This cinnamon apple streusel bread is the perfect combination of spiced apples, moist bread, and crunchy streusel. It comes together in just 30 minutes, since the apples don't need to be peeled or cooked.
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Fresh apples are mixed into a delicious bread batter to make this moist, spiced cinnamon apple streusel bread. And a crunchy topping of brown sugar cinnamon streusel takes this quick bread to the next level!
Cinnamon apple bread is perfect for Fall, but it's equally delicious any other time of the year.
The smell of apples baking in the oven can transform any kitchen into a comforting haven. But if you don't have fresh apples, you can use applesauce to make my cinnamon applesauce cookies or German streusel applesauce cake.
Some recipes for apple bread use shredded apple, which makes the bread really soft like zucchini bread. But I prefer the chewier texture from chopped apples. Plus shredding apples takes a lot more time, and I'd rather eat this yummy bread sooner! 🙂
Hungry for more delicious quick bread recipes? Try German hazelnut loaf cake, moist banana zucchini bread, and decadent pumpkin labneh bread.
Ingredients and Notes
- All purpose flour - I don't recommend substituting whole wheat flour or bread flour, since you want the bread light and moist.
- Brown sugar - Both light and dark brown sugar work well in the streusel and the apple bread.
- Ground cinnamon - Adds a warm, spiced flavor. You can substitute apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice.
- Unsalted butter - Allow your butter to sit out at to room temperature to soften so it's easy to incorporate into the streusel topping and the bread batter.
- Apple - The best apples for baking include Honeycrisp, Jonathan, Fuji, Gala, and Granny Smith.
- Baking powder and baking soda - Work together to leaven the bread so it rises in the oven.
- Salt - Use either non-iodized table salt or fine sea salt for the best flavor.
- Granulated sugar - You could substitute extra brown sugar.
- Eggs - Binds the ingredients together and helps the bread rise as it bakes.
- Vanilla extract - Enhances the flavors of the other ingredients.
How to Make this Recipe
Below is the process to make this recipe. For the full step-by-step directions and ingredient quantities, scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
1. Mix the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter in a bowl to make the streusel.
2. Finely chop your apple and discard the core. You don't need to peel the apple. Set aside.
3. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
5. Add the eggs and vanilla to the creamed butter & sugars. Mix until it is smooth.
7. Pour the batter into a greased 5-inch by 9-inch loaf pan. Sprinkle the streusel on top evenly.
4. In a separate mixing bowl, beat the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until it's creamy.
6. Mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Fold in the chopped apple.
8. Bake for 55 to 70 minutes at 350°F, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Carissa's Kitchen Tip
To check if your bread is done baking, insert a toothpick into the center of the bread, all the way to the pan. If there's wet batter on the toothpick, bake for another five minutes and check again. The bread is baked when you see wet crumbs stuck to the toothpick, but no batter.
Recipe Tips
- Don't overmix: Be careful not to overmix your bread batter, or else it'll end up dense and and tough.
Stop mixing when you no longer see pockets of dry flour. - Stiff batter: The bread batter will be kind of dry and stiff when you add all the dry ingredients.
Since the apples release moisture as they bake, we don't want the bread to be too wet.
Variations
- Drizzle: Add a drizzle of simple glaze or caramel sauce on the baked bread.
- Nuts: Fold chopped nuts into the bread or the streusel for a crunchy texture.
- Spice: Substitute the cinnamon for apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice.
- Chocolate: Fold chocolate chips or cinnamon chips into the bread batter for extra sweetness.
Storage
- Room Temperature: Store cooled bread in an airtight container or wrapped in plastic wrap at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- Fridge: Store cooled apple streusel bread in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Wrap the whole loaf or individual slices in plastic wrap then aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight or at room temperature for a couple hours.
- Reheat: Place a slice on a microwave-safe plate and reheat in the microwave for 10 to 15 seconds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I peel apples to make apple bread?
There's no need to peel the apple, since the apple peel adds a little more chewy texture. If you peel the apple, it could become mushy in the bread.
What are the best apples for baking apple bread?
I recommend using Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Gala, or Jonagold apples, since these varieties won't become too mushy once baked.
Can I freeze apple streusel bread?
Yes, this apple cinnamon bread freezes well. Allow your loaf to cool completely. Then wrap the whole loaf or individual slices in plastic wrap, then in aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months.
Related Recipes
Looking for more delicious homemade bread recipes like this? Try these:
Cinnamon Apple Streusel Bread
developed & tested by:
Equipment
- measuring cups and spoons
- mixing bowls
- Large Spoon or Spatula
- whisk
Ingredients
Streusel
- ¾ cup all purpose flour
- ⅓ cup brown sugar (both light and dark brown sugar work)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 4 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
Apple Bread
- 1 medium apple, chopped (makes about 1¼ cups chopped apples)
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature (1 stick)
- ½ cup brown sugar (either light or dark brown sugar)
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Make the Streusel
- Prepare the streusel by combining the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and softened butter, in a mixing bowl. Use a large spoon, silicone spatula, or your hands to crumble the mixture until it looks like wet sand. Set aside.
Make the Apple Bread
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 5-inch by 9-inch (or similar) loaf pan with butter or line it with parchment paper.
- Finely chop your apple and discard the core (no need to peel the apple). Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside.
- In a separate mixing bowl, use a hand mixer to cream the softened stick of butter with the brown sugar and granulated sugar until it is soft and fluffy, after 1 to 2 minutes.
- Add the eggs and vanilla to the creamed butter. Mix until it is creamy.
- Add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients in three additions, mixing slowly with a large spoon or silicone spatula after each addition, until there is no dry flour visible.Fold in the chopped apples.
- Pour the batter into the greased loaf pan. Sprinkle the streusel on top.
- Bake for 55 to 70 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean. (It's okay if crumbs stick to the toothpick, you just don't want to see wet batter, otherwise it needs to bake longer).
- Let the bread cool for at least 30 minutes, then slice and enjoy!!
Notes
- Don't overmix: Be careful not to overmix your bread batter, or else it'll end up dense and and tough. Stop mixing when you no longer see pockets of dry flour.
- Stiff batter: The bread batter will be kind of dry and stiff when you add all the dry ingredients. Since the apples release moisture as they bake, we don't want the bread to be too wet.
- Storing: Store cooled bread in an airtight container or wrapped in plastic wrap at room temperature for up to 3 days, or in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Freezing: Wrap the whole loaf or individual slices in plastic wrap then aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight or at room temperature for a couple hours.
Carissa Erzen says