Apple Cinnamon Bread Recipe is more than just a baked good; it’s an invitation to a cozy, comforting experience. Imagine the irresistible aroma of warm spices mingling with sweet, tender apples, wafting through your kitchen. This isn’t just bread; it’s a hug in every slice, perfect for a leisurely breakfast, a delightful afternoon snack, or even a simple, wholesome dessert that truly warms the soul.
There’s a reason why the harmonious combination of apples and cinnamon has stood the test of time, becoming a beloved staple in countless households, particularly as cooler weather arrives. It evokes a beautiful sense of nostalgia, reminiscent of autumn harvests, cherished family gatherings, and the simple pleasures of home baking. The blend of crisp apple pieces, a soft, moist crumb, and the gentle warmth of cinnamon creates an unparalleled sensory delight that brings joy with every bite.
Why We Adore This Classic Comfort
People adore this dish for its perfect balance of sweetness and spice, its incredibly tender texture, and the sheer comfort it provides. It’s incredibly satisfying, yet surprisingly simple to prepare, making it a fantastic choice for both novice and experienced bakers seeking a heartwarming treat. Get ready to create a truly memorable experience with this delightful Apple Cinnamon Bread Recipe that promises to fill your home with an aroma as wonderful as its taste.
Ingredients:
- For the Apple Cinnamon Bread Batter:
- 2 ½ cups (300g) all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional, but highly recommended for depth)
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (100g) packed light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup (120ml) whole milk, at room temperature
- For the Apple Cinnamon Filling:
- 2 medium apples (about 300-350g total), such as Honeycrisp, Gala, or Granny Smith, peeled, cored, and finely diced into ¼-inch pieces
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- For the Cinnamon Streusel Topping (Optional, but highly recommended):
- ½ cup (60g) all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)
- ¼ cup (56g) unsalted butter, very cold and cut into small cubes
- For the Simple Vanilla Glaze (Optional):
- 1 cup (120g) powdered sugar (confectioners’ sugar), sifted
- 2-3 tablespoons whole milk or heavy cream, adding gradually
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Preparing the Cinnamon Streusel Topping:
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Combine Dry Ingredients: If you’re opting for the delightful cinnamon streusel topping, let’s get it ready first. In a medium bowl, combine the ½ cup of all-purpose flour, ¼ cup of granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons of packed light brown sugar, ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon, and the optional ¼ teaspoon of ground nutmeg. Whisk these dry ingredients together thoroughly with a fork until everything is well-distributed. This ensures an even flavor in every crumbly bite of your apple cinnamon bread.
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Incorporate Cold Butter: Add the ¼ cup of very cold, cubed unsalted butter to the dry mixture. The key here is to keep the butter as cold as possible. Using your fingertips, a pastry blender, or two knives, cut the butter into the flour mixture. You want to work quickly to prevent the butter from melting. Continue until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces of butter remaining. These small pieces of butter are what will melt and create that irresistible crisp texture during baking. Avoid overworking the dough, as that can lead to a tough streusel.
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Chill for Later: Once your streusel is perfectly crumbly, set it aside in the refrigerator. Keeping it cold is crucial; it prevents the butter from melting prematurely and helps maintain the streusel’s structure when it hits the warm bread batter. This simple step ensures your ultimate apple cinnamon bread recipe achieves maximum texture and flavor.
Preparing the Apple Cinnamon Filling:
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Prepare the Apples: Take your two medium apples. Peel them carefully, then core them using an apple corer or a paring knife. Once cored, dice them into small, approximately ¼-inch pieces. Smaller pieces are better here because they will soften beautifully and distribute evenly throughout the bread, ensuring every slice of your homemade apple cinnamon bread gets a burst of apple flavor. Larger chunks might not cook through as well and could make the bread crumbly.
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Season the Apples: In a small bowl, combine the diced apples with 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon. Toss them gently until the apples are thoroughly coated. The sugar will help draw out some moisture from the apples and caramelize slightly during baking, while the cinnamon infuses them with that classic warm spice that pairs so wonderfully with apples. Set these aside; they’re now ready to be folded into our delicious apple cinnamon bread batter.
Making the Apple Cinnamon Bread Batter:
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Preheat and Prepare Pan: Before we dive into mixing, let’s get our oven and pan ready. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease and flour a 9×5-inch loaf pan, or line it with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the longer sides to easily lift the loaf out after baking. Greasing and flouring ensures your perfect apple cinnamon bread won’t stick, making for an effortless release and a beautifully shaped loaf.
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Whisk Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the 2 ½ cups of all-purpose flour (be sure it’s spooned and leveled to avoid adding too much), 1 ½ teaspoons of baking powder, ½ teaspoon of baking soda, 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, the optional ¼ teaspoon of ground nutmeg, and ½ teaspoon of fine sea salt. Whisking these dry ingredients together thoroughly for about 30 seconds ensures that the leavening agents and spices are evenly distributed throughout the flour. This is crucial for a consistent rise and flavor in every bite of your easy apple cinnamon bread.
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Cream Butter and Sugars: In a separate, larger bowl (preferably the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or a large bowl with an electric hand mixer), cream together the ½ cup (113g) of softened unsalted butter with 1 cup of granulated sugar and ½ cup of packed light brown sugar. Beat on medium speed for about 3-5 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl occasionally, until the mixture is light, fluffy, and pale in color. This creaming process incorporates air into the butter and sugar, which is vital for the texture and rise of your bread, making it tender and airy.
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Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the two large room-temperature eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition until fully incorporated. It’s important to add them one by one to ensure they emulsify properly with the butter mixture, creating a smooth batter. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Then, stir in the 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract, mixing until just combined. The vanilla adds a wonderful aromatic depth that complements the apple and cinnamon flavors perfectly in this best apple cinnamon bread recipe.
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Alternate Dry and Wet Ingredients: With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in three additions, alternating with the ½ cup of room-temperature whole milk in two additions. Begin and end with the dry ingredients. For example: add one-third of the dry ingredients, mix until just combined, then half of the milk, mix, another third of dry, mix, the remaining milk, mix, and finally the last third of dry ingredients. Mix until just barely combined. Be very careful not to overmix the batter at this stage. Overmixing can develop the gluten in the flour too much, leading to a tough and dense loaf instead of the tender, moist apple cinnamon bread we’re aiming for.
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Fold in Apples: Gently fold in the seasoned diced apples using a rubber spatula. Mix just until the apples are evenly distributed throughout the batter. Again, avoid overmixing. The batter should be thick and luscious, ready for its journey to become a spectacular apple cinnamon bread.
Assembling and Baking the Apple Cinnamon Bread:
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Layering the Batter and Streusel: Spoon about half of the apple cinnamon bread batter into your prepared loaf pan, spreading it evenly with your spatula. This creates a base for our delicious layers. If you’re using the streusel topping, sprinkle about half of the chilled streusel mixture evenly over this first layer of batter. Then, spoon the remaining apple cinnamon bread batter over the streusel layer and spread it gently to cover, being careful not to disturb the streusel too much. Finally, sprinkle the remaining streusel mixture evenly over the top of the bread batter. This layering technique ensures you get that wonderful crumbly topping and an even distribution of flavor throughout the loaf, enhancing the texture of your homemade apple cinnamon bread.
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Baking the Loaf: Place the loaf pan in the preheated 350°F (175°C) oven. Bake for approximately 50-65 minutes. Baking times can vary significantly between ovens, so it’s essential to keep an eye on it. The bread is done when a wooden skewer, toothpick, or cake tester inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs attached, but no wet batter. The top should be a beautiful golden brown, and the streusel (if used) should be wonderfully crisp and fragrant. If the top starts to brown too quickly, you can loosely tent the loaf with aluminum foil for the last 15-20 minutes of baking to prevent over-browning while the inside finishes cooking.
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Cooling the Bread: Once baked, remove the loaf pan from the oven and place it on a wire rack. Let the apple cinnamon bread cool in the pan for about 10-15 minutes. This initial cooling period allows the bread to set and firm up, making it easier to remove without breaking. After 10-15 minutes, carefully lift the bread out of the pan using the parchment paper overhangs (or invert it onto the rack if not using parchment) and place it directly on the wire rack to cool completely. Cooling completely is important for the structure and texture of the bread; slicing it while still very warm can cause it to crumble or appear gummy. Patience is a virtue here, as this step ensures your easy apple cinnamon bread holds its shape beautifully and reaches its full flavor potential.
Preparing the Glaze and Finishing Touches:
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Prepare the Simple Vanilla Glaze: While the bread is cooling (or once it’s completely cool, depending on your preference for a firmer or runnier glaze), prepare your simple vanilla glaze if you’re using it. In a small bowl, combine the 1 cup of sifted powdered sugar with ½ teaspoon of pure vanilla extract. Gradually add the whole milk or heavy cream, starting with 2 tablespoons, and whisk until smooth. You’re looking for a consistency that is thick enough to slowly drizzle but not so thick it clumps. If it’s too thick, add a tiny bit more milk, a quarter teaspoon at a time. If it’s too thin, whisk in a bit more sifted powdered sugar. This glaze adds a lovely touch of sweetness and a beautiful finish to your best apple cinnamon bread recipe, creating a visually appealing and extra delicious treat.
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Glaze the Cooled Bread: Once the apple cinnamon bread has cooled completely to room temperature, you can drizzle the vanilla glaze generously over the top. Cooling the bread completely before glazing prevents the glaze from melting and becoming transparent, ensuring it sets nicely with a beautiful white finish. Let the glaze set for about 15-20 minutes before slicing. This allows the glaze to firm up, making for cleaner slices and less mess.
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Serve and Enjoy: Slice your magnificent apple cinnamon bread with a serrated knife. Each slice will reveal a beautiful swirl of apples and a tender, moist crumb, topped with that inviting streusel and optional sweet glaze. This homemade apple cinnamon bread is truly a comforting delight. It’s perfect for breakfast, brunch, or an afternoon snack with a cup of coffee or tea. Store any leftovers at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days, or freeze for longer enjoyment. Just imagine the joy of pulling out a slice of this incredible apple cinnamon bread on a chilly morning!
Conclusion:
And there you have it, friends! We’ve journeyed through the simple steps to create a truly remarkable treat, and I honestly believe this is one of those recipes that everyone should have in their baking repertoire. This isn’t just another loaf of bread; it’s an experience, a delightful sensory adventure that begins the moment those fragrant apples meet the warm spices in your kitchen. The incredible aroma alone is enough to transport you to a cozy autumn day, no matter the season outside your window. What truly elevates this particular confection, making it an absolute must-try, is its perfect balance – it’s sweet without being cloying, moist without being dense, and bursting with the comforting flavors of fresh apples and robust cinnamon. It’s a timeless classic, reimagined to be effortlessly delicious, and I promise you, once you taste a slice of this homemade goodness, you’ll understand exactly why I rave about it so much. It’s the kind of recipe that makes your home feel instantly warmer and more inviting, a culinary hug that satisfies both the stomach and the soul.
Serving Your Delicious Bread
Now that you’ve poured your heart into baking this masterpiece, let’s talk about how to best enjoy it. While a warm slice, fresh from the oven, is truly divine on its own, this versatile bread offers a myriad of serving possibilities. For a breakfast treat, I love it with a smear of softened butter or a dollop of cream cheese, perfectly complementing a hot cup of coffee or a comforting mug of herbal tea. It’s also phenomenal when toasted lightly, giving it a delightful crunch while retaining its moist interior. If you’re feeling a bit more decadent, consider serving it as a dessert. A warm slice with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, allowing the ice cream to melt slightly into the bread, creates an absolutely heavenly combination. A drizzle of caramel sauce or a sprinkle of toasted pecans can elevate it even further, making it feel like a gourmet dessert from your favorite café. For an afternoon snack, it’s simply perfect alongside a glass of milk or a fruit smoothie. Its inherent goodness means it truly shines in any setting, from a casual family breakfast to a more elaborate gathering with friends.
Creative Variations to Explore
One of my favorite things about baking is the freedom to experiment and make a recipe truly your own, and this Apple Cinnamon Bread Recipe is incredibly adaptable. While the core recipe is foolproof and delicious as is, feel free to unleash your inner chef! For an added layer of texture and nutty flavor, consider folding in a handful of chopped walnuts or pecans into the batter before baking. These not only provide a lovely crunch but also enhance the overall richness of the bread. You could also play around with different types of apples; Granny Smith will offer a more tart contrast to the sweetness, while Fuji or Honeycrisp will make for an even sweeter, more apple-forward experience. Don’t be afraid to tweak the spice profile a little too – a pinch of nutmeg or a whisper of ground cloves can add another dimension of warmth and complexity. For a visually appealing and extra sweet touch, a simple powdered sugar glaze (just powdered sugar mixed with a tiny bit of milk or lemon juice) can be drizzled over the cooled loaf. Or, for a truly luxurious finish, a cream cheese frosting would transform it into an even more indulgent cake-like creation. Imagine mini loaves for gifting, or baking it in muffin tins for individual servings – the possibilities are truly endless!
So, there you have it – my earnest invitation for you to dive into your kitchen and experience the pure joy of making this incredible bread. I can confidently say that this Apple Cinnamon Bread Recipe will become a treasured favorite in your home, just as it has in mine. It’s more than just a recipe; it’s an opportunity to create memories, fill your home with an irresistible aroma, and share something truly special with those you love. Don’t just take my word for it; give it a try this week! I promise you won’t be disappointed. And when you do, please, please share your creations with me! I absolutely adore seeing your baking triumphs, your personal twists, and hearing about your experiences in the kitchen. Tag me in your photos or drop a comment below – I can’t wait to see your beautifully baked apple cinnamon bread and hear all about your baking adventures. Happy baking, my friends!
Easy & Delicious Apple Cinnamon Bread
This Apple Cinnamon Bread is more than just a baked good; it’s an invitation to a cozy, comforting experience. Imagine the irresistible aroma of warm spices mingling with sweet, tender apples, wafting through your kitchen. This isn’t just bread; it’s a hug in every slice, perfect for a leisurely breakfast, a delightful afternoon snack, or even a simple, wholesome dessert that truly warms the soul. The harmonious combination of apples and cinnamon has stood the test of time, becoming a beloved staple, creating an unparalleled sensory delight.
Ingredients
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2 cups white granulated sugar
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4 cups all-purpose flour
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2 tablespoons baking powder
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1 teaspoon salt
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2 large eggs
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2 cups milk
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⅔ cup vegetable oil
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1 cup apples, diced and peeled
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1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
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⅔ cup white granulated sugar
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1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
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Step 1
Peel, core, and finely dice 1 cup of apples. In a small bowl, toss the diced apples with ⅔ cup white granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon until evenly coated. Set aside. -
Step 2
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease and flour a 9×5-inch loaf pan. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together 4 cups all-purpose flour, 2 tablespoons baking powder, and 1 teaspoon salt until well combined. -
Step 3
In a separate, larger bowl, combine 2 cups white granulated sugar, 2 large room-temperature eggs, 2 cups room-temperature milk, ⅔ cup vegetable oil, and 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon. Beat with an electric mixer until the mixture is smooth and well combined. -
Step 4
With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just barely combined. Be careful not to overmix. Gently fold in the seasoned diced apples using a rubber spatula until they are evenly distributed throughout the batter. -
Step 5
Pour the apple cinnamon bread batter into the prepared loaf pan, spreading it evenly. Place in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 50-65 minutes. The bread is done when a wooden skewer or toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs attached. If the top browns too quickly, loosely tent the loaf with aluminum foil for the last 15-20 minutes of baking. -
Step 6
Once baked, remove the loaf pan from the oven and place it on a wire rack. Let the bread cool in the pan for about 10-15 minutes. Then, carefully remove the bread from the pan and place it directly on the wire rack to cool completely. Slice with a serrated knife and serve. Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days.
Important Information
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
Allergy Information
Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
