Cinnamon Apple Bread (Ultimate Homemade Guide)
This Cinnamon Apple Bread is soft, moist, and filled with a delicious swirl of cinnamon sugar and tender apple pieces throughout the loaf. Each slice delivers warm fall flavors, while a sweet cinnamon glaze drizzled over the top adds the perfect finishing touch.
It’s an easy homemade quick bread that works beautifully for breakfast, dessert, or an afternoon snack with coffee or tea. The comforting aroma of apples and cinnamon baking in the oven makes this recipe a true seasonal favorite.
Ingredients
Bread Batter
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1½ cups all-purpose flour
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1½ teaspoons baking powder
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½ teaspoon salt
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½ cup unsalted butter, softened
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½ cup granulated sugar
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2 teaspoons vanilla extract
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2 large eggs
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½ cup milk
Apple Mixture
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½ cup light brown sugar, packed
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1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
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1 large apple, peeled, cored, and finely chopped
Cinnamon Sugar Topping
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2 tablespoons brown sugar
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¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Cinnamon Glaze
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¾ cup confectioners’ sugar
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¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
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2 tablespoons water
Instructions
1. Prepare the Oven and Pan
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
Grease and lightly flour an 8½ × 4½-inch loaf pan.
2. Mix Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together:
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flour
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baking powder
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salt
Set aside.
3. Cream Butter and Sugar
Using a stand mixer or hand mixer, beat butter, sugar, and vanilla extract on medium-high speed for 3–4 minutes until light and smooth.
Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
4. Add Eggs
Beat in eggs one at a time until fully incorporated.
5. Combine Batter
With mixer on low speed:
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Add half of the flour mixture
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Add half of the milk
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Repeat with remaining flour and milk
Mix just until combined.
6. Prepare Apple Filling
In a bowl, combine:
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brown sugar
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cinnamon
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chopped apples
Set aside.
7. Prepare Topping
Mix brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.
8. Layer the Bread
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Pour half of the batter into the loaf pan.
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Add half of the apple mixture and lightly swirl using a knife.
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Add remaining batter.
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Top with remaining apple mixture and swirl gently again.
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Sprinkle cinnamon sugar topping over the surface.
Avoid over-swirling to maintain beautiful layers.
9. Bake
Bake for 45–55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean with only a few moist crumbs.
Cool in the pan for 15–20 minutes.
10. Add the Glaze
Whisk together glaze ingredients until smooth.
Remove bread from the pan, place on a cooling rack, and drizzle glaze over the loaf.
Allow bread to cool completely before slicing.
Notes
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Dice apples small to medium for even baking.
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Any apple variety works — Gala, Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Granny Smith.
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Use a parchment paper sling for easy removal from the pan.
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Do not overmix batter to keep the bread soft.
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The bread tastes even better the next day as flavors develop.