This apple cinnamon bread is so moist, with pockets of apple cinnamon swirling throughout each slice. If you've recently gone apple picking, this recipe is for you. Delicious for an indulgent breakfast and sweet enough to serve as dessert, apple cinnamon bread is a must-make after apple picking.
This recipe is a straightforward, quick bread recipe. You only need the addition of apples and applesauce to create this fall treat.
What do you need to make apple cinnamon bread:
- Standard quick bread ingredients include- flour, baking soda, baking powder, butter, granulated sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, and cream.
- Flavor-boosting ingredients for the batter- ground cinnamon and ground nutmeg are the major flavors in the batter itself, hitting all those cozy fall notes. The addition of applesauce in the batter gives a little bit more apple flavor and helps ensure the batter is deliciously moist.
- Apple cinnamon- A combination of chopped apples mixed with brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and nutmeg creates the delicious filling and topping for this apple cinnamon bread.
Tips for making the best apple cinnamon bread:
When it comes time to mix all the wet ingredients, it is much easier if the butter, applesauce, cream, and eggs are at room temperature. The applesauce and butter have a very different consistency and will not come together if they are chilled.
Firmer apples are best for baking. Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Fuji, and pink ladies all hold up well to heat. If you use these apples, they will hold their texture and flavor so that the center of your bread is not mealy or mushy.
I love the little red or green flex when I leave the skins on. I like the additional texture of the skins in the final product, but feel free to peel yours beforehand.
My favorite method for ensuring I can remove this apple cinnamon bread from the pan is to use a combination of butter and parchment paper. I use a thin layer of butter coated on the interior of the loaf pan so that the parchment paper sticks easily. The next step is to cut your parchment paper out so that you have one single layer on each wall of the loaf pan. (See the picture to see how I do this.) Once you have cut the paper, stick it to the inside of the loaf pan and use your hand to make sure the parchment paper sticks to the butter.
How to make apple cinnamon bread:
Start by setting out all your ingredients to come to room temperature an hour before you plan on baking.
Preheat your oven to 350. Before mixing the batter, I suggest buttering your loaf pan and lining it with parchment. The parchment helps lift the loaf out of the pan after it's cooked.
It's nice to have these steps out of the way once you start mixing the batter. To maximize the effect of the baking soda and baking powder, you want to get the batter into the pan and then into the oven as quickly as possible. This speediness will ensure a moist but light loaf texture.
Next, chop your apples into half-inch chunks and toss them in with the brown sugar, nutmeg, and cinnamon.
Set the apples aside to soak in the brown sugar while you mix up the quick bread batter.
Next, you will combine the butter, sugar, eggs, cream applesauce, and vanilla extract in a large bowl. Even though you've brought all the ingredients to room temperature, they will only partially combine the way you might expect. The applesauce, in particular, has a very different texture. The batter might look curdled, but don't worry. Once you add the dry ingredients, it will begin to mix. Next, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and remaining cinnamon and nutmeg into the wet mixture.
Now it's time to pour the batter and apple sugar mixture into layers. Spoon half of the bread batter mixture into the bottom of the loaf pan. Now it's time to scoop half of the apple cinnamon sugar mixture over the first layer of batter. Use the back of a spoon to press the apples down into the batter.
Spoon the remaining batter over the first layer of apple cinnamon. Finally, add the rest of the apple cinnamon mixture to the top of the loaf. Use a spoon to press the apples into the top of the batter.
With all the moisture in the apples, this bread takes a long time to bake, about 60 to 70 minutes at 350F.
Use a sharp knife or toothpick to pierce the loaf's center and ensure it comes out clean before removing it from the oven.
Let the loaf fully cool before slicing and serving.
Yes, you can freeze the bread. Allow the bread to cool completely, then wrap it in foil and store it in a freezer bag. When you're ready to eat the bread, allow it to thaw at room temperature for several hours before serving.
I highly suggest adding walnuts to this recipe. My baking recipes come from making my student's and advisees' treats. With so many kids having nut allergies, I refrain from including them in these recipes. But when I make this recipe for my family, I pack it with walnuts. Just add a cup of chopped walnuts to the apple-cinnamon mixture.
Apple Cinnamon Bread
Ingredients
Apples
- 1 and ½ cups of chopped apples ½ inch chunks, 2 apples
- ¼ cup packed brown sugar
- 1 and ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ fresh ground nutmeg
Batter:
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup butter softened to room temperature (1 stick butter)
- ⅔ cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs room temperature
- ⅓ cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup cream
Instructions
- Start by setting out all your ingredients to come to room temperature an hour before you plan on baking.
- Preheat your oven to 350. Before mixing the batter, I suggest buttering your loaf pan and lining it with parchment. The parchment helps lift the loaf out of the pan after it's cooked.
- Next, chop your apples into half-inch chunks and toss them in with the brown sugar, nutmeg, and cinnamon.
- Set the apples aside to soak in the brown sugar while you mix up the quick bread batter.
- Combine the butter, sugar, eggs, cream applesauce, and vanilla extract in a large bowl.
- Combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and remaining cinnamon and nutmeg into the wet mixture.
- Pour the batter and apple sugar mixture into layers. Spoon half of the bread batter mixture into the bottom of the loaf pan. Now it's time to scoop half of the apple cinnamon sugar mixture over the first layer of batter. Use the back of a spoon to press the apples down into the batter.
- Spoon the remaining batter over the first layer of apple cinnamon.
- Finally, add the rest of the apple cinnamon mixture to the top of the loaf. Use a spoon to press the apples into the top of the batter.
- With all the moisture in the apples, this bread takes a long time to bake, about 60 to 70 minutes at 350F.
- Use a sharp knife or toothpick to pierce the loaf's center and ensure it comes out clean before removing it from the oven.
- Let the loaf fully cool before slicing and serving.
