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The Best Apple Bread (+Video)

Apple Pie Bread is a homemade, sweet and moist dessert bread that has a layer of yummy brown sugar with chunks of fresh apples.

AN APPLE PIE INSPIRED BREAD RECIPE

This Apple Pie Bread is AMAZING! After you make it the first time, you are gonna be hooked (so consider yourself warned.) It’s a simple homemade sweet bread filled with a layer of cinnamon sugar and fresh apples and topped with more cinnamon sugar and apples. The fresh apples combined with the sweet bread almost makes it taste like cake that is shaped into bread form.

sliced Homemade Apple Pie Bread on a long with tray with milk and sliced apples pictured in the background.

TIPS FOR MAKING APPLE BREAD:

  • Feel free to use your favorite apples in this. I am using a couple of Rome apples. They are great for baking since they are slightly sweet and tart. But these aren’t always available at the store so a good substitute might be a Gala apple or even Golden Delicious or Granny Smith varieties.
  • You can switch out the apples in this recipe for pears or even peaches.
  • Light brown sugar or dark brown sugar can be used. Dark brown sugar just contains a bit more molasses than light brown sugar.
  • Allow the bread to cool completely before slicing. It cuts easier when it is cooled. However, if you can’t wait – then dig into it warm, it may just be a bit more crumbly.
  • If you want to make your apple bread more flavorful, you can add chopped nuts, raisins, or dried cranberries to the batter.
  • To keep your apple bread moist, store it in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

How can I tell if my apple bread is done?

Oven times do vary with baked goods. The factor depends on many things like if you have an electric, gas or convection oven. It also changes depending if you use a metal pan versus ceramic or Pyrex. It also varies depending on which oven rack you use. A toothpick inserted should not have any wet batter on it. Start with the lowest baking time and go up from there. Use your best judgement based on your own personal knowledge of your particular oven.  

Can this bread be frozen?

Yes, you can freeze apple bread for up to 2 months. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap then aluminum foil, and place it in a freezer-safe bag or container.

The Best Apple Pie Bread recipe from The Country Cook, pictured sliced on a small white plate.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE) 

  • brown sugar
  • ground cinnamon
  • sugar
  • salted butter
  • eggs
  • vanilla extract
  • all-purpose flour
  • baking powder
  • milk
  • chopped apples
brown sugar, ground cinnamon, sugar, salted butter, eggs, vanilla extract, all-purpose flour, baking powder, milk, apples.

HOW TO MAKE APPLE BREAD:

Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Spray a large loaf pan (about 9×5-inch) with nonstick cooking spray (I like the kind with flour in it – like Baker’s Joy.) In a bowl, mix together brown sugar and cinnamon. Set aside.

brown sugar and ground cinnamon mixed together with a fork in a small white bowl.

Using a stand mixer (or in a large bowl with an electric mixer), mix together sugar and butter until smooth. Mix in eggs and vanilla extract until fully combined. Finally, stir in flour and baking powder and milk. Mix until combined. Pour half the batter into prepared loaf pan. Cover batter with half the diced apples. Press the apples down slightly into the batter.

bread batter poured into the bottom of a bread pan and topped with chopped apples.

Sprinkle the apples with half the cinnamon sugar mixture.

batter topped with cinnamon sugar mixture.

Pour the remaining batter over the apple layer.

final layer of apple bread batter spread on top of cinnamon sugar spread with a small wooden spoon.

Top with remaining diced apples (again, pushing the apples gently into the batter.)

final layer of chopped apples pushed into bread batter.

Sprinkle the remaining cinnamon sugar mixture on top.

top of bread mixture sprinkled with cinnamon sugar.

Bake for about 50-60 minutes (until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.) Allow to cool completely before removing from baking pan.

sliced Apple Pie Bread on parchment paper.

CRAVING MORE RECIPES?

Originally published: October 2016
Updated & republished: August 2020

The Best Homemade Apple Pie Bread

The Best Apple Bread (+Video)

The Best Apple Bread is a homemade, sweet and moist dessert bread and has a layer of yummy brown sugar with chunks of fresh apples.
4.94 from 87 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 8

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Spray a large loaf pan (about a 9×5-inch) with nonstick cooking spray (I like the kind with flour in it – like Baker's Joy.)
  • In a bowl, mix together 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar and 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon. Set aside.
  • Using a stand mixer (or in a large bowl with an electric mixer), mix together 2/3 cup sugar and 1/2 cup salted butter (1 stick), softened to room temperature until smooth.
  • Stir in 2 large eggs and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract until fully combined.
  • Finally, stir in 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder and 1/2 cup milk. Mix until combined.
  • Pour half the batter into prepared loaf pan.
  • Cover batter with half the 1 1/4 cup peeled and chopped apples (into 2-inch chunks) diced apples. Press the apples down slightly into the batter.
  • Sprinkle the apples with half the cinnamon sugar mixture.
  • Pour the remaining batter over the apple layer.
  • Top with remaining diced apples (again, pushing the apples gently into the batter.)
  • Sprinkle the remaining cinnamon sugar mixture on top.
  • Bake for about 50-60 minutes (until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.) Allow to cool completely before removing from baking pan.

Video

YouTube video

Notes

  • Please note, oven times do vary with baked goods. The factor depends on many things like if you have an electric, gas or convection oven. It also changes depending if you use a metal pan versus ceramic or Pyrex. It also varies depending on which oven rack you use. A toothpick inserted should not have any wet batter on it. Start with the lowest baking time and go up from there. Use your best judgement based on your own personal knowledge of your particular oven.  
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Calories: 344kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 13g | Sodium: 129mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 33g

Nutritional Disclaimer

“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

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Recipe Rating




98 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I made 2 of the apple pie bread for Christmas. One for us and one for my neighbor. It is soooo DELISH! I’m planning on making another one soon.. Thank you for sharing this yummy recipe!

  2. I love this recipe!! I’ve made it before but this time when I made it the bread started to rise too fast and almost overflow. Could this be because I live in Denver? Altitude is quite high here.

    1. You could always butter and flour the pan in the more traditional way to be safe if you’re concerned about sticking. You can use regular nonstick spray as long as you don’t have one of those designer specialty pans that have the designs in them. Too many nooks and crannies for the batter to get stuck in. 🙂

  3. I am anxious to try this recipe. My question is moist. Lately as I have baked breads they have not come moist. What can I do to insure a nice moist sweet bread

    I have just subscribed and am thrilled to begin trying your recipes

  4. 5 stars
    This is so delicious. I made this with2 Granny Smith apples & 2 Honeycrisp apples. I used only brown sugar in the cake I added 1/2 cup of raisins after soaking , 1/2 cup chopped almonds &=1/2 tsp salt as I always use unsalted butter. Amazing taste.fluffy cake! Thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe.

  5. 5 stars
    I made this just this morning, I did use salted butter, however, I still felt like it Could’ve used the smallest amount of salt, how much would you suggest starting with? 1/8-1/4? Other than that, it was ever so moist and delicious.

  6. 5 stars
    Absolutely delicious!!! Made this twice and everyone enjoyed it. If I make it in small loave pans how long and what temperature do I use? I would love to give this for Christmas gifts.

  7. 5 stars
    I used the Splenda brown sugar it didn’t look as pretty as your pic but it sure smelled and tasted amazing! Taste just like apple pie!!

  8. 5 stars
    Looking to make this as a travel treat for my wife on a long drive. Does anyone know if it can be made gluten free?
    Thanks!

  9. 5 stars
    I made this Apple Pie Bread and it was a big,big HIT with my husband who LOVES Apples. Great recipe, Brandie! So easy and SOOOO Delicious!!!!

  10. 5 stars
    Excellent. I might add some chopped pecans on top next time. Followed well written instructions exactly. It’s a keeper! Thank you!

  11. This looks so delicious. Was wondering if you could use red delicious apples and what adjustments would need to be made. Thank you for sharing your recipes.

  12. 5 stars
    I made this recipe last week and it was Delicious!!! My entire family loved it. I am making it again today. Thank you for this wonderful recipe.. I think I will be making this often.