Cinnamon Apple Bread with Homemade Crumble Topping

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Fall and Apples: The Perfect Match for Baking

Fall and apples go together like peanut butter and jelly. As the orange leaves start to fall and the cool, crisp mornings arrive, I find myself craving the warm flavors of cinnamon, apples, nutmeg, and, of course, pumpkin. There’s just something about autumn that makes me want to dive into my kitchen and start baking comforting treats like this delicious cinnamon apple bread recipe.

When September comes around, I get excited for cooler temps, colorful leaves, and festive decorations. But even more, it’s apple season! Growing up in the PNW, apples were a big deal, and even now, when I see Grown in Washington apples like Honeycrisp in Tennessee, it brings a little piece of home 2,000 miles away.

Why This Cinnamon Apple Bread Is Special

Each year, along with canning and preserving all the fresh apples, like in my canned apple pie filling, it’s fun to experiment with new recipes. I always look for ways to create the best apple recipes, and this apple cinnamon bread recipe is a winner. After tweaking ingredients, I came up with a wonderful recipe that’s dense but not heavy, sweet but not overly so, with just the right amount of cinnamon flavor. No worries about the center of the bread not cooking through—this bread bakes perfectly.

How to Choose the Best Apples for Baking

When it comes to picking the right apple for this cinnamon apple bread recipe, you want a firm, tart variety that holds up well in the oven. Hard, crisp apples provide that perfect bite and help prevent the bread from becoming mushy. Some of the best apples for this recipe include Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, and Golden Delicious. These apples have a rich flavor and a tartness that complements the sweet apples already in the recipe, bringing out the best balance of sweetness and spice. So, next time you’re at the store or farmer’s market, look for these firmer apples to ensure your apple loaf has the ideal texture and flavor.

How to Cut the Apple for the Bread

When preparing this apple loaf, I use a peeler to quickly slice the juicy apples thin. Once out of the peeler, I cut the sliced apple into 1/2″ chunks. Chunky little apple pieces help the bread bake evenly, preventing the dreaded gooey center.

Cinnamon Apple Bread Recipe with Crumb Topping

This delicious bread is made with basic ingredients already in your kitchen. It’s filled with fall flavor and makes a great fall treat. Serve alongside your morning coffee or as a warm dessert with vanilla ice cream!

Ingredients for Apple Bread:

• 1 minced large apple (save 1/4 cup for sprinkling over top)
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup room temperature butter
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp allspice
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 cup applesauce
• Nuts (optional)

For the Crumb Topping:

• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 2 Tbsp room temperature butter
• 1/3 cup flour
• Dash of cinnamon

Instructions for Easy Apple Bread Recipe:

1. Preheat the Oven: Set the preheated oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Prepare the Batter: In a large bowl, cream the butter, white sugar, and brown sugar with an electric mixer (or a stand mixer with a paddle attachment) until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla extract, mixing until smooth. Stir in applesauce.
3. Sift the Dry Ingredients: Combine the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, salt, and baking powder, then sift them into the wet ingredients. Mix on low speed until well blended.
4. Fold in the Apples: Add the diced honey crisp apples, (or apple of choice) ensuring even distribution throughout the batter.
5. Prepare the Pan: Grease and flour a prepared loaf pan or line it with parchment paper.
6. Assemble the Bread: Pour half of the batter into the pan, then sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Add the remaining batter.
7. Make the Crumb Topping: In a small bowl, mix the topping ingredients until it forms crumbs. Avoid melted butter, as it turns the crumble topping into more of a dough. Sprinkle the topping and reserved apple mixture on top of the batter.
8. Bake the Bread: Place the pan in the preheated oven for 50 minutes to 1 hour. The center of the loaf should come out clean when tested with a toothpick, and the top should turn golden brown.
9. Cool the Bread: Let the bread cool on a wire rack before slicing.

Tips for Storing and Serving

Once cooled, store the whole loaf in an airtight container or wrap it in aluminum foil. It will last for a few days, but if you’re storing for longer, place the loaf in a freezer bag and freeze for up to three months.

For a next-level serving idea, drizzle a little bit of cinnamon glaze made from powdered sugar, milk, and cinnamon over the loaf before serving.

Homemade Apple Bread FAQs

• What’s the best type of apple to use? For baking, Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, and Golden Delicious apples are ideal. These firmer apples hold their shape and offer a nice balance of tart and sweet flavors.
• Can I freeze this bread? Yes, wrap it tightly in a freezer bag or plastic wrap to store for up to three months.

Don’t waist the scraps

If you haven’t yet, you’ve got to try your hand at making Apple Cider Vinegar. It’s so easy, is pennies on the dollar to make, and will give you a high quality vinegar to use all year long. Check out these super easy instructions in this post.

Apple Bread With Crumb Topping

erynwhalen

This bread is the perfect way to usher in the fall season. Filled with the taste and smell of autumn, this apple bread is great alongside coffee in the morning or as a yummy warm dessert fresh out of the oven after dinner. Serve it alongside vanilla ice cream!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr

Additional Time 2 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 17 minutes mins

Course Breads

Cuisine American

Servings 10 slices

Calories 341 kcal

Ingredients

  

• 1 minced apple save 1/4 cup for sprinkling over top
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup room temp butter
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 3/4 cup flour
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp allspice
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 cup apple sauce
• nuts optional
• CRUMB TOPPING
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 2 Tbsp room temp butter
• 1/3 cup flour
• dash cinnamon

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
• Cream butter, white sugar, and brown sugar together until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla extract, stirring until just combined. Mix in applesauce.
• Sift flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and salt into the wet ingredients. Gradually whisk in the dry ingredients until fully incorporated.
• Fold in diced apples.
• Grease and flour a 9×5-inch loaf pan, or line with parchment paper.
• Transfer half of the batter into the prepared pan. Smooth the top and tap the pan to remove air bubbles. Spread half of the cinnamon sugar mixture over the batter. Add the remaining batter on top.
• Prepare crumb topping by mixing brown sugar, butter, flour, and a dash of cinnamon. Sprinkle over the batter. Distribute remaining diced apples on top.
• Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour, checking for doneness with a cake tester.
• 
  Allow to cool in the pan on a wire rack for 30 minutes to 1 hour before slicing.

Did you make this recipe? Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram!

Make sure to follow along with all my baking and homesteading adventures in real time on Instagram. Stories is my favorite place to be! For more apple content, including recipes and how to plant an apple tree, find it here!

And if you have enough apples left, whip up some applesauce for your family this fall.

Happy baking!

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