Apple Cinnamon Bread Recipe (2024)

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Apple Cinnamon Bread is easy to make from scratch and makes your house smell amazing! A fall favorite swirled with apples and cinnamon sugar.

This apple cinnamon quick bread has a light crumb and is not overly sweet – a perfect fall breakfast, snack, or dessert! The chopped apple inside that’s mixed with brown sugar and fall spices like cinnamon and nutmeg makes this bread super moist without it being doughy and keeps it fresh for days.

It tastes great warm out of the oven but I love it even more after a day or two! The flavor of the cinnamon apples comes through even more when the bread has rested. Looking for a muffin recipe? Check out our Apple Cinnamon Muffins.

Why you’ll love this recipe

Tender crumb, light texture, and lots of sweet apple bits in every slice!
Keeps fresh for days and freezes really well!
Baking this quick bread will make your house smell amazing! No need for fall candles, this easy recipe comes with your favorite fall scents included!

Ingredient notes

Here is an overview of the ingredients you’ll need for this recipe. Scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom for quantities.

Flour – Use all-purpose flour in this recipe. Make sure to measure it correctly, using too much flour makes the bread dry.
Baking powder – This is the main leavening agent in the bread.
Cinnamon – We use ground cinnamon in the batter and apple topping for extra fall flavor. I prefer Ceylon cinnamon.
Butter – I always use unsaltedbutter for baking. The butter should have room temperature so take it out of the fridge about 45 minutes before you want to bake.
Sugar – This recipe uses white granulated sugar in the batter and brown sugar in the apple mixture.
Eggs – Use large eggs. It’s best if the eggs are also at room temperature.
Vanilla extract – You can also use vanilla sugar in this recipe.
Apple – You can use any apple you like. I have used Golden Delicious, Pink Lady, and Gala apples and the bread tastes great each time.
Cinnamon sugar mixture – Cinnamon sugar is a great topping for pancakes and waffles. It adds a bit of crunch to the bread and a lot of flavor.

How to make this recipe

Detailed measurements and instructions can be found at the bottom of the page on the printable recipe card.

This apple bread recipe is super easy to make from scratch! After making the batter by combining the dry mixture with the wet ingredients.

To assemble this quick bread spread half of the batter into the pan and top it with half of the brown sugar apple mixture. The batter will be thick so the applechunks won’t think to the bottom.

Top with the remaining batter and the other half of the apples. Try to distribute them evenly then use a knife to swirl them into the dough a little bit. Sprinkle some cinnamon sugar on top and bake for about 50 minutes.

When the bread is done take the pan out of the oven and let it cool down for a few minutes in the pan before transferring it to a cooling rack.

Expert Tips

Baking pan: I always make this bread in a 9×5 heavy-gauge steel loaf pan that has a non-stick coating. If you are using a glass pan or a dark metal pan baking time can vary so check the bread after 30 minutes and from then every 5-10 minutes until a skewer comes out clean with only a few crumbs attached.
Oven: Every oven bakes differently so make sure to check the bread regularly.
Preparing the pan: I like to line my pans with parchment paper. A parchment paper sling makes it super easy to lift the cake out of the pan and makes cleaning easier!
Apple: You can use any apple you like. I have used Golden Delicious, Pink Lady, Gala, and Granny Smith apples and the bread tastes great every time.
Serve it: This cinnamon apple bread tastes great with homemade whipped cream.

Recipe FAQs

How can I make this bread healthier?

To make this bread a bit healthier you replace half the butter with unsweetened applesauce. This gives the bread an extra apple kick and lowers the calories. The crumb might be not as light but still tasty.
You can also reduce the brown sugar in the apple mixture. Especially if you use a really sweet apple you probably won’t notice a difference. I wouldn’t recommend reducing the white sugar that’s needed for the cake batter because creaming the sugar and butter together gives this bread its volume and texture.
Another easy way to lighten it up is to skip the cinnamon sugar topping.

What are the best apples to use in apple bread?

I love using apples that are not too sweet in this recipe. Granny Smith apples are my favorite because of their tartness. But you can use any apple you have on hand. For example, Fuji, Braeburn, Jonagold, Gala, or Honey Crisp would also work well.

Variations

Nuts – Adding a handful of nuts is an easy way to add some crunch. Walnuts or pecans work well.

Glaze – Adding a simple glaze made from powdered sugar and apple juice or water will make this apple cinnamon bread recipe even more delicious! Just drizzle it over the cooled bread and let it dry before serving.

Lighten it up – You can easily lighten up this quick bread by using apple sauce and reducing the sugar. Check out the recipe FAQs for more detailed instructions.

Storage and Freezing

This bread keeps fresh, in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. I think it tastes even better the next day but most of the time it is already gone on the first.

To freeze it, let it cool completely thenwrap it up in foil, put it in a freezer bag, and freeze the bread as a whole. Allow to thaw overnight in the refrigerator and bring to room temperature before slicing and serving. Freezes well for up to 3 months.

More Quick Bread Recipes

Cinnamon Swirl Quick Bread
Blueberry Bread
Eggnog Bread
Cranberry Orange Bread

More Apple Recipes

German Apple Cake
Apple Strudel Recipe
Air Fryer Apples
Apple Crumble Pie Recipe

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4.92 from 45 votes

Apple Cinnamon Bread

By: Julia Foerster

Apple Cinnamon Bread is easy to make from scratch and makes your house smell amazing! A fall favorite swirled with apples and cinnamon sugar.

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour

Ingredients

For the Bread:

▢ 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
▢ 1 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
▢ 1/2 teaspoon salt
▢ 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
▢ 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
▢ 1/2 cup granulated white sugar
▢ 2 large eggs, room temperature
▢ 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
▢ 1/2 cup milk

For the Apple Mixture:

▢ 1 large apple, peeled and chopped
▢ 1/4 cup brown sugar
▢ 1 teaspoon cinnamon
▢ Pinch nutmeg

For the Cinnamon Sugar Topping:

▢ 1 tbsp granulated white sugar
▢ 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Cups – Metric

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C) and grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan.
In a small bowl whisk the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon together until thoroughly combined. Set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or using a hand mixer, cream butter, and sugar together until pale and fluffy, about 4 minutes.
Beat in eggs, one at a time, until incorporated. Then add vanilla extract and mix until combined.
With the mixer running on low, add about one-third of the flour mixture and mix until almost combined, then add half the milk and mix until just combined. Repeat with another third of the flour mixture and then the last half of the milk, ending with the last third of the flour. Beat until just incorporated. Don't overmix!
In a bowl combine chopped apple, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
Spread half of the batter into the loaf pan. Top with half of the apple mixture, followed by the remaining batter and the remaining apple mixture. Use a knife to swirl through the batter then combine sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle it on top.
Bake for 45-55 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean with only a few moist crumbs attached.
Remove the bread from the oven and let cool in the pan for 15 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack. Let it cool before slicing.

Video

Notes

Baking pan: I always make this bread in a 9×5 heavy-gauge steel loaf pan that has a non-stick coating. If you are using a glass pan or a dark metal pan baking time can vary so check the bread after 30 minutes and from then every 5-10 minutes until a skewer comes out clean with only a few crumbs attached.
Oven: Every oven bakes differently so make sure to check the bread regularly.
Preparing the pan: I like to line my pans with parchment paper. A parchment paper sling makes it super easy to lift the cake out of the pan and makes cleaning easier!
Apple: You can use any apple you like. I have used Golden Delicious, Pink Lady, Gala, and Granny Smith apples and the bread tastes great every time.
Serve it: This cinnamon apple bread tastes great with homemade whipped cream.
Storing: Cover and store leftover bread at room temperature for up to 4 days.

Nutrition

Like this recipe? Rate and comment below!

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About Julia Foerster

Hi, I'm Julia! Born in Germany, I call Canada now my home and love to share my favorite dishes with you! Here you'll find hundreds of recipes, all made from scratch, with lots of tips and detailed step-by-step instructions.

FAQs

Why does my apple bread fall apart? ›

Too much moisture is the most likely reason your apple bread is falling apart. If the apples are producing too much moisture, you will have to compensate by reducing the milk in the recipe by 1-2 tablespoons. One of the other reasons is not baking the bread as soon as the batter is ready.

Discover More Details ›

What is the best apple for baking bread? ›

Avoid soft, mushy apples. I use Granny Smith because overall, its flavor and texture are the best for baking. I also love sweet apples in this bread like Honeycrisp, Fuji, and Pink Lady. Applesauce: If you don't have unsweetened applesauce, use the same amount of plain yogurt or sour cream.

Discover More ›

Why is it a good idea to limit the cinnamon in your actual bread dough? ›

Cinnamon and sourdough are flavors that go so well together ... however, cinnamon will actually inhibit the fermentation of your sourdough bread if you add it into the actual dough.

Learn More ›

What are the best apples to bake in a cake? ›

Bon Appetit says the best apples for baking are Jonagold, Honeycrisp, Braeburn, Mutsu, Winesap, Pink Lady (Cripps Pink) but they also use Granny Smith often. They've listed several apples that have already been mentioned that are crisp and either sweet or tart.

What makes bread less crumbly? ›

Too much flour and not enough water can cause crumbly bread – people often do this if the dough is too sticky and they add more flour rather than kneading through it. Other culprits can be overproving or not kneading enough – the things you need to do to get a good structure.

Learn More Now ›

Why did my apple bread not rise? ›

Yeast is too hot Yeast may have been dissolved in water that was too hot, or the liquid ingredients in the recipe may be too hot, causing the yeast to die. Yeast needs to be warm - not too hot, not too cold. Yeast is too cold If the other ingredients are too cold, it could cause some of the yeast to die.

Get More Info Here ›

What happens if you proof cinnamon rolls too long? ›

The rolls are still prone to over-proofing if left in the fridge too long; and the cinnamon-sugar filling can melt and make the bottoms of the rolls syrupy and damp if left unbaked for too long. Also note that some cinnamon roll recipes are made with chemical leaveners versus yeast.

See Details ›

How to keep cinnamon bread from separating? ›

Brush the dough with a thin layer of egg wash before sprinkling your filling on top. As the loaf bakes, the egg wash will help keep the layers of dough tightly tucked together. And the result? You'll end up with a stunning cinnamon swirl.

Tell Me More ›

What happens if you add too much cinnamon? ›

May cause mouth sores

Some people have experienced mouth sores from eating products that contain cinnamon flavoring agents. This is called cinnamon stomatitis. Cinnamon contains cinnamaldehyde, a compound that may trigger an allergic reaction when consumed in large amounts.

Read The Full Story ›

What 4 apples are best used for baking? ›

For the best pies, crisps, and other baked treats, apples need to be firm enough to hold their own during the cooking process. We call these apples “baking apples” and to namedrop, they include Braeburn, Cortland, Honey Gold, Jonathan, Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith, Haralson, and Newtown Pippin.

What is the sweetest apple for baking? ›

Honeycrisp (Sweet)

They're extra juicy and very crisp with a honey-sweet flavor that translates wonderfully into baked goods. AND they are the star of the show in my Honeycrisp apple sangria.

Know More ›

Are pink ladies good for baking? ›

Why Are Pink Lady^® Apples Good for Baking? Pink Lady^® apples make such great baked apples because of the natural sweetness you get in every apple. The juicy fizz you get from Pink Lady^® apples is intensified when baked, giving you delicious results every time.

Tell Me More ›

How do you keep homemade bread from falling apart? ›

The longer the dough rises, the more active the yeast becomes. If it goes too far, the gluten relaxes too much, and the bread will collapse or go flat while it bakes. By restricting it, you produce better bread with a more reliable crumb. Poke your finger into the dough to check if it has sufficiently risen.

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What causes bread to break apart? ›

If the dough was too dry it can form a crust too early before it's had time to rise, then when it begins to rise it forms cracks which then burst in odd places when the pressure builds up. Steam is important in this stage of baking of some breads like sourdoughs so it's a good thing to try and use steam.

How do you fix falling apart dough? ›

If tearing is a frequent problem, Chef Felice suggests :

Add a bit of extra-virgin olive oil to the dough to make it more elastic. ...
Be sure to check out Chef Felice's techniques here to ensure the dough itself is made properly.
Knead the dough a little bit longer than normal to improve the gluten structure.

Feb 26, 2021