Moist Apple Cinnamon Bread Perfect for Fall

When I was little, apple fritters were my dad’s go-to bakery treat. He’d pick them up on Saturday mornings, still warm and sticky with glaze. The smell of cinnamon and apples would fill the kitchen before we even opened the box. This bread takes me right back to those mornings—but in a way that’s easy to bake at home. Every slice has that same soft, spiced apple filling and sweet glaze, but with the comfort of a homemade loaf. If you love apple fritters, this bread is going to be your new favorite. It’s soft and moist with layers of cinnamon-sugar apples swirled inside, then topped with a sweet glaze that seeps into every slice. Perfect for breakfast, a snack with coffee, or a cozy dessert. It tastes like a bakery treat, but you can make it right at home with simple ingredients.


Recipe Info

  • Cuisine: American
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 55–60 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes (including cooling & glazing)
  • Servings: 8–10 slices
  • Calories: ~290 per slice

Why You’ll Love It

✅ Tastes like a fresh apple fritter in bread form.
✅ Sweet cinnamon-apple swirls in every bite.
✅ Easy to make with simple pantry ingredients.
✅ Perfect for fall, holidays, or gifting.
✅ Stays moist for days and reheats beautifully.


Ingredients

For the Cinnamon Apples:

  • 2 cups apples, peeled and diced (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp work well)
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon

For the Batter:

  • ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter, softened
  • ¾ cup (150 g) sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 ½ cups (190 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ tsp baking powder
  • ½ cup (120 ml) milk

For the Cinnamon-Sugar Layer:

  • ⅓ cup brown sugar
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon

For the Glaze:

  • ½ cup powdered sugar
  • 2–3 tsp milk (adjust for consistency)

Equipment

  • 9×5-inch loaf pan
  • Mixing bowls
  • Electric mixer or whisk
  • Spatula
  • Cooling rack

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1 – Prepare the Apples

  • Toss diced apples with 2 tbsp sugar and 1 tsp cinnamon. Set aside.

Step 2 – Make the Batter

  • Cream butter and sugar until fluffy.
  • Beat in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk flour and baking powder.
  • Add dry ingredients to wet mixture alternately with milk, mixing until just combined.

Step 3 – Layer the Bread

  • Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a 9×5 loaf pan.
  • Pour half the batter into the pan. Add half the apples and sprinkle with half the brown sugar-cinnamon mix.
  • Repeat with remaining batter, apples, and cinnamon-sugar.
  • Lightly swirl with a knife for a marbled effect.

Step 4 – Bake

  • Bake for 55–60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  • Cool in the pan 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.

Step 5 – Glaze

  • Whisk powdered sugar and milk until smooth.
  • Drizzle over cooled bread before slicing.

Pro Tips

  • Don’t overmix the batter — it keeps the bread tender.
  • Use tart apples like Granny Smith for a nice balance of sweet and tangy.
  • For extra gooey swirls, sprinkle a little more cinnamon-sugar inside.
  • Let the bread cool before glazing so it doesn’t melt right off.

Variations

  • Nutty Crunch: Add ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans.
  • Caramel Apple: Drizzle with caramel sauce instead of glaze.
  • Apple Pie Spice: Replace cinnamon with apple pie spice blend.
  • Mini Loaves: Bake in mini loaf pans for gifts (reduce bake time to ~30 minutes).

Serving & Storage

  • Serve: Warm or at room temperature with coffee or tea.
  • Store: Wrap tightly and keep at room temperature for 2–3 days, or refrigerate up to 5 days.
  • Freeze: Slice, wrap individually, and freeze up to 2 months. Reheat in microwave or oven.

FAQs

Q: Can I use other fruits?
Yes — pears or peaches also work well.

Q: Do I need to peel the apples?
It’s best for texture, but you can leave the peel on if you prefer.

Q: Can I double the recipe?
Yes, bake in two loaf pans.

Q: Can I skip the glaze?
Yes, but it adds that signature apple fritter sweetness.

Apple Cinnamon Bread Perfect for Fall

Recipe by Nanny's RecipeCourse: DessertCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy
Servings

8-10

Slices
Prep time

20

minutes
Cooking time

55

minutes
Calories

290

kcal

Ingredients

  • For the Cinnamon Apples:
  • 2 cups apples, peeled and diced (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp work well)

  • 2 tbsp sugar

  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon

  • For the Batter:
  • ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter, softened

  • ¾ cup (150 g) sugar

  • 2 large eggs

  • 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract

  • 1 ½ cups (190 g) all-purpose flour

  • 1 ½ tsp baking powder

  • ½ cup (120 ml) milk

  • For the Cinnamon-Sugar Layer:
  • ⅓ cup brown sugar

  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon

  • For the Glaze:
  • ½ cup powdered sugar

  • 2–3 tsp milk (adjust for consistency)

Directions

  • Step 1 – Prepare the Apples
    Toss diced apples with 2 tbsp sugar and 1 tsp cinnamon. Set aside.
  • Step 2 – Make the Batter
    Cream butter and sugar until fluffy.
    Beat in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla.
    In a separate bowl, whisk flour and baking powder.
    Add dry ingredients to wet mixture alternately with milk, mixing until just combined.
  • Step 3 – Layer the Bread
    Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a 9×5 loaf pan.
    Pour half the batter into the pan. Add half the apples and sprinkle with half the brown sugar-cinnamon mix.
    Repeat with remaining batter, apples, and cinnamon-sugar.
    Lightly swirl with a knife for a marbled effect.
  • Step 4 – Bake
    Bake for 55–60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
    Cool in the pan 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
  • Step 5 – Glaze
    Whisk powdered sugar and milk until smooth.
    Drizzle over cooled bread before slicing.

Notes

  • Pro Tips:
    -Don’t overmix the batter — it keeps the bread tender.
    -Use tart apples like Granny Smith for a nice balance of sweet and tangy.
    -For extra gooey swirls, sprinkle a little more cinnamon-sugar inside.
    -Let the bread cool before glazing so it doesn’t melt right off.
  • Variations:
    Nutty Crunch: Add ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans.
    Caramel Apple: Drizzle with caramel sauce instead of glaze.
    Apple Pie Spice: Replace cinnamon with apple pie spice blend.
    Mini Loaves: Bake in mini loaf pans for gifts (reduce bake time to ~30 minutes).
  • Serving & Storage:
    Serve: Warm or at room temperature with coffee or tea.
    Store: Wrap tightly and keep at room temperature for 2–3 days, or refrigerate up to 5 days.
    Freeze: Slice, wrap individually, and freeze up to 2 months. Reheat in microwave or oven.

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