Moist Apple Cinnamon Bread is made with both grated and chopped fresh apples, then topped with a crackly cinnamon-sugar crust. Buttery, tender, and full of warm spice, it's the ultimate cozy fall quick bread!
My ideal apple cinnamon bread is moist, tender, and packed with fresh apples. This easy recipe uses both grated and chopped apples for texture, visual appeal, and a slice that holds together beautifully.
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Why this recipe works?
To maximize apple flavor without compromising structure, I found that using only diced apples made the loaf crumble too easily. So instead, I combined grated and chopped apples — the grated apples melt into the batter for moisture, while the chopped pieces add texture.
The result is a cohesive, tender slice that holds together beautifully. A cinnamon-sugar topping adds a crackly crust and makes the loaf look as good as it tastes.
Ingredients you'll need
Scroll down to the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and amounts.
- Apples – You’ll need two fresh apples for this recipe. I recommend Gala, Honeycrisp, or Golden Delicious varieties — they’re naturally sweet with a touch of tartness and hold their shape well when baked, giving the apple loaf great flavor and texture without turning mushy.
- Eggs – Use room temperature eggs if possible, as they incorporate more smoothly into the batter, helping the quick bread bake evenly and rise properly.
- Butter – Melted butter adds richness, moisture, and depth of flavor. It also helps create a tender crumb while complementing the warm cinnamon notes in the bread.
- Leavening – A mix of baking powder and baking soda ensures a light, well-risen loaf. Baking soda reacts with the acidity from the apples, while baking powder gives an extra lift for a tall, fluffy crumb.
- Flavorings – Ground cinnamon brings that classic warm spice associated with fall baking, while a splash of vanilla enhances the sweetness and adds a subtle, cake-like aroma.
- Sugar – I use a mix of brown and white sugar for balance. Brown sugar adds moisture and rich, caramel-like flavor that pairs beautifully with cinnamon, while white sugar gives the loaf structure and sweetness.
- Flour – Regular all-purpose flour works perfectly here. It provides the right amount of structure without making the bread too dense.
How to make apple cinnamon bread with fresh apples?
You can find full printable recipe below, but here is a quick overview of the procedure along with step-by-step photos.
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🍎 Tip: Don't peel the apples! The skin adds texture and color and saves you an additional peeling step. However, make sure to remove any large pieces of skin after grating.
🧑🍳To make cinnamon sugar, stir together 1 tablespoon white sugar and ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon in a small bowl.
Recipe tips
- Choose the right apples: Opt for firm apples with a sweet-tart flavor, like Golden delicious, Honeycrisp, Fuji or Granny smith. These varieties hold their shape well when cooked.
- Don't overmix the batter: Overmixing can lead to tough apple cinnamon bread. Mix until the dry and wet ingredients are just combined to achieve a tender texture.
- No need to peel the apples - It adds texture, flavor and nutrition.
- Remove any large pieces of skin after grating.
Apple Cinnamon Bread
Equipment
Ingredients
Dry ingredients
- 1 + ¾ cup all purpose flour
- 1 + ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Wet ingredients
- 2 apples
- 2 eggs, large
- ½ cup sugar, white
- ¼ cup light brown sugar, not packed
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted but not hot 1 stick
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Cinnamon sugar
- 1 tablespoon white sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease a standard loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
Dry ingredients
- Add all dry ingredients into a small bowl and whisk until combined.
Prep apples
- Chop an apple into ¼-inch cubes and measure 1 cup. Grate apples using the coarse side of your box grater and measure 1 ½ cup grated apples.
Batter
- Add eggs, white sugar and brown sugar in a large bowl and whisk for 90 seconds. Add melted butter and vanilla extract and continue whisking for 30 seconds. Pro tip: Measure packed brown sugar if using tart apples.
- Using a wooden spoon, stir in the dry ingredients until combined (the batter will be thick).
- Stir in the grated and chopped apples. The moisture in the apples will loosen the batter. Transfer batter into the prepared loaf pan, sprinkle the cinnamon sugar evenly on top. Tip: To make cinnamon sugar, stir together white sugar and ground cinnamon in a small bowl.
Bake
- Transfer to oven and bake for 40 to 50 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes clean. Place pan on a wire rack to cool completey.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information, based on third-party calculations, should be seen as estimates, not guarantees, as various factors like product types, brands, processing methods, and more can alter the nutritional content in recipes.
How to store?
Like the persimmon bread, allow the apple cinnamon bread to cool completely before storing it. This prevents condensation from forming inside the storage container, which can make the bread soggy.
- Room temperature - Apple cinnamon bread can be stored for up to 2-3 days, in a sealed container to preserve freshness.
- Freezer - For extended storage, wrap the apple cinnamon bread in plastic wrap and then in an airtight freezer bag and store in the freezer for up to 2-3 months. Thaw overnight at room temperature. It makes a great make ahead Mother's day brunch recipe.
More fall baking recipes
I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Kitchen at Hoskins on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!
richard schmidt
may I add 1/2 cup chocolate chips ???
Maria Doss
Absolutely! Although I’m not entirely convinced about the apple and chocolate chip combination - Maria