Apple Bread

I don’t always adore baking bread, but I can get excited about an easy quick bread recipe. This apple bread is one of my favorites, especially in the fall when apples are at their peak. 

 

This easy apple bread recipe combines sweet apples (although you can use any types of apples that you prefer) with brown sugar and warm spices to create the most decadent and moist bread. The apple flavor shines in this simple bread while the flavors just channel the feeling of fall. 

Almost like an apple dapple cake and apple pie mixed.

Why You’ll Love Apple Bread

A moist and delicious dessert bread that is full of fall flavor- what’s not to love!

• Unique – This autumnal bread doesn’t just get fall flavor from incorporating apples, it also has pumpkin pie spice that takes it to the next level. 
• Incredibly Easy – Quick breads are named that for a reason, but this super simple recipe will have you making a tasty and sweet bread in nearly no time. 
• Full of fall flavor – From sun up to sun down there are so many ways to serve this bread. Use it as a morning go-to with your cup of coffee, stave off mid-day hunger, plate it next to meats for dinner, or make it part of a dessert with some sweet additions. 

Ingredients

These simple ingredients come together to make the best apple bread. Be sure to allow them to come to room temperature before prepping the bread. 

• Fresh Apples: I used granny smith for this recipe but you can use another type of apple — Braeburn or Cortland can work well, too. Choose a firm apple that won’t break down too much when baking.
• Light Brown Sugar: Using brown sugar adds caramel-like flavor to the bread. Dark brown sugar will work, too, if it’s what you have on hand. 
• Ground Cinnamon: Cinnamon pairs perfectly with apples and adds an amazing aroma to the bread.
• All-Purpose Flour: Flour helps to build the structure of this quickbread.
• Apple Pie Spice: This spice blend gives the bread a warm flavor and is incredibly fragrant. Pumpkin pie spice also works great!
• Baking Powder: This leavening agent helps the bread to rise. 
• Baking Soda: Baking soda works in tandem with baking powder to create the bread’s texture.
• Salted Butter: While many recipes for baked goods call for unsalted butter, you can actually use salted butter in this recipe.
• White Sugar: Just a bit of granulated sugar adds all the sweetness you need — the apples add the rest.
• Eggs: Always use large eggs — they’re standard for baking. 
• Whole Milk: The fat from whole milk helps to give this apple bread its moisture.
• Vanilla Extract: Vanilla helps the flavors to blend and come together while balancing the bread.  

How to Make Homemade Apple Bread

This apple bread is so easy to make — just make sure to prep all of your ingredients before you start.

1. Coat apples in cinnamon and brown sugar. Add the brown sugar, cinnamon, and chopped apples to a bowl and mix to combine. 
2. Whisk dry ingredients. Pour all of the dry ingredients into a medium bowl and whisk together. 
3. Beat butter and sugar. Add the butter and sugar to a large bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or a large mixing bowl if you’re using an electric mixer). Beat until completely combined.
4. Add eggs. One by one, add the eggs while continuing to mix on low speed. 
5. Combine wet and dry ingredients. Using a rubber spatula, fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. 
6. Add vanilla and milk. Gradually add the vanilla extract and milk. 
7. Add half of batter to pan. Transfer half of the bread batter to the prepared loaf pan sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. 
8. Top with half of apple mixture. Add half of the prepared apple mixture over top of the batter. 
9. Top with remaining batter and apples. Pour the remaining batter over top before topping with the rest of the apple mixture. 
10. Swirl. Use a butter knife to make a figure-eight pattern before using a spatula to press the mixture down. 
11. Bake. Place the pan in a preheated oven for the recommended time, or until it passes the toothpick test. 
12. Cool and enjoy. When finished baking, place the pan on a wire rack to cool. Allow at least one hour before cutting to avoid the bread crumbling.
13. Ice. Make a simple powdered sugar icing drizzle and drizzle the bread. Allow to set before slicing and serving.

What to Serve With Apple Bread

Apple bread makes for a great quick breakfast or mid-day snack (especially if you spread butter over top), but there are tons of other ways to serve it. Make it a side dish at a gathering along with pulled pork, braised brisket, or any type of chili.

You can also make it a dessert and top it with fresh fruit, a dollop of whipped cream, a drizzle of caramel sauce, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream or maple ice cream with pecans.  Or make it a bread bar with other types of bread like vanilla pound cake and coffee cake banana bread.

I also love making a bread board- like a cream cheese board or butter board, but with a variety of breads and butter. Use this apple bread recipe along with glazed pecan eggnog bread , zucchini bread and banana nut bread.

Variations 

There are plenty of creative ways to make this apple bread recipe your own. 

• Nuts – Add chopped walnuts, pecans, or other nuts and fold them into the batter.
• Spice – Warm spices like allspice and nutmeg can be substituted for some or all of the other spices. You may want to adjust the measurements depending on your palate.
• Butter – Unsalted butter can be used, but ¼ teaspoon of salt if you choose to use it. 
• Dairy – You can use half and half as a substitute for the whole milk. 
• Vanilla – Instead of vanilla, use maple syrup. Or, add some fun flavor with rum or brandy.
• Salted butter – You can substitute unsalted butter for this recipe; add ¼ teaspoon salt to your batter.
• Bananas – Add mashed overripe bananas for an apple banana bread.
• Icing– Instead of using a powdered sugar drizzle, use cream cheese frosting or maple cream.
• Fruit– If you are looking to change up the fruit, just grab a different recipe like our banana Nut bread or cranberry walnut bread.

Storage and Freezing

You can easily store apple bread, but be sure to let the bread cool to room temperature before storing. Keep it for up to 3 days at room temperature or store it in the fridge or freezer. 

Refrigerator: Wrap the bread with plastic wrap or aluminum foil, or place in an airtight container, and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. 

Freezer: Freeze the apple bread for up to 3 months, wrapped in plastic wrap or in a freezer bag.

Common Questions About Apple Bread

Other Sweet Apple Recipes

We love apple desserts and here are a few more of our favorites!