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This deliciously sweet apple bread with hints of seasonal spices is a the perfect fall dessert. Each bite is packed with chunks of apple and hints of cinnamon and vanilla. Make this your new fall favorite indulgence.
Apples are in season right now and so delicious! Try this Cinnamon Apple Bread, Caramel Apple Slab Pie or Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls for more sweet apple goodness.
The Best Apple Bread Recipe
Fall baking is one of my absolute favorite times to be in the kitchen. (Now I’m just waiting for the temperatures to finally cool down!) When apples come into season I always have to prepare a batch of this delicious apple bread. It’s so delicious and the perfect mix of hearty and indulgent. So much so that it doubles as both a breakfast and dessert!
This really is the best apple bread recipe. It’s so simple and has a super soft texture. Spread some creamy cinnamon honey butter over a slice of warmed bread and you’ll be in fall heaven. You may want to make an extra loaf because this apple bread never lasts long.
What Are the Best Apples for Making Apple Bread?
When baking it’s best to choose a tart and crisp apple instead of a sweet one. This helps to balance the flavor so the apple bread isn’t overly sweet. The best options are Honeycrisp or Granny Smith. These apples can also be found year-round if you’re looking to make this bread outside of the fall season.
Ingredients in Apple Bread
The simple ingredients in this apple bread are all pantry staples and ones you likely already have on hand. That’s what makes this recipe so great! I recommend stocking up on all of them because they’re common ingredients in many delicious fall recipes. Note: exact measurements are in the recipe card below.
- All-Purpose Flour: Forms the bread’s body and structure.
- Granulated and Light Brown Sugar: Sweetness and moisture for a yummy caramelized flavor and softness.
- Cinnamon: Adds cozy flavor that goes great with apples.
- Nutmeg: Gives a tasty hint of nutty spice.
- Baking Soda and Powder: Makes the bread rise and get fluffy.
- Salt: Balances flavors and makes everything tastier.
- Eggs: Holds things together and makes the apple bread moist.
- Oil: So the bread ends up extra moist and tender.
- Vanilla Extract: For sweet, warm flavor. I recommend using pure vanilla extract or making your own blend.
- Apples: The star ingredient! They bring sweetness, moisture, and a fruity flavor.
For the Glaze:
- Apple Cider: Gives the glaze a punch of apple flavor and also adjusts the consistency.
- Salted Butter: For richness.
- Powdered Sugar: Makes the glaze nice and sweet and also gives it a smooth texture.
- Vanilla Extract: For a little extra warmth.
Do the Apples Have to be Peeled?
Yes. Unfortunately, the peel will begin to separate from the apple during the baking process which will not only create air pockets but also an unappetizing texture. To peel the apples quickly I prefer to use a potato peeler and then just slice them into chunks using a knife.
How to Make Apple Bread
This deliciously decadent bread is super simple to prepare and will make your kitchen smell like fall. A win-win! Follow these simple steps to prepare 2 tasty loaves.
- Preheat Oven, Prep Pan: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease and line a 9×5 loaf pan with parchment paper, also greasing the paper.
- Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl whisk the flour, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together and set aside.
- Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl whisk the eggs, oil, and vanilla. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until combined. This will be a very thick batter.
- Add in Apples: Fold the apples into the batter and add to the prepared bread pan.
- Bake: Bake for 50 to 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool the bread in the pans for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack to finish cooling.
To Make the Apple Cider Glaze:
- Boil the Cider: In a small saucepan, bring the cider to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer until the liquid has reduced by half.
- Combine With the Other Ingredients: Remove from the heat and whisk in the butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla. Drizzle the warm glaze over the top of the cooled bread.
Tips and Tricks
Getting ready to whip up a batch of apple bread magic? Before you dive in, here are some tips to ensure it turns out perfectly.
- Picking Your Apples: When picking apples for this recipe, be sure to select a variety of apple that stands up well to baking. You don’t want your apples to turn to mush. Granny Smith is a tart green apple that is often used in pies and would be great in this recipe, but there are several other kinds that are sweeter if that is your preference. Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Jonagold, or Braeburn are great options.
- Don’t Overmix the Wet Ingredients. Once the ingredients appear to be combined stop whisking them and move on to the next step. Overmixing can cause the bread to be too dense and heavy.
- Split Your Batter: You can split the batter into two 9×5 inch bread pans, but the loaves will be shorter and take less time to bake.
- Check if Done: Be careful to not underbake your bread. This bread is dense and takes a long time to bake through. Be sure to check the center of it with a toothpick, as baking times will vary depending on your specific oven.
- Keep Your Oven Closed: Try to avoid opening the oven until you’re sure it’s fully baked. Sometimes a draft can cause the bread to fall if it’s not close to being done.
- Other Mix-Ins: Feel free to mix in some walnuts or pecans to give your apple bread more texture and nutty flavor.
- Serve With: Apple bread is delicious on its own, but even better when you slather it with some cinnamon honey butter or apple butter!
Storing Leftovers
This bread is so good when it’s fresh out of the oven, we never have leftovers of it at my house. If you’re lucky enough to have more than crumbs left, wrap leftover bread in plastic wrap and store at room temperature for up to 4 days.
Can You Freeze Apple Bread?
Yes! This bread can be frozen by wrapping it in two tight layers of plastic wrap, followed by a layer of aluminum foil. It will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let thaw at room temperature before slicing and serving.
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease and line a 9×5 loaf pan with parchment paper, also greasing the paper.
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In a large bowl whisk the flour, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together and set aside.
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In a separate bowl whisk the eggs, oil, and vanilla. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until combined. This will be a very thick batter.
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Fold the apples into the batter and add to the prepared bread pan.
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Bake for 50 to 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool the bread in the pans for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack to finish cooling.
Apple Cider Glaze
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In a small saucepan, bring the cider to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer until the liquid has reduced by half.
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Remove from the heat and whisk in the butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla. Drizzle the warm glaze over the top of the cooled bread.
Updated on August 30, 2023
Serves: 12
Serving1loafCalories480kcal (24%)Carbohydrates67g (22%)Protein5g (10%)Fat22g (34%)Saturated Fat3g (15%)Polyunsaturated Fat6gMonounsaturated Fat13gTrans Fat0.1gCholesterol65mg (22%)Sodium131mg (5%)Potassium134mg (4%)Fiber2g (8%)Sugar42g (47%)Vitamin A133IU (3%)Vitamin C1mg (1%)Calcium43mg (4%)Iron2mg (11%)
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods and portion sizes per household.