavor: The sweet and spiced apple filling creates a delightful contrast with the tender bread.
- Easy to Make: No complicated steps or fancy techniques required—perfect for bakers of all skill levels.
- Versatile: Enjoy it as a breakfast treat, an afternoon snack, or even as a dessert.
- Seasonal Favorite: Fall is the perfect time to bake with apples, and this recipe captures the essence of the season.
Ingredients You’ll Need
For the Batter:
- 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened (1 stick)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup milk
For the Apple Mixture:
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 large apple, peeled, cored, and chopped into small pieces
For the Topping:
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
For the Glaze:
- 3/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons water
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Prepare Your Oven and Pan
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour an 8.5 x 4.5-inch loaf pan to ensure your bread doesn’t stick. For an easier transfer later, you can also make a parchment paper sling by lining the pan with parchment paper that overlaps the edges. Grease the parchment paper with cooking spray for extra assurance.
2. Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
3. Cream Butter and Sugar
Using an electric hand mixer or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract on medium-high speed until smooth and pale, about 3–4 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
4. Add Eggs and Milk
Beat in the eggs one at a time until fully incorporated. With the mixer on low speed, alternate adding half of the dry ingredients and half of the milk to the batter. Repeat with the remaining dry ingredients and milk until everything is just combined.
5. Prepare the Apple Mixture
In a separate bowl, combine the brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and chopped apples. This mixture will create the flavorful swirl in your bread.
6. Assemble the Bread
Pour half of the batter into your prepared loaf pan. Evenly distribute half of the apple mixture on top of the batter. Use a knife or skewer to gently swirl through the batter—just enough to create a marbled effect without fully mixing it in.
Repeat with the remaining batter and apple mixture, swirling lightly again. Sprinkle the topping mixture (brown sugar and cinnamon) evenly over the top.
7. Bake to Perfection
Place your loaf pan in the preheated oven and bake for 45–55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean (a few moist crumbs are fine due to the soft apples). Keep an eye on it toward the end to avoid overbaking.
8. Cool and Glaze
Allow the bread to cool in the pan for about 15–20 minutes. While it cools, whisk together the glaze ingredients—confectioners’ sugar, cinnamon, and water—until smooth. Remove the bread from the pan (using your parchment paper sling if you made one) and place it on a cooling rack. Drizzle the glaze over the top of the bread once it has cooled slightly. Let it cool completely before slicing.
Tips for Success
- Choose Your Apples Wisely: While any type of apple works for this recipe, tart varieties like Granny Smith or sweet varieties like Gala add unique flavors. Feel free to use what you have on hand!
- Dice Apples Small: Cutting your apples into small pieces ensures they cook evenly and blend seamlessly into the bread.
- Don’t Overmix: When combining wet and dry ingredients, mix just until combined to avoid a dense texture.
- Store Properly: Keep your apple bread covered at room temperature for up to 2–3 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.
Variations
- Dutch Apple Twist: For a more indulgent version, add a streusel topping made with flour, sugar, butter, and cinnamon before baking.
- Nutty Addition: Fold in chopped walnuts or pecans for added crunch and flavor.
- Spiced Up: Add a pinch of nutmeg or cloves to enhance the warm spice profile of this bread.
Why This Recipe Stands Out
This Cinnamon Apple Bread is reminiscent of Dutch apple bread but with its own unique charm. The cinnamon-sugar swirl in the middle mirrors a streusel’s sweetness without requiring additional flour or butter. The light glaze adds just enough sweetness without overpowering the natural flavors of apples and cinnamon.
Perfect Occasions to Serve Cinnamon Apple Bread
This bread is versatile enough to be served at any time of day or event:
- Breakfast: Pair it with coffee or tea for an easy morning treat.
- Afternoon Snack: A slice of this bread is perfect for a midday pick-me-up.
- Dessert: Warm it up slightly and serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an indulgent dessert option.
Share Your Creations!
Did you make this Cinnamon Apple Bread? I’d love to see how it turned out! Tag me on Pinterest @Recipesfish and don’t forget to leave a comment and rating below. Your feedback means so much!
Final Thoughts
When fall rolls around and apples are at their peak, this Cinnamon Apple Bread recipe is a must-bake delight that fills your kitchen with warmth and irresistible aromas. With its tender crumb, rich apple-cinnamon filling, and sweet glaze topping, it’s sure to be a hit with family and friends alike.
So grab your apron, preheat that oven, and get ready to bake one of the best quick breads you’ll ever taste!
PrintCinnamon Apple Bread Recipe
This moist and tender Cinnamon Apple Bread has a scrumptious swirl of brown sugar apples in the middle and a crisp top drizzled with light cinnamon glaze. This easy-to-make apple bread will become a favorite fall treat and one of the best quick breads you’ll ever bake.
- Prep Time: 10 servings
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 1 hour 5 minutes 1x
- Category: Quick Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 1–1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1–1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened (1 stick)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup milk
Apple Mixture:
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1–1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 large apple, peeled, cored, and chopped into small pieces
Topping:
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Glaze:
- 3/4 cups confectioners’ sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons water
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease and flour an 8.5 x 4.5 inch loaf pan.
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- Using an electric handheld or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter, sugar, and vanilla together on medium-high speed until smooth and pale (about 3-4 minutes). Scrape down the sides and the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed.
- Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until incorporated.
- With the mixer on low speed, add about half of the flour mixture, alternating with half the milk. Add the remaining flour mixture and milk and mix to combine.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and apples. Set aside.
- To make the topping, in a small bowl combine the brown sugar and cinnamon. Set aside.
- Pour half of the batter into the prepared loaf pan and top it with half of the apple mixture. With a knife or skewer, swirl through the batter lightly. Don’t overdo it. The bread looks better when it has a beautiful thick layer of fruit and cinnamon sugar in the middle.
- Pour the remaining batter on top and then the remaining apple mixture. With a knife or skewer, swirl through the batter a couple of times in both directions. Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture on top.
- Bake for about 45 to 55 minutes or until a cake tester or toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Only a few moist crumbs should attach to the cake tester or toothpick due to the soft apples in the center.
- Remove the bread from the oven and allow it to cool in the pan for about 15 – 20 minutes. While the bread is cooling, whisk together the glaze ingredients. Remove the bread from the pan and place it on a cooling rack. Drizzle the glaze over the bread. Let the bread cool completely before slicing.
Equipment:
- Loaf Pan (8.5″ x 4.5″)
- Stand Mixer, Kitchen Aid artisan 3.5 Qt
- Electric Hand Mixer
Notes
- For best results, I like to cut the apples small to medium dice.
- Apple bread can be kept at room temperature, covered for 2-3 days.
- You can use any type of apples to make this recipe, not just apples for baking. From crisp Galas to tart Granny Smiths and everything in between.
- This recipe is similar to Dutch apple bread which has streusel and glaze over the top. The cinnamon sugar on this bread resembles the streusel in the Dutch bread which is made with cinnamon, sugar, and flour.
- If you want to lift the bread from the loaf pan to transfer it to a cooling rack, make a parchment paper sling. To make a sling, place a strip of parchment paper across the length and width of the baking pan so that the paper overlaps the edges. When the bread is ready to transfer to the cooling rack, simply lift it by using the parchment paper as handles. Grease the parchment paper with cooking spray.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 31g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
