Sweet and lightly spiced Cinnamon Apple Bread is pure homemade comfort in loaf form. Packed with fresh apples and cinnamon sugar filling, this sweet bread is topped with a vanilla icing!
More classic bread recipes include my favorite zucchini bread and this sour cream banana bread! Happy baking!
Apple Bread Recipe
Do you have any apple dessert lovers in your life?
I think I’m that person to my friends and family. Yes, I love just about all desserts and sweet things (I have a whole blog about them, after all) but I have soft spot in my heart for treats involving apples.
From Apple Doughnuts to Apple Cake, I love it all. Add a little cinnamon in the mix and you’ll win me over for sure.
These two ingredients were simply made for each other, and there’s no better way to enjoy them than slicing into a loaf of Apple Cinnamon Bread.
- Apple bread made with real pieces of apple folded into the batter doesn’t get nearly the attention it deserves.
- With a vanilla icing on top and plenty of cinnamon, this Apple Cinnamon Loaf is easily one of my favorite quick breads.
- I’ve even got tips below on how to make this into muffins!
Ingredient Notes
- All-purpose Flour– no fancy flour needed! Make sure to measure the flour correctly, using our tips and tricks!
- Sugars- you’ll need granulated sugar for the bread, brown sugar for the filling, and powdered sugar for the glaze!
- Unsalted Butter- if you use salted butter, it will still turn out great.
- Vanilla Extract- use a pure vanilla, or make your own using my homemade vanilla extract recipe!
- Apples- I like to use granny smith or golden delicious in this recipe. The more tart the apple the better, since there is plenty of sweetness to balance the apple flavor. Be sure to dice the apple small.
Step by Step Instructions
- Prepare the Bread Batter. Combine wet ingredients, then dry ingredients.
- Dice the Apple. Peel and core one large apple then dice into small chunks. You should have about 1 cup worth of apple.
- Cinnamon Sugar Mixture. Mix together a bowl of brown sugar and cinnamon and set aside.
- Assemble. Pour half the batter into a prepared bread pan (use baking spray or my homemade cake release). Cover with half of the diced apples (press them slightly into the batter). Sprinkle with half of brown sugar and cinnamon mixture. Pour the remaining batter over apple layer; top with remaining apples and add more brown sugar/cinnamon mixture. Pat topping into the batter with the back of a large spoon.
- Bake for 50 minutes in the oven at 350 degrees (or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean). Cool the bread in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.
- Make the icing.In a small bowl, combine powdered sugar, vanilla and milk. Whisk everything together until smooth. Drizzle the icing over the cooled bread and allow to set, about 15 minutes. ENJOY.
Recipe Notes
- Make sure the bread is cooled entirely before you pour the icing on top. If the bread is warm the icing will melt and not set on top.
- Don’t stress too much about getting every piece of apple exactly uniform. While you want the apple pieces roughly the same size a little variety is just fine, as they get baked right into the bread.
- If you won’t be serving the apple cinnamon bread immediately, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap to keep it moist.
My kids and I enjoy this bread for breakfasts, snacks and even as a dessert alongside a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
If you want a little less sweetness in your apple cake, I suppose you could leave off the icing. I, however, love what it adds to the bread in both taste and appearance.
How to Make Muffins
I love that this delicious bread can also be made into muffins! This recipe will make about 14 regular size muffins.
- Pre-heat oven to 350℉. Line regular muffin tin with liners or spray with baking spray. Set aside.
- Put 1 Tablespoon of batter in the bottom of each muffin well.
- Top the batter with a layer of about ½ Tablespoon of diced apples. Sprinkle about ½ Tablespoon of brown sugar and cinnamon mix over the apples.
- Top with another Tablespoon of batter and another ½ Tablespoon of brown sugar mix.
- Bake for 20-22 minutes or until tops of muffins have browned and are set.
- Cool muffins completely in the tin.
- Remove muffins from the tin and drizzle with icing.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, apple bread freezes beautifully! You can freeze the loaf whole or cut it into slices to freeze it in individual portions. Thaw completely in the refrigerator or on the counter top before warming slightly to serve.
I like a tart apple like Granny Smith or Golden Delicious in this apple bread recipe. However, any kind of apple you like baking with will taste great in this bread.
Nope. Keep wrapped at room temperature. However, it is delicious served cold (or warm)!
More Easy Dessert Recipes
Apple Cinnamon Bread
Sweet and lightly spiced Cinnamon Apple Bread is pure homemade comfort in loaf form. Packed with fresh apples and cinnamon sugar filling, this sweet bread is topped with a vanilla icing!
Ingredients
For the bread
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ⅔ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ cup milk
- 1 large apple, peeled and finely chopped (about 1 cup apple bits)
For the icing
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 Tablespoons milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan.
- In a small bowl,. combine brown sugar and cinnamon together and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine granulated sugar and butter until smooth. Add eggs and vanilla and continue to beat on medium speed until combined.
- Add flour and baking powder, then mix in the milk.
- Pour half the batter into the prepared pan. Cover with half of the diced apples (press them slightly into the batter).
- Sprinkle with half of brown sugar and cinnamon mixture.
- Pour the remaining batter over apple layer; top with remaining apples and add more brown sugar/cinnamon mixture.
- Pat topping into the batter with the back of a large spoon.
- Bake for 50 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool in pan 10 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the icing ingredients until smooth. Drizzle over cooled bread and allow to set, about 15 minutes. ENJOY.
Notes
- Store wrapped at room temperature or freeze for later!
- Can you freeze Apple Bread? Yes, apple bread freezes beautifully! You can freeze the loaf whole or cut it into slices to freeze it in individual portions. Thaw completely in the refrigerator or on the counter top before warming slightly to serve.
- What kind of apples to use in baking? I like a tart apple like Granny Smith or Golden Delicious in this apple bread recipe. However, any kind of apple you like baking with will taste great in this bread.
- Want to make muffins? See blog post for details!
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
10Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 317Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 63mgSodium: 100mgCarbohydrates: 52gFiber: 1gSugar: 36gProtein: 4g
*Nutrition facts are an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietitian for special diet advice.
All the good flavors of apples and cinnamon baked into moist and sweet loaf of Apple bread.
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Hello. I am baking this recipe right now and it is spilling
Over the loaf pan. I used the size in the recipe. Any idea why this is happening?
Thanks!
This is absolutely delicious!
So disappointed. Made this bread for the 3rd time and had something very unusual happen. After cooling, I flipped the bread and the bottom half stuck in the pan separated at the first apple level. Hoping to salvage it.
Sounds like you need to really grease your baking pan, or line it with parchment paper.
I cannot wait to make this bread. Pumpkin is not my favorite fall food, apples certainly are! Thanks for the recipe! Happy Autumn to all.
I can’t get over how good this bread is! And that icing! Wonderful. I will definitely make it again and try freezing some for later.
Great texture and delicious flavour. This will be a repeat recipe for sure!
I could eat the whole loaf by myself! It’s so delicious!
Hello! I do this recipe a lot and decided to change using maple syrup and honey instead to lower the calories. Calculating it all (with measuring to the higher whole number) I managed to make it 271 calories per serving with a delicious taste if anyone is worried about their calories. I love this bread!
If anyone tries it out with wheat flour or another flour tell me how it turns out.
Sorry I didn’t mean to reply to you lol
Sorry, just fixed that. It’s 1 cup.
This bread it’s so delicious,thank you
How long will this stay fresh at room temperature?
I made this as a last minute (like 10pm the night before) recipe to take to a small work potluck. 100% success! Everyone LOVED IT! It was so easy.
I didn’t do anything different except maybe some extra apple. I didn’t have a large apple so I used 2 smaller apples.
I iced it in the morning before taking it to work.
Making another tomorrow for my family!
this sounds delicious! is there a way to convert this over to an instant pot recipe?
Can I use almond milk for bread and icing? We have unsweetened and vanilla… if so, which would u say is better?
Absolutely delicious!
Thanks for sharing your recipe. ♥️
Mouthwatering! I love how it’s so perfectly made. Thanks for sharing your recipe.
Hi Aimee!
Sounds delicious. Can’t wait to make this tonight. Quick question…can I use buttermilk instead of milk ( just want to finish what I have)?
Thanks.
Buttermilk would work just fine 🙂
Absolutely loved this. Definitely will make this again. I did a double batch and added walnuts to the apple layer. On one loaf I left it plain, on the second I added a cream cheese glaze. Omg it was freaking !
Yum – I can eat cinnamon apple bread anytime of day! Thanks for a great recipe!
Aimee,
The apple cinnamon sounds tasty. Do you have any recipes for a cinnamon loaf??
I am not really fond of cooked apples.
Thank you in advance,
Cathy Colwill
I’ll try it 2day thank u
Very true!! I usually end up burning my tongue because I can’t wait for my baked goods to cool enough before trying them!
This bread sounds spicy and delicious. There’s nothing better than warm bread when it comes out of the oven.