Apple Cinnamon Swirl Bread

Apple Cinnamon Swirl Bread – Chunks of apple and swirls of cinnamon in this easy quick bread recipe that doesn’t even need a mixer!

If you like Cinnamon Quick Bread or Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Quick Bread, you’ll love this easy Apple Cinnamon Swirl Bread! 

I’m excited about this bread for a few reasons. First, I didn’t think I liked anything with baked apple (it’s a texture thing), but I’m trying to be an adult and try new things. Guess what? I now love baked apple desserts.

Last week we were at a cider mill and my mom bought a loaf of their apple bread. I tried it and actually liked it. Enough that I wanted to try to recreate it which leads to the second reason why I’m excited about it.

I think I did a pretty good job recreating it! I did some research and came up with this recipe that I think is really, really good.

I asked on Facebook what your favorite type of apples to bake with are and got mixed responses.

Like I said, I haven’t liked baked apples in the past (apple pie, apple bread, apple strudel…) so I wasn’t sure where to start. I ended up using Gala apples because they’re sweet and one of my favorites.

I diced the apples pretty small (though you can still see them in the pics and definitely still taste them) but if you like big chunks, chop big chunks. The streusel makes a crunchy, sugary crust that is so good.

Helpful Tools

• Loaf pans – you don’t have to get fancy, but remember that you need 2 for this recipe.
• An apple slicer will make your life easier – to get a jump on dicing the apples.
• So will a good peeler – I grabbed a random peeler from the drawer and almost immediately threw it away with the peels. Stick with the OXO one, it’ll make you happy.
• And a good silicone spatula – the beauty of this recipe (one of them, anyway) is that you don’t need a hand mixer, but you do need to mix it. I like the one piece silicone spatulas.

Ingredients

• Apples – Use your favorite type of apple & chop them as big or small as you like. I used Gala apples & chopped them fairly small.
  
• Flour – All purpose white flour.
  
• Cinnamon – Use a good quality ceylon cinnamon for the best taste.
  
• Nutmeg – Nutmeg has a warm & spicy smell and flavor that pairs beautifully with cinnamon.
  
• Baking Soda – Baking soda gives the bread its rise.
  
• Salt – To bring out the other flavors.
  
• Vegetable Oil – You can use either vegetable oil OR unsweetened applesauce in this recipe. Applesauce makes a slightly denser bread. You swap them out on a 1:1 basis. I sometimes do half oil, half applesauce.
  
• Eggs – Three large eggs.
  
• Sugar – Granulated white sugar.
  
• Brown Sugar – Adding brown sugar leaves the bread soft & moist.
  
• Vanilla Extract – I know vanilla is expensive right now, but use a real vanilla, not imitation!
  
• Butter – You’ll use softened butter as the base of the streusel that you’ll swirl in.

This recipe makes two loaves – I immediately had to wrap one up to give away because there was a good chance I would have eaten it. By myself. The whole thing.

How to make Apple Cinnamon Bread

1. Step One: First, peel and dice your apples into fairly small pieces. How many apples you need will depend on the size of your apples.
   
2. Step Two: Next, whisk together the dry ingredients in a medium mixing bowl.
   
3. Step Three: Then, in a large mixing bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients.
   
4. Step Four: Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and stir with a spatula until fully combined – it’s a very thick batter.
   
5. Step Five: Finally, stir in the apples and then pour the batter into two loaf pans that have been lined with parchment paper.
   
6. Step Six: Make the streusel topping by mixing together softened butter, cinnamon, and sugar and dropping it onto the batter. Lightly swirl it with a skewer and then bake for about an hour at 325°F.

Can I replace oil with applesauce in baking?

Yes, you can swap out oil with applesauce when you’re baking. The ratio is 1:1 for substituting. Use unsweetened applesauce to not alter the flavor of the recipe.

I make this bread both ways – sometimes using vegetable oil, sometimes using applesauce…sometimes using half and half. I find the applesauce version to be slightly denser.

How many apples are in 3 cups?

This is depend on the size of your apples, but it took two large Gala apples for me, diced, to equal 3 cups.

Have more apples to bake with? Try these recipes:

• The BEST apple desserts – a roundup of some great recipes.
• Apple Cinnamon Bundt Cake
• Apple Pull Apart Bread
• Apple Peanut Butter Blondies
• Sheet Pan Apple Pie with Oat Crumb Topping

4.89 from 18 votes

Apple Cinnamon Swirl Bread

Created by Melissa Williams

Servings: 2 loaves

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Cook Time: 1 hour hr

Total Time: 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

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Apple Cinnamon Swirl Bread – Chunks of apple and swirls of cinnamon in this easy quick bread recipe that doesn't even need a mixer!

Ingredients

 

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For the Bread

• ▢ 3 cups Gala apples diced (this was 2 large apples for me)
• ▢ 3 cups all purpose flour
• ▢ 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
• ▢ ½ teaspoon nutmeg
• ▢ 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ▢ 1 teaspoon salt
• ▢ 1 cup unsweetened applesauce or vegetable oil
• ▢ 3 large eggs
• ▢ 1 ½ cups granulated white sugar
• ▢ ½ cup light brown sugar
• ▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Streusel

• ▢ 4 Tablespoons softened butter (I used salted)
• ▢ 4 Tablespoons granulated white sugar
• ▢ 2 teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions

To make the bread

• Preheat the oven to 325°F, line two 9×5 loaf pans with parchment paper and lightly spray with non-stick spray. Set aside.
• Peel your apples and dice into small pieces.
  3 cups Gala apples
• In a medium bowl, add the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt and whisk together.
  3 cups all purpose flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon salt
• In another large bowl, add the applesauce (or vegetable oil), eggs, sugars, and vanilla and mix with a whisk until fully combined.
  1 cup unsweetened applesauce, 3 large eggs, 1 1/2 cups granulated white sugar, 1/2 cup light brown sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients in batches (I did three parts) and stir with a spatula until fully combined. The batter will be very thick.
• Stir in the diced apples.
• Pour half of the batter into each prepared loaf pans – try to keep the amounts even.

To make the streusel

• In a small bowl, add the softened butter, cinnamon, and sugar and mix together with a fork. Drop the streusel mixture onto the tops of the batter and lightly swirl.
  4 Tablespoons softened butter, 4 Tablespoons granulated white sugar, 2 teaspoon cinnamon
• Bake for 1 hour then check on your loaves. Insert a toothpick into the center – if it comes out clean, with moist crumbs, your bread is done.
  
• Let cool in the pan for about 10 minutes then lightly run a knife around the edges to loosen. Flip onto a plate, slice and enjoy!

Notes

• This recipe makes two (2) 9×5 loaves.
• Use your favorite apples – I prefer a mildly sweet apple like Gala. A tart apple like Granny Smith is also good.
• You can use all applesauce, all oil, or a mixture of the two to equal one cup. All applesauce makes for a slightly denser bread.
• Store leftovers covered at room temperature or in the fridge for up to 4 days.

⭐️ Final Step! Please let me know how you liked this recipe by leaving a review and rating below. Your feedback supports my small business and allows me to continue providing free, high quality recipes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 2026kcal | Carbohydrates: 414g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Cholesterol: 306mg | Sodium: 2029mg | Potassium: 656mg | Fiber: 13g | Sugar: 259g | Vitamin A: 1193IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 164mg | Iron: 11mg

Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.

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Need more apple ideas?

The BEST Apple Desserts

The BEST Fall Desserts

Originally published October 13, 2014