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“Golden brown apple cinnamon bread slices on a wooden board with fresh apples and cinnamon sticks in the background.”

Apple Cinnamon Bread: 7 Secrets to the Best Moist Quick Loaf


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  • Author: Olivia Reed
  • Total Time: 95 minutes (or use sum: 25 + 70 = 95 min)
  • Yield: 1 loaf 1x

Description

This Apple Cinnamon Bread is buttery, moist, and cake‑like, dotted with sweet apple chunks and swirled with cinnamon sugar. It’s perfect for breakfast, snack, or dessert and even freezes beautifully.


Ingredients

Scale

For the apple-cinnamon filling:

  • 1½ cups (180 g) peeled & chopped apples (in ½‑inch chunks)

  • ⅓ cup (67 g) packed light or dark brown sugar

  • 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon

For the batter:

  • 1¾ cups (219 g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)

  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

  • 1 teaspoon baking powder

  • ½ teaspoon baking soda

  • ¼ teaspoon salt

  • ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, softened

  • ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar

  • 2 large eggs, room temperature

  • ⅓ cup (80 g) unsweetened applesauce (or plain yogurt / sour cream)

  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

  • ½ cup (120 ml) whole milk, room temperature


Instructions

  1. Preheat & Prep Pan

    • Adjust oven rack to lower third.

    • Preheat oven to 350 °F (177 °C).

    • Grease or spray a 9×5-inch loaf pan.

  2. Make Apple Filling

    • In a small bowl, stir together the chopped apples, brown sugar, and 1½ tsp cinnamon. Set aside.

  3. Whisk Dry Ingredients

    • In a bowl, whisk together flour, 1 tsp cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

  4. Cream Butter & Sugar

    • In a mixer, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar on high speed until light and fluffy (about 3 min).

  5. Add Eggs, Applesauce & Vanilla

    • Add eggs and beat until combined.

    • Beat in applesauce and vanilla until smooth (batter may look curdled—this is okay).

  6. Combine Batter & Milk

    • With mixer on low, gradually add dry ingredients, then slowly pour in milk.

    • Mix just until combined; don’t overmix.

  7. Layer & Swirl

    • Pour half the batter into the prepared loaf pan.

    • Spoon apple-cinnamon mixture (with juices) evenly on top.

    • Add remaining batter, spreading evenly, then swirl with a knife.

  8. Bake

    • Bake 60–75 minutes in the preheated oven.

    • At 30 minutes, loosely tent with foil to prevent over‑browning.

    • Use a toothpick to test doneness (should come out clean).

    • Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before slicing.

Notes

Freezing: Once cooled, wrap loaf tightly and freeze up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in refrigerator.

Apple choice: Firm apples like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Pink Lady work best. Avoid soft apples like Red Delicious.

Substitutions:
 • Use plain yogurt or sour cream if you don’t have applesauce.
 • Use vegan butter, plant milk, and flax eggs for a dairy-free/vegan version.

Mini loaves or muffins: Divide batter accordingly and bake for 20–25 min (muffins) or 30–40 min (mini loaves).

Storage: At room temperature in an airtight container (2 days), refrigerate (up to 1 week).

  • Prep Time: 25 minutes
  • Cook Time: 70 minutes
  • Category: Quick Bread / Breakfast / Snack
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American / Home-style

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 slice (approx. 1/10 of loaf)
  • Calories: ~ 245 kcal
  • Sugar: ~ 19 g
  • Sodium: ~ 150 mg (estimate)
  • Fat: ~ 10 g
  • Saturated Fat: ~ 3 g (estimate)
  • Unsaturated Fat: ~ 6–7 g (estimate)
  • Trans Fat: ~ 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: ~ 36 g
  • Fiber: ~ 2 g
  • Protein: ~ 4 g
  • Cholesterol: ~ 55–65 mg (estimate from butter + eggs)