Introduction
Oh, the cozy aroma of freshly baked apple bread wafting through your kitchen! Does anything say “home” quite like it? This recipe for Apple Bread is a true classic, bringing back those warm, fuzzy feelings of autumn gatherings and happy kitchen memories. What I love most about it is how incredibly simple it is. You can have this delicious bread baking in no time, perfect for a last-minute treat or a planned baking session.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Fast: Ready to bake in under 20 minutes!
- Easy: No fancy techniques needed, perfect for beginners.
- Giftable: Slice it up and tie a ribbon – instant homemade gift!
- Crowd-pleasing: Everyone adores the comforting taste of apples and cinnamon.
Ingredients
Gather ’round, my friends! Here’s what you’ll need to whip up this delightful Apple Bread. Don’t worry, these are all pantry staples or easy finds!
- 2 cups Apples: I like to use a mix of sweet and tart apples for the best flavor. Granny Smith and Honeycrisp are a great combo! Make sure they’re peeled, cored, and diced into small, bite-sized pieces.
- 2 large Eggs: These are the binder that holds our delicious bread together.
- 1 1/2 cups All-purpose flour: Your standard baking flour will do the trick.
- 1 tsp Baking powder: This helps give our bread a nice, light lift.
- 1/2 tsp Baking soda: Works with the acidic elements in the recipe (like brown sugar) to create that perfect texture.
- 1/2 cup Brown sugar: For that lovely caramel note and tender crumb.
- 1 1/2 tsp Ground cinnamon: The star spice that makes apple bread sing!
- 1/2 cup Granulated sugar: Balances the sweetness and adds to that beautiful golden crust.
- 1/4 tsp Salt: A little salt goes a long way to enhance all the other flavors.
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract: Pure vanilla extract adds a warm depth of flavor you just can’t skip.
- 1/2 cup Butter: Melted and slightly cooled. This makes the bread wonderfully moist and rich.
How to Make It
Alright, let’s get our hands a little floury and make some magic happen! This is so straightforward, you’ll be amazed at the delicious result.
- Preheat and Prep: First things first, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a standard loaf pan, or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
- Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Give it a good stir to make sure everything is evenly distributed.
- Wet Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract until well combined and a little lighter in color.
- Melt the Butter: Gently melt your butter in a small saucepan or in the microwave. Let it cool for a minute or two so it doesn’t cook the eggs.
- Combine the Wet: Pour the melted butter into the egg and sugar mixture and whisk until smooth.
- Marry the Mixtures: Now, pour the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Stir everything together gently until just combined. Don’t overmix! A few streaks of flour are perfectly fine. Overmixing can lead to a tougher bread.
- Add the Apples: Gently fold in your diced apples. Make sure they’re evenly distributed throughout the batter.
- Bake to Perfection: Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan and spread it out evenly. Pop it into your preheated oven and bake for about 50-65 minutes.
- Check for Doneness: How do you know it’s ready? Insert a toothpick or a thin knife into the center of the bread. If it comes out clean, your Apple Bread is done! If it comes out with wet batter, give it a few more minutes and check again.
- Cool Down: Once baked, let the bread cool in the pan on a wire rack for about 10-15 minutes. Then, carefully invert it onto the wire rack to cool completely. This step is important for a good texture!
Substitutions & Additions
This recipe is fantastic as is, but feel free to play around! Baking is all about making it your own.
- Nuts: Love a little crunch? Add 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts or pecans to the batter along with the apples.
- Spice it Up: A pinch of nutmeg or a tiny bit of ground cloves can add another layer of warm spice.
- Citrus Zest: The zest of one lemon or orange can add a bright, fresh counterpoint to the apples.
- Glaze: Once cooled, you can drizzle a simple glaze made from powdered sugar and a little milk or lemon juice for an extra sweet treat.
Tips for Success
A few little tricks up my sleeve to ensure your Apple Bread turns out perfectly every time:
- Don’t Overmix: I can’t stress this enough! Gently folding the ingredients together is key for a tender loaf.
- Apple Size: Dicing the apples small ensures they bake through nicely without making the bread too soggy.
- Oven Variations: Ovens can be finicky! If your bread starts to brown too quickly on top before it’s cooked through, loosely tent it with aluminum foil for the remainder of the baking time.
- Prep Ahead: You can dice your apples a day in advance and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
How to Store It
This Apple Bread is best enjoyed fresh, but it’s also quite forgiving!
Once completely cooled, store your Apple Bread tightly wrapped in plastic wrap or in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If you’d like to keep it longer, you can slice it and freeze it for up to 3 months. Just pop a slice in the toaster or microwave to thaw and enjoy!
FAQs
Can I use canned applesauce instead of fresh apples?
While this recipe is designed for fresh apples for the best texture and flavor, you could technically try using unsweetened applesauce. However, you’ll likely need to adjust the liquid content of the recipe, and the texture will be quite different – more like a cake than a bread. For this specific recipe, fresh is best!
What kind of apples are best for baking?
A mix of apples that hold their shape when baked is ideal. Tart apples like Granny Smith, and sweeter, firm apples like Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Gala work beautifully. Avoid apples that turn mushy easily, like Red Delicious.
Can I make this recipe gluten-free?
You can certainly try! You would need to substitute a good quality gluten-free all-purpose flour blend that contains xanthan gum. The texture might vary slightly, but it should still be delicious.
Easy Apple Bread
Equipment
- Loaf pan standard size
- Large bowl
- Medium bowl
- Saucepan small, for melting butter (optional)
- Wire rack
- toothpick for checking doneness
Ingredients
Main ingredients
- 2 cups Apples peeled, cored, and diced small (mix of sweet and tart like Granny Smith and Honeycrisp recommended)
- 2 large Eggs
- 1.5 cups All-purpose flour
- 1 tsp Baking powder
- 0.5 tsp Baking soda
- 0.5 cup Brown sugar
- 1.5 tsp Ground cinnamon
- 0.5 cup Granulated sugar
- 0.25 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract pure
- 0.5 cup Butter melted and slightly cooled
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a standard loaf pan, or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Give it a good stir to make sure everything is evenly distributed.
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract until well combined and a little lighter in color.
- Gently melt your butter in a small saucepan or in the microwave. Let it cool for a minute or two so it doesn't cook the eggs.
- Pour the melted butter into the egg and sugar mixture and whisk until smooth.
- Now, pour the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Stir everything together gently until just combined. Don’t overmix! A few streaks of flour are perfectly fine. Overmixing can lead to a tougher bread.
- Gently fold in your diced apples. Make sure they’re evenly distributed throughout the batter.
- Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan and spread it out evenly.
- Pop it into your preheated oven and bake for about 50-65 minutes.
- How do you know it’s ready? Insert a toothpick or a thin knife into the center of the bread. If it comes out clean, your Apple Bread is done! If it comes out with wet batter, give it a few more minutes and check again.
- Once baked, let the bread cool in the pan on a wire rack for about 10-15 minutes. Then, carefully invert it onto the wire rack to cool completely. This step is important for a good texture!