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Sliced loaf of glazed apple bread with cinnamon swirls, fresh green apples, and cinnamon sticks.

Rustic Apple Cinnamon Bread

Warm, comforting, and perfectly spiced, this rustic apple cinnamon bread is studded with tender apple pieces and a delightful cinnamon swirl, making it an ideal treat for breakfast or an afternoon snack. It's easy to make and fills your home with an irresistible aroma.
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Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings: 12 slices
Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 280
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Apple Cinnamon Bread
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour spooned and leveled
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 2 large eggs room temperature
  • 1/2 cup milk whole or 2%, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted and slightly cooled
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups apples peeled, cored, and finely diced (e.g., Gala, Honeycrisp, Fuji)
For the Cinnamon Swirl
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon

Equipment

  • 9x5 inch Loaf Pan
  • Large Mixing Bowl
  • Medium Mixing Bowl
  • Small Mixing Bowl
  • Whisk
  • Rubber Spatula
  • Parchment Paper

Method
 

Prepare for Baking
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9x5 inch loaf pan, or line it with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the long sides for easy removal.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together the 1/4 cup granulated sugar and 1 tsp ground cinnamon for the cinnamon swirl. Set aside.
Mix the Dry Ingredients
  1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 cup granulated sugar, 2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, and 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg until well combined.
Mix the Wet Ingredients
  1. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk the 2 large eggs. Then, add the 1/2 cup milk, 1/2 cup melted butter, and 1 tsp vanilla extract, whisking until smooth.
Combine and Add Apples
  1. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Stir with a rubber spatula until just combined. Be careful not to overmix; a few lumps are fine.
  2. Gently fold in the 1 1/2 cups finely diced apples.
Assemble and Bake
  1. Pour half of the bread batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread evenly.
  2. Sprinkle half of the cinnamon swirl mixture evenly over the batter.
  3. Carefully spoon the remaining batter over the cinnamon layer, spreading it gently to cover.
  4. Sprinkle the remaining cinnamon swirl mixture over the top of the batter.
  5. Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a wooden skewer or toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. If the top browns too quickly, you can loosely tent it with foil.
Cool and Serve
  1. Remove the loaf pan from the oven and let it cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10-15 minutes.
  2. Using the parchment paper overhang (if used) or carefully inverting, remove the bread from the pan and transfer it to the wire rack to cool completely before slicing and serving. This allows the bread to set properly.

Notes

This Apple Cinnamon Bread is best served warm or at room temperature. It's delicious on its own, with a pat of butter, or even lightly toasted. Store leftover bread tightly wrapped in plastic wrap or in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days, or freeze for longer storage.