Spiced Apple Bread

Prepare to fall in love with this incredibly easy and utterly delicious apple bread! Imagine the comforting flavors of warm apple fritters, but baked into a convenient and irresistible loaf. This homemade cinnamon apple bread is exceptionally soft, bursting with aromatic cinnamon, and generously studded with tender apple pieces throughout. To top it all off, a sparkling cinnamon sugar crust adds the perfect touch of sweetness and a delightful crunch that will have you coming back for more.

This recipe was inspired by the cozy simplicity of pumpkin bread, reimagined with the crisp, sweet goodness of fresh apples. It’s incredibly straightforward to prepare, requiring no fancy mixers – just a couple of bowls and your enthusiasm! All you need are two fresh Gala apples (or your favorite baking apples) to create a loaf that truly tastes like a bakery-quality apple fritter. We’ll walk you through every step with expert tips, tricks, and helpful process photos to ensure your apple bread turns out perfectly every time. If you adore apple desserts, be sure to also try our irresistible apple muffins for another delightful treat.

Baking the Best Apple Bread: Essential Tips & Tricks

Achieving a perfectly moist and flavorful apple bread is easier than you think, especially with these tried-and-true tips. Follow these guidelines to ensure your homemade apple bread is nothing short of spectacular, just like the one pictured!

• Tip 1: Measure Flour Correctly for Perfect Texture. The secret to a super soft, moist apple bread begins with how you measure your flour. Always spoon your all-purpose flour into the measuring cup and then level it off with a straight edge (like the back of a knife). Scooping the measuring cup directly into the flour bag can compact it, leading to too much flour in your batter. This excess flour results in a denser, drier bread, which is exactly what we want to avoid. Precision here makes a big difference!
• Tip 2: Prepare Apples First for Enhanced Flavor. Start by dicing your apples and tossing them with the cinnamon and brown sugar as the first step in your preparation. Allowing the apples to sit in this mixture for a while will draw out some of their natural juices. These small bits of apple juice and the softened sugar will then mix beautifully into your bread batter, infusing every bite with concentrated apple flavor and extra moisture. It’s a simple step that significantly boosts the overall taste.
• Tip 3: Don’t Skimp on the Cinnamon Sugar Topping. Once your delicious apple bread batter is poured into the 9×5-inch loaf pan, be generous with the cinnamon sugar topping. Don’t just sprinkle a little; apply a thick, even layer over the entire surface. As the bread bakes, this sugar will caramelize, creating an irresistible, crunchy, and sugary crust. This topping not only adds incredible flavor but also provides a wonderful textural contrast to the soft interior of the loaf.
• Tip 4: Room Temperature Ingredients are Key. For the smoothest batter and best rise, make sure your dairy ingredients (milk, sour cream, eggs) are at room temperature. Cold ingredients can make the batter lumpy and prevent everything from emulsifying properly, which can affect the final texture of your apple bread. Plan ahead and pull them out of the fridge about 30 minutes to an hour before you start baking.
• Tip 5: Avoid Overmixing the Batter. Once you combine the wet and dry ingredients, mix just until everything is incorporated. Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, which can lead to a tough and chewy bread instead of the tender, moist loaf we’re aiming for. A few lumps are perfectly fine; they’ll disappear during baking.

The Joy of Baking Homemade Apple Bread

There’s something uniquely comforting about the aroma of cinnamon and apples baking in your kitchen, especially during the cooler months or as a cozy weekend treat. This easy apple bread recipe captures that warmth perfectly, delivering a delightful blend of sweet, tart, and spicy notes in every bite. It’s a testament to simple ingredients coming together to create something truly extraordinary. Whether you’re an experienced baker or just starting, this recipe is incredibly forgiving and guarantees a delicious outcome.

This quick bread is incredibly versatile. Enjoy a slice for breakfast with your morning coffee, pack it as a satisfying snack, or serve it as a simple yet elegant dessert with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It’s also a fantastic way to use up fresh apples, transforming them into a delightful loaf that your family and friends will rave about. The combination of soft bread, tender apple chunks, and the crunchy cinnamon sugar topping makes it an instant classic.

We hope you adore this recipe! If you loved making and eating this apple bread, please leave astar review and comment below to share your experience. Don’t forget to tag us on Instagram @stephaniesweettreats with your creations. For more baking inspiration and delicious ideas, be sure to follow us on Pinterest.

Easy Apple Bread Recipe

5 from 1 review

Easy Apple Bread

By Stephanie Rutherford

This apple bread is made in a loaf pan, offering a super soft, cinnamon-infused loaf with tender apples throughout. It’s finished with a delightful cinnamon sugar topping, making it the perfect recipe to showcase your fresh apples!

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Prep Time:

20 mins

Cook Time:

1 hr

Total Time:

1 hr
20 mins

Servings:

9 slices

Ingredients

For the Apples

• 2 cups Gala apples diced
• 2 tsp All-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup Brown sugar, packed
• 1 tsp Ground cinnamon

For the Apple Bread

• 2 cups All-purpose flour
• 1 tsp Baking powder
• 1/2 tsp Baking soda
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 2 tsp Ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp Ground nutmeg
• 1/2 cup Unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• 1/2 cup White granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup Brown sugar, packed
• 1 tsp Pure vanilla extract
• 2 Large eggs, room temperature
• 1/2 cup Unsweetened apple sauce
• 1/2 cup Milk, room temperature
• 1/4 cup Sour cream, room temperature or Greek yogurt

For the Cinnamon Sugar Topping

• 1/4 cup White granulated sugar
• 1 tsp Ground cinnamon

Instructions

Prepare the Apples

1. Peel and dice the Gala apples into small, uniform cubes. In a medium bowl, combine the diced apples with 2 teaspoons of all-purpose flour, 1/3 cup packed brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon. Toss gently until the apples are thoroughly coated. Set aside to allow the flavors to meld and juices to release.

Make the Apple Bread Batter

2. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly spray a 9×5-inch loaf pan with baking nonstick spray. For easy removal, line the bottom and two long sides of the pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides. Spray the parchment paper again. Set the prepared pan aside.
3. In a separate medium bowl, sift together 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon of baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon of ground nutmeg. Whisk well to ensure all ingredients are evenly distributed. Set this dry mixture aside.
4. In a large mixing bowl, combine the melted and cooled unsalted butter, 1/2 cup white granulated sugar, 1/4 cup packed brown sugar, pure vanilla extract, large eggs, unsweetened apple sauce, milk, and sour cream. Whisk these wet ingredients until they are well combined and smooth. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined. Be careful not to overmix; a few lumps are okay.
5. Gently fold the prepared cinnamon apples into the batter until evenly distributed. Pour the apple bread batter into your prepared loaf pan, spreading it evenly. In a small bowl, mix together 1/4 cup white granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon for the topping. Sprinkle this cinnamon sugar mixture generously over the entire surface of the batter in the pan, ensuring it is well covered.
6. Bake for 60-70 minutes, or until a wooden toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean. The exact baking time may vary depending on your oven.
7. Once baked, remove the loaf from the oven and let it rest in the hot pan for 10 minutes. This helps the bread set and makes it easier to remove. After 10 minutes, carefully lift the bread out of the pan using the parchment paper overhangs and transfer it to a wire cooling rack to cool completely before slicing and serving.

Notes

Flour Measurement: Always spoon and level your flour, or better yet, use a kitchen scale for precise measurement. Compacted flour can lead to a dry, dense bread.

High Altitude Baking: If you are baking at a high altitude, consider adding an extra 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour to the dry ingredients to compensate for the lower air pressure.

Room Temperature Dairy: For best results, ensure all dairy ingredients (eggs, milk, sour cream) are at room temperature. Take them out of the refrigerator at least 30 minutes, or up to 2 hours, before you begin baking.

Storage: Store leftover apple bread tightly wrapped in plastic wrap or in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days. For longer storage, freeze individual slices for up to 3 months.

Apple Varieties: While Gala apples are recommended for their sweetness and texture, other firm, crisp baking apples like Honeycrisp, Fuji, Granny Smith (for a tarter flavor), or Braeburn would also work beautifully in this recipe.

Nutrition Information

Calories:
342
kcal

,

Carbohydrates:
56
g

,

Protein:
4
g

,

Fat:
12
g

,

Saturated Fat:
7
g

,

Polyunsaturated Fat:
1
g

,

Monounsaturated Fat:
3
g

,

Trans Fat:
0.4
g

,

Cholesterol:
33
mg

,

Sodium:
251
mg

,

Potassium:
96
mg

,

Fiber:
1
g

,

Sugar:
33
g

,

Vitamin A:
384
IU

,

Vitamin C:
0.2
mg

,

Calcium:
78
mg

,

Iron:
2
mg

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