Cinnamon Swirl Apple Bread
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This lovely apple bread has a generous cinnamon swirl and crisp sugared top.
This cinnamon swirl apple bread will give you all the fall feels. Chock-full of tart apples, it has a generous cinnamon swirl running through the center and a crisp sugared top. Similar to other fall quick breads, like pumpkin bread or cranberry nut bread, it’s easy to throw together – and it’s really just a cake baked in a loaf pan.
My kids claim I ruin everything with nuts, so I’ve intentionally left this apple bread nut-free, but I think a handful of walnuts or pecans would be delicious mixed into the batter. Be sure to wait until the bread is completely cool before slicing; you can even let it cool overnight, as it keeps moist for days. Thank you to Caitlyn over at Erhardts Eat for the recipe inspiration!
Table of Contents
What You’ll Need To Make Cinnamon Swirl Apple Bread
Step-by-Step Instructions
In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar and cinnamon until evenly combined. Set aside.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or beaters, combine the eggs and granulated sugar.
Beat the eggs and sugar on medium speed until pale and creamy, about 2 minutes.
With the mixer on low, gradually add the melted butter followed by the milk and vanilla, and mix just until evenly combined.
Add the flour, salt, and baking powder to the batter.
Mix on low speed until evenly combined.
Add the apples to the batter.
Fold with a rubber spatula until evenly incorporated.
Line the long side of the pan with a parchment paper “sling” and spray lightly with nonstick cooking spray again. Spoon about 2/3 of the batter into the prepared pan.
Sprinkle about 2/3 of the brown sugar-cinnamon mixture on top of the batter.
Spoon the remaining batter over top.
Sprinkle the batter with the remaining brown sugar-cinnamon mixture.
Using a butter knife, swirl the layers by making a zig-zag motion through the batter once in each direction (don’t overdo it!)
Bake for 50 to 55 minutes, until the bread is golden brown and a cake tester or toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the bread cool on a rack for about 30 minutes.
Use the parchment sling to lift the bread out of the pan and onto the rack.
Let cool completely before slicing, a few hours or overnight. Store loosely covered with aluminum foil on the countertop.
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Cinnamon Swirl Apple Bread
This lovely apple bread has a generous cinnamon swirl and crisp sugared top.
Ingredients
- ½ cup light brown sugar (packed)
- 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- ½ cup milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup and leveled-off
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 cup peeled, cored, and finely diced tart baking apples, from 1 apple (preferably Granny Smith)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and set an oven rack in the middle position. Spray an 8.5 x 4.5-inch loaf pan lightly with nonstick cooking spray. Line the long side of the pan with a parchment paper “sling” and spray lightly with nonstick cooking spray again.
- In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar and cinnamon until evenly combined. Set aside.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or beaters, beat the eggs and granulated sugar on medium speed until pale and creamy, about 2 minutes.
- With the mixer on low, gradually add the melted butter followed by the milk and vanilla, and mix just until evenly combined.
- Add the flour, salt, and baking powder to the batter and mix on low speed until evenly combined.
- Add the apples to the batter and fold with a rubber spatula until evenly incorporated.
- Spoon about ⅔ of the batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle about ⅔ of the brown sugar-cinnamon mixture on top of the batter. Spoon the remaining batter over top, followed by the remaining brown sugar-cinnamon mixture. Using a butter knife, swirl the layers by making a zig-zag motion through the batter once in each direction (don't overdo it!).
- Bake for about 50 minutes, until the bread is golden brown and a cake tester or toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the bread cool on a rack for about 30 minutes, then use the parchment sling to lift the bread out of the pan and onto the rack. Let cool completely before slicing, a few hours or overnight. Store loosely covered with aluminum foil on the countertop for up to 4 days.
Nutrition Information
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- Per serving (12 servings)
- Serving size: 1 slice
- Calories: 205
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated fat: 5 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Sugar: 16 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Sodium: 160 mg
- Cholesterol: 52 mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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Comments
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Simply Scrumptious! Will never tire of baking and serving this, and the raves that come with it. Just the best! Thank you.
I love this recipe, it made my husband swoon!! Thanks Jen!
First time making this. Doubled the batch and added pecans. Subbed out a little flour and added oats and almond flour. Came out great. Wife loves it.
Oh my FABULOUS!!! I’ve made this recipe twice (the second time I added more apples) DIVINE! Thank you for sharing your recipes!!!
It is like a coffee cake, thanks to the yummy cinnamon layer, but very moist. I made one last night and am making a second one tonight to take to a friend. I did add a few walnuts.
I made this gluten and dairy free today for our staff and it was delicious. Everyone raves about it!! Thank you!
Hi Jenn – This is a great recipe – thank you! I would like to add some rum or brandy to it, could you give me some guidance on how to adjust and how much would be appropriate without ruining it? Thank you for sharing your recipes, you have the best ones hands down!
Hi Cole, I would replace 2 tablespoons of the milk with rum or brandy.
Thanks!
This recipe is a keeper! Delicious, moist and flavorful!
I’m excited to try this, but am looking for things to bake and freeze for Yom Kippur breakfast. Would this freeze well? I wish there was a make-ahead for the Jewish Holidays cookbook…
Hello! do you think I could make this in a 8×8 pan?
Hi Kelly, I don’t think there’s enough batter for an 8 x 8-inch pan; it would be too thin. Sorry!
Jenn,
I did make this using peaches – turned out great. I used 1C of very ripe South Carolina peaches (the best!) from 1 1/3 peaches and added about 1 heaping teaspoon of finely chopped crystalized ginger (idea from another recipe using peaches.) Next time I will go with 2 peaches and a bit more ginger, but without those changes, it was still delish!
So glad it came out well with peaches — thanks for letting me know!
Have made this several times and love it. I’m wondering if I could make it with peaches. What do you think?
Sure, I think peaches would work here. I’d love to hear how it turns out with peaches!
Love it! I’ve been trying different apple bread recipes and this one is the best!! ❤️❤️
Hello Jenn
Can the apples be left out? Diet restrictions.
Thank you
Hi Mary, technically it’s doable, but the apples provide some moisture so I worry that it would be a little dry. If you try it, I’d love to hear how it turns out!
Can this be doubled and made in a Bundt pan? Looks lovely. Thanks!
Hi Eileen, I’d be nervous it would stick – sorry!
Hi Jenn,
All your recipes are amazing! Can this bread be frozen?
Thank you.
Hi Denise, Yes, you can freeze this but the top may not be crispy once you defrost it. Hope that helps!
This bread is absolutely delicious!
This recipe rocks! It’s become my husband’s “request” snack. I’ve finally converted him from banana bread. Lol. Every one of your recipes that I’ve tried is a keeper so far. I’m a collector of cookbooks (got both of yours) and a pretty good home cook. Your recipes are easy to create and so delicious! Thank you.
💗
Thank you for this delicious recipe, and thank you for offering a metric conversion, too.
I’ve made this twice now; the 2nd time I made 2 adjustments that I think helped. (1) I macerated the apple pieces in lemon juice with a dash of cinnamon and a dash of nutmeg. (2) I doubled the cinnamon/brown sugar topping (next time I’ll do 1.5 – double was too much).
This is delicious and surprisingly not sweet. Definitely a keeper.
This was so good! I accidentally baked this at a much higher temperature but it was still amazing. Will definitely be making this again (after double checking the oven temp).
I made this yesterday and had it this morning. Delicious! Very moist and the apple mixed in made it really tasty. I’ve made several of your breads and muffins but this one is the winner. Will make again as soon as I have another apple.
Oh dear God! This is amazing! My husband and I ate the entire loaf before it even had a chance to cool off! Thank you and bless you! 🙂
Can you double the recipe and make 2 loaves at a time?
Sure – enjoy!
So far I’ve made this recipe 3 times! Every time with Granny Smith apples 🙂 my 2- year old is always asking for a piece of this apple bread when she knows it’s on the counter!!
This bread is fantastic! Thanks for the great recipe 👍
I meant to add the stars just for ease of making since I have not tried it yet. Looks yummy.
I just made this for the first time. It is a gift. I have had so much success with Jennifer’s recipes that I felt very comfortable making it without every having tried it myself. It came together easily and the instructions are very concise and clear. I was given your cookbook for a Christmas gift and can hardly decide what to make first because there are so many recipes that appeal to me.
WHY NOT PUT INGREDIENT AMOUNTS???
Hi Ed, It sounds like you are just looking at the portion of the page that has the pictures with some instructions underneath. If you scroll down a bit to under the pictures, you’ll find the full recipe. Alternatively, at the very top of the page, to the right of the recipe name, you’ll see an orange/red button that says Jump to Recipe – if you click on that, it will take you directly to the recipe. Hope that clarifies!
I made this bread tonight, it is cooling now on my wire rack. The directions were so easy to follow! I don’t try all recipes I see online because everyone does not make good recipes. This one is a winner!
Hi Jenn,
I have made this several times and it is yet another winner by you!!🤩 I wanted to make it as a birthday cake for a friend, do you think that I should I double the recipe and use a 9.5” cake pan or perhaps a smaller cake in a 8.5” tin?
So glad you like it, Lisa! When you say cake pan, are you referring to a round pan? Thanks for clarifying!
I am interested in making this recipe but noticing some comments about there not being enough apple taste. I was wondering after looking at other apple bread recipes if it would help to add more apples. The recipes I saw had more in them.
Hi Judy, I wouldn’t recommend more apple as it will make the bread too wet — sorry!
Hi Jenn,
Wanted to know if this would be good to mail?
Thanks
Hi Rani, this wouldn’t be my first choice of things to mail but I think you could. Some other options that would make it through the mail nicely are:
Any of my banana breads
Toffee Almond Sandies
Any of my biscotti
Scottish Shortbread
The Tate’s copycat chocolate chip cookies
Hope that helps!
This recipe is perfect the way it is, and it is absolutely delicious!!
Hi Jen,
Can you tell me how to make this in 6inch mini loaf pans? Like the temperature, time, and the amount to add to each pan.
I love your recipes. Thanksgiving was a great hit due to your recipes. I will always from hereon be using your stuffing, sweet potato strudel, and mashed potatoes. Loved it and super easy. Thank you so much.
Hi Ranjini, I suspect that this would make two mini loaves so I’d divide the batter evenly into the 2 pans. I’d keep the oven temp the same; bake time should be a bit shorter but not sure by how much so I keep a close eye on them! Also happy to hear that several of my recipes made it onto your Thanksgiving table and that they were a hit. 🙂
Just made this today. I decided to make two mini loaves and feel that was a mistake. They are not very high “cakes” and it was quite difficult knowing how to separate the batter properly. They came out good and tasted lovely but just not as nice as it would have been as a single loaf. The bread is not very sweet but the topping makes it delicious.
Thank you for another hit, Jenn. Our friends think I’m an amazing cook – your recipes rock! I made two of these bread/cakes at the same time – one as a present for a friend’s birthday, the other served for breakfast the day after Thanksgiving. Not only RAVE reviews but people kept searching for any wayward crumbs. This is a keeper! I used Granny Smith apples, which had a magical pudding mouth-feel. I miscalculated how much batter to add to the pans before adding the sugar-cinnamon combo layer, which resulted in not enough batter coverage before adding the remainder of the sugar-cinnamon combo – but they still turned out beautifully.
You’re a culinary goddess!!!
Could this be made into muffins?
Sure, Polly. I’d bake them at 350 for 20 to 25 minutes. Please LMK how they turn out!
OK. Not enough apple taste, and a little too much cinnamon and sugar. There are better apple cake recipes.
This is a “bread” and not supposed to be super sweet. I love this cake! Plan to make some tomorrow to give as gifts.
Delicious! I made this yesterday. Not only did the kitchen smell wonderful my husband gave it a ten thumbs up. The Honeycrisp apple I used rendered just under two cups and it worked out fine. I would love to try this in a bundt pan, would I just double the recipe, and what do you think the baking time might be? Thanks for this amazing recipe and it will go into my regular rotation!!
Glad you enjoyed it! I’ve never made this in a bundt pan so it’s a guesstimate, but I’d say it would take 60 to 75 minutes to bake. Please LMK how it turns out if you try it!
I just made this recipe and used the advice to increase by half to bake in a larger pan…it works. I didn’t have light brown sugar but dark worked fine. Just nibbled a cooled slice and it is so yummy. (If you haven’t tried Jenn’s French apple cake, you have to!) I wish I could put a pic in here to share…looks great.
so to confirm, you made this as directed plus half in order to make cake/bundt size? I’m wanting a bundt size, thanks Susan
Delicious! A great make ahead! It was more like a cinnamon bread though. Could I add more apple or a different variety (I used Granny Smith) for more apple flavor?
Thanks
Hi Elizabeth, I wouldn’t recommend any additional apple but you could try a different variety like Granny Smith. Please LMK how it turns out if you try it!
Thanks Jenn, I will let you know. FYI This is a go to website for inspiration
just made this and it’s wonderful! i used two pretty small gala apples and it still wasn’t too sweet. perfect for fall 🙂
Would almond milk be ok to use?
Sure. 🙂
It turned out amazing!! As do every recipe I’ve made from Once Upon a Chef. (which is A LOT). My son, who’s perpetually asking me to make simple banana bread, quickly declared this as new all time favorite. Followed recipe to the T. Perfection!
Hi. Can you use more than 1 apple?
Hi Anna, I’d stick to 1 cup of diced apple for this. Hope you enjoy!
When you swirl the topping, do you stick the knife down all the way to the bottom of the pan?
Yes – enjoy!
Just made this today and it was delish! Instead of diced apples, I shredded the apple and it provided a very subtle apple taste rather than chunks of apple!
BTW…loving the new cook book too!
I discovered your site last week and since then I’ve tried like 5 recipes ALL DELICIOUS!!!
Thanks for sharing
I too was disappointed by flavor as baked bread smelled amazingly good. Perhaps too much cinnamon for my taste but my husband loved it!
I really do enjoy your recipes – thanks!
I love all of your recipes that I’ve tried so far! I have to attend a Shiva- could this recipe be made Kosher with oil and non-dairy milk?
So glad you’re enjoying the recipes! Yes, I think both of those alternatives will work here. Please LMK how it turns out with the tweaks!
This is the second time I made this awesome bread and I think I like it baked in a loaf pan vs. 8×8. I thought it came out airier. No matter what, you can’t fail making this!
sorry but this is my first time making this recipe and i had high expectations after looking at other reviews and while the bread was nice and soft and moist it had very little flavor was almost bland. I followed the instructions exactly and it looked beautiful and smelled great out the over but taste left much to be desired.
This was so easy & delicious! The best part was the recipe uses melted butter versus softened (it takes literally all day for a stick of butter to come to room temperature in my cold & drafty kitchen). Using melted butter means I can make this whenever I want! I think the only thing I’d change would be to use a wooden skewer to swirl the cinnamon sugar, rather than a butter knife, as I thought the knife dragged the topping around too much.
This looks amazing; I plan on making this weekend….do you think if I add a cup of toasted walnuts and half a cup of raisins it would turn out ok?
Sure, I think either addition would work. Just make sure you chop the nuts. (If they’re too big, it will make the bread hard to slice.) Please LMK how it turns out!
Thanks; and I will! Love all of your recipes that I’ve made so far.
When swirling the bread with a butter knife the batter clung to knife causing it to make a mess of my bread. hard to swirl with the apples and walnuts in it. any suggestions?
Hi Karla, sorry you had a problem swirling this. Once you stick the knife into swirl it, don’t pull the knife back out until you’re done swirling. Also, feel free to spray both sides of the knife with a little cooking spray before you put it in the batter. Hope that helps!
I added 1 cup toasted chopped walnuts and 1/2 cup raisins. The taste was perfect! The only issue I had was that the bread wasn’t “strong” enough to go in the toaster (ie it would break despite until the next morning to slice). Could this because I added the extras? Is there something I could do next time to make it hold together a bit better?
Hi Meredith, Glad you liked the taste! Most quick breads are pretty fragile. You could add a ½ cup of additional flour to make it sturdier, but it will definitely have a drier texture.