Description

This easy homemade apple cinnamon loaf is a cozy, sweet bread bursting with real apple chunks and a cinnamon sugar swirl—perfect for fall mornings or holiday gatherings. It’s moist, flavorful, and simple enough for beginner bakers, making it a crowd-pleasing treat.

Ingredients

Scale

2 cups (240g) all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup (115g) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1/2 cup (120ml) vegetable oil
3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar
1/4 cup (55g) brown sugar, packed
2 large eggs, room temperature
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup (120ml) milk (whole or 2%)
2 cups apples, peeled and diced (about 2 medium, Granny Smith or Honeycrisp)
For the Cinnamon Swirl:
1/3 cup (70g) brown sugar, packed
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Optional Topping:
2 tablespoons coarse sugar
1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan and line with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
In another bowl, whisk melted butter, oil, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla until smooth.
Add milk to the wet mixture and whisk again.
Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and gently fold with a spatula until just combined.
Fold in diced apples until evenly distributed.
In a small bowl, mix brown sugar and cinnamon for the swirl.
Spoon half the batter into the loaf pan. Sprinkle half the cinnamon sugar over the batter. Add remaining batter and top with the rest of the cinnamon sugar. Swirl gently with a butter knife.
Sprinkle coarse sugar and nuts on top if desired.
Bake for 55–65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Tent with foil at 40 minutes if browning too quickly.
Cool loaf in pan for 10–15 minutes, then lift out and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Slice thickly and serve once cool.

Notes

For gluten-free, use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend. For dairy-free, substitute plant-based milk and coconut oil for butter. Chop apples small for even baking. Don’t overmix the batter. Tent with foil if the top browns too quickly. Let loaf cool before slicing for best texture. Optional: add a maple glaze or swap in berries for variation.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 55–65 minutes
Category: Sweet Bread
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 slice (1/10th of loaf)
Calories: 220
Sugar: 16
Sodium: 180
Fat: 9
Saturated Fat: 3
Carbohydrates: 32
Fiber: 2
Protein: 3

Keywords: apple cinnamon loaf, sweet bread, fall baking, apple bread, cinnamon swirl, easy loaf recipe, autumn dessert, brunch, homemade bread