Apple bread loaded with chopped apples, nuts, and warm spices is the perfect way to jump into fall. I love how using fresh apples makes a very moist loaf of bread.
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Why this apple cinnamon bread is amazing
Apple cinnamon bread is one of my favorite fall recipes. This one is in fact one of my grandmother’s delicious recipes!
It is filled with amazing fall spices and fresh apples to create the most perfect apple bread. It also calls for buttermilk which boosts the flavor and moisture of the bread to outstanding levels.
Tips and tricks to making the perfect apple bread
Sometimes when you are making a quick bread it’s hard to get the right consistency. Ideally, the loaf of bread should be light and moist. Here are a few of my favorite tips and tricks to use while making this apple bread recipe.
- Sift the Dry Ingredients – By sifting the dry ingredients you can remove any clumps and aerate the ingredients.
- Do Not Over Mix – When combining the ingredients, it’s important to not overmix the bread dough. If you mix the ingredients too much, you’ll develop more gluten and produce a tougher, denser loaf of bread.
- Grate the Apples – Instead of just chopping up the apples, grate them! Grated apples distribute more evenly throughout the bread, so you aren’t left with chunks of apple.
Apple bread ingredients
Take a look at this list to make sure you’re ready to make the perfect apple cinnamon bread.
- All-purpose flour
- Salt
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Cinnamon
- Ground nutmeg
- Ground cloves
- Shortening
- Dark Brown sugar
- Eggs
- Apples
- Buttermilk
- Walnuts
What type of pan to use for apple bread
For this recipe, you’ll use a loaf pan. I suggest using either a glass or metal pan, metal pans are ideal for making bread, as they warm up faster than glass pans do.
When the pan heats up quickly, the dough rises more effectively and produces crispier, browner edges, both of which are ideal for making the perfect loaf of bread.
How to make apple bread
- Sift the dry ingredients into a bowl and whisk to thoroughly combine.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the shortening, sugar, and eggs. Beat well with an electric mixer.
- Stir in the apples and about half of the sifted dry ingredients. Add buttermilk and and stir with a spoon. Add the rest of flour mixture and stir just until well mixed. Fold in the walnuts.
- Pour the batter into a greased 9x5x3-inch loaf pan and bake at 350°F for 55 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Remove the bread from the pan and cool it on a wire rack.
Best apples to use for making apple bread
When it comes to baking, apples are not all equal. The most well-known and frequently used apple for baking is the Granny Smith.
Granny Smith apples have a nice crisp texture that holds up well in the baking process. They’re also not super sweet, so they balance the sweetness from the other ingredients in the recipe.
Jonagold, Honeycrisp, or Pink Lady apples are also great options to use in this recipe. If those are not available, just use the crispiest, least mealy apples you can find to get the best results from this easy bread recipe.
How to store cinnamon apple bread
Once the bread has cooled feel free to enjoy as much of it as you want. Then, wrap the rest of the loaf in aluminum foil and store it on the counter for about 4 days, or in the fridge for up to a week.
If you want to freeze the bread, first make sure it has cooled completely. Then wrap it in foil, place it in a freezer-safe zip-top bag, and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Love apples? Try these recipes!
- Air Fryer Apple Chips
- Apple Bread Pudding
- Apple Coffee Cake
- Apple Muffins
- Applesauce Cake
- Caramel Apple Martini
- Easy Apple Cobbler
- Homemade Apple Crisp
- Old Fashioned Apple Pie
- Sugar Free Apple Pie
Favorite quick bread recipes
Check out more of my easy bread recipes and the best fall recipes here on CopyKat!
This recipe is from the archives of my grandmother, Ethel Eynard. Jefferson City, MO. 1982.
Apple Bread
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 cup shortening
- 2/3 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup coarsely grated raw apple (about 2 medium apples)
- 1/4 cup buttermilk
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- Grease for the pan (shortening)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x5x3-inch loaf pan with shortening.
- In a mixing bowl, sift together the flour, salt, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Set aside.
- In a separate mixing bowl, combine the shortening, sugar, and eggs. Beat well with an electric mixer.
- Stir in the apples and about half of the sifted dry ingredients.
- Add the buttermilk and stir with a spoon until incorporated.
- Add the rest of the flour mixture and stir just until well mixed.
- Fold in the walnuts.
- Pour the batter into a greased 9x5x3-inch loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees for 55 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Remove the bread from the pan and let it cool on a rack.
Samantha
This was a great way to prepare fresh apples.