Easy Apple Cinnamon Bread Recipe

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Every year I go apple picking and I love finding new ways to bake up treats with all the apples I pick, like this moist apple bread with a crunchy cinnamon sugar topping. With chunks of apples, warm cinnamon swirl this is the one bread you need to make in the Fall!

sliced apple cinnamon bread with vanilla glaze on a cutting board

I’ve been making this apple cinnamon bread this time of year and it’s always a hit. The combination of the moist bread, the tart apples, and the sweet cinnamon is just unbeatable. I love the way the brown sugar gives the bread a slightly crunchy crust, and the way the cinnamon apples add a touch of warmth.

And nothing beats a good loaf bread! Like my mango bread and zucchini chocolate chip bread in the summertime, my chocolate bread around the holidays, my pumpkin chocolate chip bread in the Fall and my sour cream banana bread basically any day of the week!

I usually use Granny Smith apples for this recipe, because they have a nice tartness that complements the sweetness of the bread. I also like to add a few tablespoons of chopped walnuts or pecans to the batter for some extra crunch.

I love how this recipe is so versatile. I can change up the type of apples I use, or add in other ingredients like nuts or dried fruit. If you’re looking for a delicious and easy apple cinnamon bread recipe, I highly recommend this one.

Why You Will Love Apple Bread Recipe

Whip Up In 15-20 Minutes – The most time-consuming part of making this apple cinnamon bread recipe is waiting for it to finish baking!
Warm Fall Flavors– This easy apple bread recipe combines brown sugar and cinnamon for the swirl which makes the perfect assortment of Fall flavors.
Simple Ingredients– Everything used in this cinnamon apple bread recipe might already been in your kitchen or you can easily find it at your local grocery store.

slice of apple cinnamon bread on a cutting board

Ingredients Needed for This Apple Bread Recipe

For the apple bread:

All-Purpose Flour– Be sure to measure your flour correctly by spooning the flour into your measuring cups so you don’t end up with too much flour which can make for a dry bread.
Baking Powder- This helps the apple cinnamon bread rise. Do not confuse baking powder with baking soda, which is not the same ingredient. To test your baking powder to make sure its fresh, I add a teaspoon to a small bowl of hot water to see if its bubbly.
Salt– To help balance the sweetness.
White Sugar – I used granulated sugar. Sugar is important in not only making the bread sweet but also tender. For that reason I don’t recommend reducing the granulated sugar in this apple bread recipe. You could also swap the sugar for light brown sugar.
Eggs– Use room temperature eggs so your bread rises tall.
Butter– I prefer unsalted butter. For this apple bread recipe, we want to use melted butter.
Sour Cream – Adds richness and fat to this apple cinnamon loaf. It also keeps the apple bread moist. You can also use Greek yogurt if you run out of sour cream.
Vanilla extract– I used pure vanilla extract but imitation or homemade vanilla extract can also be used.
Apples– You will want to use 2-3 apples that are chopped and tossed in flour.

For the Swirl:

Brown Sugar– Brown sugar is used in the swirl and helps add extra flavor to this apple bread recipe.
Cinnamon– Cinnamon is also used in the swirl for this apple bread and adds that fresh, Fall flavor.

For the glaze:

Powdered sugar – Or confectioners sugar. If you don’t have any you can make your own powdered sugar in your food processor!
Vanilla extract – To flavor the glaze.
Milk – I use regular milk but you can use any milk, like almond milk or soy milk.

How to Make Apple Bread

Preheat and prepare pan.

Preheat oven to 350^oF (177oC). Spray a 9×5” loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray, grease with butter and flour, or line with parchment paper for easy removal and set aside.

Prepare topping.

In a small mixing bowl, combine the brown sugar and cinnamon. Set aside.

brown sugar and cinnamon whisked together in a small bowl

Combine dry ingredients.

In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.

Combine wet ingredients.

In a second mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, sugar, sour cream, oil, and vanilla extract.

apple bread wet ingredients in bowl with a whisk

Combine wet and dry ingredients.

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix together with a spatula until just combined.

apple bread batter in bowl without chopped apples with a spatula

Stir in chopped apples.

chopped Granny Smith apples added to quick bread batter in bowl

Assemble bread.

Pour ½ of the batter into prepared loaf pan.

half of the apple bread mixture in a loaf pan

Sprinkle on ½ the cinnamon sugar topping over the bread.

brown sugar cinnamon mixture sprinkled on top of apple bread batter in loaf pan

Top with remaining batter.

apple bread batter spread on top of cinnamon sugar topping

Sprinkle on remaining cinnamon sugar mixture.

rest of cinnamon sugar mixture sprinkled on top of apple bread batter in loaf pan

Bake

Bake the bread Bake for 50-60 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center of the bread comes out clean. Remove from the oven and allow the bread to cool completely in the pan set on a wire cooling rack.

Make the glaze

In a small bowl whisk together the glaze ingredients and drizzle over the cooled bread.

Recipe Tips

Measure your ingredients accurately. I used the scoop and level method for measuring the flour. If you scoop directly from the bag or push the flour into the cup you will end up with too much flour. Check it out at How To Measure Ingredients.
Don’t overmix the batter. Stirring the apple bread batter too much will make your quick bread tough and chewy. Mixing develops gluten and makes bread dense. When you combined your wet and dry ingredients, mix only until they are just combined.
Use other pans. You can make mini loaves or use mini bread pans to make this apple bread. Bake for about 30 minutes and use the toothpick test to make sure they are done.

Recipe Variations

Other Flour – All-purpose flour can be substituted with whole wheat flour or your favorite gluten free flour.
Add chopped pecans – Or another nut such as walnuts or pistachios. I like to use toasted pecans in my quick breads to add more flavor. Adding some chopped nuts to your apple bread will give it an extra crunch!
Make a cream cheese glaze – Instead of a vanilla glaze, you could make a cream cheese glaze instead.

Recipe FAQs

How to store this cinnamon apple bread?

You can store leftover apple bread at room temperature for up to 4 days. Just place it in an airtight container. For longer storage, place apple loaf in the refrigerator and store it for up to 1 week. Make sure your apple bread has cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container.

Can I freeze this apple cinnamon bread?

Yes, you can freeze this cinnamon apple bread for up to 3 months. Wrap the completely cool apple bread with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Place inside freezer bags or freezer-safe containers. Freeze. To thaw the frozen apple loaf, place it at room temperature or directly heat it in the oven or microwave. Check out my Freezer Baking Guide!

Why did my apple cinnamon bread sink in the middle?

It means your apple bread needs more time to bake in the oven. Before removing the apple cinnamon bread from the oven, check it for doneness. Use the toothpick method. When the toothpick inserted at the center comes out clean or with a few crumbs, your cinnamon apple bread is done. If there’s wet batter sticking to the toothpick, it needs more time in the oven. Remember, ovens run at different temperatures. To check your oven temperature, use an oven thermometer.

What kind of apple should I use?

I like using Granny smith apples when I am baking because they are tart, sweet and hold up when baking in the oven. I also like using Honey Crisp apples for this apple cinnamon bread recipe because they tend to hold up well. Read more here about the best apples for baking.