This cozy recipe for Apple Pie Bread is the perfect way to bring in the season!
What better way to celebrate fall than with steaming mugs of cider, pumpkin spice lattes, and of course, a thick slice of this delicious bread. Apple bread is tender and moist with lots of sweet cinnamon flavor just like a piece of apple pie!
A Fall Bread You Need to Try
- Warm and spicy, sweet and simple to make, this recipe is a winner all the way around!
- Apple pie bread is like the bread version of an apple fritter with lots of cinnamon apple flavor, but it is quicker to prep with no deep fryer required!
- A slice of apple pie bread makes a perfect snack for a lunchbox surprise, a breakfast or even a special Sunday morning french toast.
- It can be made into a dessert with a dollop of whipped cream and a simple drizzle of Easy Caramel Sauce.
What’s in Apple Pie Bread?
APPLES The best apples for baking are tart and firm, crispy and crunchy. Granny Smith always fits the bill, but this recipe works well with a sweeter apple, too, like Honeycrisp or Fuji. Applesauce can be replaced with 1/2 cup butter for an even richer quickbread.
CINNAMON SUGAR Brown sugar and cinnamon are layered into the cake with apples, and also used for the tasty streusel topping. For something more complex tasting, try using Apple Pie Spice instead of plain cinnamon.
DAIRY Butter, eggs, and milk add rich flavor to the bread that makes it taste almost like a brioche, but much more crumbly with a cake-like texture.
ADD-INS In place of the applesauce, try adding leftover Cranberry Sauce or make an apple raisin bread. Mix in pumpkin puree in place of applesauce, either from a can or homemade. Try a mashed banana for a new take on an old fave. Shredded zucchini will taste great as well.
TOPPING Simple brown sugar and cinnamon make a delicious topping, especially when brushed with butter during baking. Add some chopped walnuts or pecans to the streusel for extra crunch, if desired. If you have leftover cinnamon sugar, you can use that too.
How to Make Apple Bread
The only machine needed for this quick bread recipe is a hand mixer. Just chop, mix, and bake:
- Peel & chop apples, prepare the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
- Cream butter & sugar, add other wet ingredients.
- Mix, then add dry ingredients to the wet mixture.
- Layer batter, apples, & topping in a bread pan.
- Bake as per recipe below.
Best Quick Bread Tips
- One of the best tips for fluffy quick bread is to be sure not to overmix the batter. It might seem wrong to not mix thoroughly—but for quickbread, it really works!
- When adding mix-ins, be sure that the substituted ingredient has the same basic texture/dryness/wetness as the original ingredient. Then add it in the same amount as the recipe calls for. Nobody likes bread to turn out tasting like pudding. (Unless making a delicious Pumpkin Bread Pudding with Caramel Sauce, of course!)
Serve this bread with apple butter, cinnamon butter, pumpkin butter, or honey butter.
How to Store
Apple pie bread stores well. Wrap it carefully, or cover it in an airtight container and it will keep on the counter for two days. If it’s not all gone by then, move it to the refrigerator so the apples stay tasting fresh.
Apple bread can be frozen, simply seal the entire loaf in a zippered freezer bag, or wrap and freeze individual slices for a quick grab-and-go snack.
Delicious Apple Dessert Recipes
- Classic Apple Pie – easy to make
- Easy Apple Cake Recipe – perfect for the holidays
- Apple Crisp – freezer friendly
- Apple Cheesecake Pie – sweet & creamy
- Apple Hand Pies – ready in under 30 minutes
Did you make this Warm Apple Bread? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below!
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ tablespoon cinnamon
- ⅔ cup brown sugar divided
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup butter softened
- ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce note: you can use ½ cup butter and skip the applesauce if you prefer
- 2 eggs well beaten
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ⅓ cup milk
- 1 large apple (or 2 small), peeled and chopped
- 1 tablespoon butter melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour an 8×4 loaf pan
- Combine cinnamon with ⅓ cup of the brown sugar in a small bowl and set aside.
- With mixer on medium, cream white sugar, remaining brown sugar and butter until fluffy. Mix in applesauce (if using), beaten eggs and vanilla.
- Stir together flour and baking powder. Add flour to egg mixture along with milk and stir just until combined. Do not overmix!
- Pour half of the batter into a greased and floured loaf pan. Sprinkle with ½ of the apples and ½ of the cinnamon mixture.
- Stir the remaining apples into the remaining batter and pour into the pan. Top with remaining cinnamon mixture.
- Bake approximately 40 minutes. Brush topping with melted butter. Continue baking an additional 5-10 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Let cool 10 minutes and remove from pan.
Video
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Bread, Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
Originally published August, 2013
Adapted from Allrecipes
More Quick Bread Recipes You’ll Love
- Zucchini Bread
- Pecan Coconut Banana Bread
- Easy Banana Bread
- Chocolate Pumpkin Bread
- Chocolate Banana Bread
My husband is wheat and dary free, do you know if this can be made with Pamela’s Best flour and vegan butter?
I haven’t tried it that way, please let us know if you do because others may be wondering the same thing!
I made it with gluten free flour for my daughter. Just need 1/4 cup more flour than the original recipe. It came out fantastic. I have made 5 regular loaves as well. Family loves it.
Thank you for sharing your tip for using gluten free flour Liz!
What’s applesauce? Red or green apples?
Apple sauce can be purchased in almost any store (or you can find a recipe for homemade applesauce here)
I was just wondering if there was a typo. At the top of this page you say you use 1/2 C applesauce and 1/2 C butter. In the recipe it says 1/4 C each…
¼ c of each is correct. At the top I was just mentioning that I use half applesauce and half butter (not ½ cup). :)
Have a great week!
I made this for a work pitch-in today and it was a HUGE hit! I did substitute apple pie filling for the sliced apples as I “thought” I read that recipe was a bit dry; however I seem to have been mistaken. My modification did require some additional baking time and lowering the baking rack closer to the bottom burner (electric stove type) but the overall outcome was a huge success! Thanks for the recipe, I’m planning on using the fresh apples next time!
Hi Holly, the recipe sounds like you add the milk and don’t stir. I’m not the best baker so I just want to double check! :)
You do stir in the milk just until mixed. :)
how would this bread do as mini loaves? I am thinking of xmas gifts and this sounds wonderful I have a full loaf in the oven now-also I used caramel sauce in the batter and in the butter topping
I’ve never tried it that way but sounds great! If you do try it, I’d love to hear how it works for you!
I’d love to give this a try. Why can I not copy and save this recipe?
thanks.
There is a print button on the top right hand corner of each recipe! Hope that helps!
Made this bread when you first posted it.my family loved it.I am making it today.perfect way to start the day with a cup of tea or coffee .simply delicious. Thank you.
Wow you have a very delicious cooking blog and this recipe is melting my mouth.
Regards
Olga.
I have to give this bread a try. We are having a party highlighting apples. I’d love it of you brought this over to Saturday Dishes.
Wishes for tasty dishes,
Linda @ Tumbleweed. contessa
Featuring you today over on my blog! Thank you for linking up to {wow me} wednesday.
Ginger @ GingerSnapCrafts.com
I have this loaf in the oven as we speak. At the 35 minute mark it was still wet. Are the cooking directions correct? I think mine will be done after 1 hour.
Yes, mine took about 37 minutes.. it’s a bit lighter than a traditional quick bread (like banana bread). Please let us know how it works out for you!
Mine was at least an hour in the oven. I finally put it on convection after 45 minutes. But i’ll be making this again.
Thank you for letting me know! I have added a note to the directions that it may require extra time!
Yummy! Can’t wait to make me some this fall!
My husband will love this bread. Pinning now. ! Thanks for sharing at Inspire Us Thursday on Organized 31.
Holy yum! That bread sounds perfectly amazing!!! I need me some apple bread to munch asap!!!
I love fresh bread. This looks yummy! Thanks for linking up for Friday Favorites. I’m featuring you next week.
This looks so good, probably too good to share! Thanks for linking up with What’s Cookin’ Wednesday!
Found you on Fantastic Thursday Hop. Have pinned this delicious looking Apple Pie Bread Recipe to my Fall Crafts and Eats board. Also, following you boards on Pinterest.
this truly is a terrific fall recipe…thanks for linking up to wake up wednesdays
Hi Holly,
This bread looks so perfect for the rainy cold winters we have in England. I love simple recipes too as my baking is so hit and miss! I’ve pinned it and hope to try it out soon.
This sounds delicious, perfect for fall. Thanks for sharing. Visiting from the Inspiration Monday link party.
Sarah
Creative Ramblings