This Apple Bread Recipe is a warm, cozy treat, just right for breakfast, snacks, or holiday gifts.
It’s a family tradition to drive out into the country each fall, along the windy roads that lead to our favorite apple orchard. A few times we’ve picked our own apples, but even when we just pick up fresh apples and cider from the orchard’s farm stand, it’s a treat. It’s usually a bright blue sky with the comforting autumn sun shining down and intensifying the oranges, reds, and yellows of the roadside trees’ colors. We head home with way more apples than we need: McIntosh, Jonagold, Cortland, and Pink Lady all in paper bags, ready for eating and baking.
While the fall season presents many opportunities for using apples in baked goods—
apple cinnamon muffins, apple pancakes, and apple cobbler, to name a few—our family’s favorite is apple bread. It’s easy to make, comes together quickly, and is so delicious.
You will love upping the fall vibes at your house with apple bread. First, it smells amazing while it’s baking and will make your whole house smell like cozy goodness! Once cooled, it is great for breakfast, snacking, or even dessert. Apple bread makes for a lovely housewarming or holiday gift, wrapped up in foil and topped with a bow. And the best part? It freezes beautifully, so you can always have it on hand.
So many apple varieties! Which to use?
Especially during apple season, there are a ton of apple varieties to choose from. So, which ones are best for apple bread or any baked apple treat, for that matter? In general, you want a variety that holds its shape well during baking (meaning it won’t get mushy) and has a strong apple flavor. Good options include Granny Smith, Fuji, Pink Lady, Cortland, and Honeycrisp. You can stick to one variety or use a mixture of different apples.
How do I store leftovers?
Apple bread freezes really well. To freeze for use at a later date, just let the bread cool completely. Then wrap the loaf in plastic wrap, followed by a layer of foil. You can freeze apple bread for up to 3 months. Just let it come to room temperature on the counter when ready to use. Leftovers can also be stored at room temperature for 1-2 days or in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Serving suggestions
If you’re serving apple bread at breakfast or brunch, try it alongside some high-protein options such as Pumpkin Overnight Oats or Baked Egg And Kale Cups. For snacks and desserts, it is delicious plain (especially if it’s still slightly warm), or slather some cream cheese or homemade Whipped Butter on top of your slice. Perfection!
Apple Bread Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 pinches salt
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons whole milk room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups apples peeled and finely chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan. In a large bowl, mix together flour, both sugars, baking powder, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, oil, milk, and vanilla extract until well combined.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, stirring until just combined to avoid overmixing.
- Fold the chopped apples into the batter until evenly distributed.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Smooth the top with a spatula.
- Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
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