As soon as the wind gets chilly and leaves begin to turn (or sometimes before they do), I plan an apple picking trip to our local orchard. Inevitably, I come home with way beyond the reasonable amount of apples. Equally inevitably, my husband just looks at me and asks (as if this is the first time this has happened) what are you going to do with all of those? HELLO APPLE BREAD. Packed to the max with cinnamon, walnuts, and juicy apple chunks, this loaded apple bread (along with these Apple Carrot Muffins) is as much an annual tradition as apple picking itself. This recipe originally was from my friend Elisabeth’s mom, and I’ve been baking it every fall for the last 10+ years. Below you’ll find a version with my healthy tweaks. It’s nothing short of stellar!
The Best Loaded Apple Bread from Scratch
Like this classic Gluten Free Apple Crisp, this cinnamon apple bread recipe is special.
It is stuffed nearly to the point of falling apart with BIG apples and toasted walnuts. The apple situation here is loud and proud.It doubles down on apple flavor thanks to the addition of applesauce. Call me a purist, but I’m not a fan of recipes that fail to deliver on the flavor promise their name implies. When something is called APPLE bread (or Fresh APPLE Cake) , I expect there to be the lovely flavor of apple in every bite. This is a healthy apple bread compared to most. The applesauce replaces most of the oil and it reduces the need for excess added sugar.It’s made with white whole wheat flour for some whole grain goodness.
How to Make Amazing Apple Bread
This easy and quick bread recipe is PACKED, nearly to the breaking point, with apple chunks and walnut pieces and topped with a crunchy cinnamon-sugar mixture. Once you try a bite, you won’t want it any other way.
The Ingredients
Apples. The star of the show! This bread contains a full TWO CUPS of apples, which is a lot more than you find in most standard apple bread recipes. Apples are also a good source of vitamin C.
Applesauce. This moist apple bread uses applesauce to replace nearly all of the oil. (If you’re feeling ambitious, try this recipe with some homemade Crockpot Applesauce or Instant Pot Applesauce.)White Whole Wheat Flour. Higher in fiber and protein than white flour, and it tastes so mild, you’ll never suspect the swap. The bread is still super tender.
Walnuts. Be sure to toast them first. It’s an extra step but SO worth it. You’ll notice a much richer flavor and better, crisper texture.
Cinnamon. Apples and cinnamon are life partners, and I have no intention of separating the two, so apple cinnamon bread we shall bake.Sugar. The original recipe called for nearly a full cup, which I found to be a bit too sweet. I’ve pared it down here significantly. As the recipe reviews report, it’s perfectly scrumptious with the lesser amount.
The Directions
Storage Tips
To Store. Store leftover apple bread in an airtight storage container or ziptop bag at room temperature for up to four days.To Freeze. Place your baked apple bread in an airtight storage container or ziptop bag in the freezer for up to two months. I also love to wrap and freeze individual slices for on-demand breakfast portions.To Reheat. Let the bread thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. Place your apple bread on a baking sheet or wrap in aluminum foil, and warm in the oven at 350 degrees F for about 10 minutes or until warmed through. (Or if you are in a big hurry, the microwave works well too.)
Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe
Chef’s Knife. Use its high quality steel blade to uniformly chop the apples into chunks.Mixing Bowl Set. I use this set of glass nesting bowls almost daily. They’re durable and dishwasher-safe.Loaf Pan. Invest in a quality loaf pan so you can make this apple bread and this Healthy Pumpkin Bread all autumn long.
Like with these Baked Apple Slices, you can use any variety of crisp baking apples for this recipe.A few excellent apples for baking are Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Cortland, and Granny Smith.I do not recommend Red Delicious, Fuji, or Gala; while great for snacking, they fall apart in baking.
If you try this, I would love to know your results in the comments below.
Dutch Apple Bread. Start with this apple bread recipe, then add a cinnamon streusel topping and glaze! For the streusel topping, combine 1/4 cup brown sugar, 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour, and 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon in a small mixing bowl. Mix with a fork. Next, add in 2 tablespoons of softened, cubed butter and use your fingers or a fork to blend with the sugar mixture until small clumps form. Spread the topping evenly over the apple bread batter and bake as directed. While the bread is baking, whisk together 1/2 cup powdered sugar and 3 tablespoons milk or cream. When the bread is finished baking and has cooled completely, drizzle the glaze mixture over the top.Snickerdoodle Apple Bread. Swap the walnuts for 3/4 cups of cinnamon baking chips (inspired by this classic Snickerdoodle Bread).Amish Apple Bread. This recipe is VERY similar to Amish apple bread recipes I found online (just made with healthier ingredients). Be sure to add the cinnamon sugar topping. Most Amish apple bread recipes yield two loaves, so I recommend doubling this recipe, then giving the second loaf to a friend. Caramel Apple Bread. Simply add a drizzle of this Apple Cider Caramel Sauce over a slice (or two) of the apple bread.
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