Easy Cinnamon Apple Bread
Easy Cinnamon Apple Bread is a crumbly cake-like loaf with a swirl of cinnamon throughout and bites of baked apples. This is a must-make loaf cake with your apple picking haul.
Nut Free, Soy Free, Dairy Free option
We went apple picking early this year… finally! The apple orchards were full of honeycrisp, galas, and macintosh – all perfect for snacking and baking (my two favorite fall activities!).
Apple picking is my favorite fall activity. It’s so nostalgic and I’m so glad I can now take my kids to join in the fun!
When we returned from apple picking we obviously immediately started a discussion about what to make with our haul… Applesauce? Apple crisp? Apple crumble bars? Cinnamon apple baked oatmeal?
Lex, my 3-year-old son, has been obsessed with banana bread, so he suggested a banana bread… but with apples. While that would be great, I wanted to make something different, like…
Easy Cinnamon Apple Bread!
Easy Cinnamon Apple Bread is a cake-like loaf with the perfect crumb, a cinnamon swirl in every bite, with small bites of baked apple are speckled throughout.
I was always intimidated by a cinnamon swirl in a quick bread, but it’s truly so simple. (See below for details!)
This Easy Cinnamon Apple Bread is…
- *Moist* with the perfect crumb
- Packed with cinnamon and apple flavor
- Easy to make with pantry staples
- Impressive to serve at the holidays
- Easy to make in less than 20 minutes of hands-on time
- DELICIOUS!
Ingredients to Make Easy Cinnamon Apple Bread
You’ll need mostly pantry staples to make this apple quick bread that’s more like an apple loaf or apple cake!
- Eggs
- Sugar
- Butter
- Vanilla extract
- Flour
- Leaveners – both baking powder and baking soda
- Salt
- Apples
- Brown sugar
- Cinnamon
As you can see from this ingredient list, it’s the real deal. There’s no higher fiber swaps or protein additions. This is just a good ol’ classic recipe that’s special!
As a dietitian I think it’s so important to include a balance of “healthier” recipes along with classics that become family favorites.
Not that “healthier” recipes can’t be family favorites either, but I think it’s important to have a mixture of both in your repertoire.
Of course, if you have food allergies you may need to adapt and adjust a little bit more… and that’s OK too.
How to Make Easy Cinnamon Apple Bread
This Cinnamon Apple Bread is truly “easy” to make. You’ll need two bowls, but it’s pretty straight forward… and don’t worry about that swirl!
First, mix together your “wet” ingredients, including the eggs, sugar, butter and vanilla.
- You could swap in oil instead of butter, but I love the flavor of butter here.
- I have not tried to use applesauce or another substitute instead of butter.
Next, add the dry ingredients, including the flour, leaveners, and salt.
- Yes, you need both baking powder and baking soda.
- Then you’ll fold in the apples.
Now it’s time to make your cinnamon swirl!
In a small bowl you’ll mix together the brown sugar and cinnamon. You can use dark brown sugar too, I just used light brown sugar because that’s what I had on hand.
The key to a great swirl is to pour half of the batter in a prepared loaf pan, then sprinkle half of the cinnamon/sugar mixture on top. Next, you’ll swirl it around with a toothpick of knife.
Now you’ll pour the other half of the batter on top and sprinkle the remaining cinnamon/sugar on top of it. This top layer gets a bit crisp and it’s sooo good!
Kitchen Tools You’ll Need to Make This Recipe:
You don’t need much to make this recipe. You’ll need…
- Mixing bowls
- Loaf pan
- Sturdy spatula
Easy Cinnamon Apple Bread
Easy Cinnamon Apple Bread is a crumbly cake-like loaf with a swirl of cinnamon throughout and bites of baked apples. This is a must-make loaf cake with your apple picking haul.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 2 large eggs
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups chopped apples, like Gala, Honeycrisp, or Macintosh
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Prepare a loaf pan with nonstick oil spray and coating with flour. Set aside
- In a large bowl whisk together the eggs, granulated sugar, melted butter, and vanilla extract.
- Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Then fold in the chopped apples. The batter will be sticky.
- In a smaller bowl mix together the brown sugar and cinnamon.
- Pour half of the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle half of the cinnamon/brown sugar mixture on top. Swirl it around with a toothpick or knife.
- Pour the remaining batter on top of the cinnamon swirl. Sprinkle the remaining cinnamon/brown sugar on top.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes, until golden brown on top and an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool fully before slicing. Enjoy!
Don’t Forget to PIN IT…
XO