Description
A moist, tender quick bread bursting with apple chunks and swirls of cinnamon sugar. Perfect for fall mornings, holiday brunch, or an afternoon snack with coffee or tea.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
Wet Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup sour cream (or plain Greek yogurt)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Mix-ins
- 1 ½ cups apples, peeled and chopped (about 2 medium apples)
- ¼ cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
Cinnamon-Sugar Swirl
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon, mixed
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×5-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients. In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg. Set aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugars. In a large bowl, use a mixer to cream the softened unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes.
- Add Eggs and Flavorings. Beat in the eggs one at a time, making sure each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Then mix in the sour cream and vanilla extract until smooth and well combined.
- Combine Wet and Dry. Gently fold the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients, stirring until just combined to avoid overmixing which can toughen the bread.
- Add Apples and Nuts. Stir in the peeled and chopped apples and nuts if using, distributing them evenly throughout the batter.
- Create Cinnamon Sugar Swirl. Pour half of the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle half of the cinnamon-sugar mixture over the batter. Top with the remaining batter and finish by sprinkling the rest of the cinnamon sugar on top.
- Bake the Bread. Place the loaf pan in the preheated oven and bake for 55 to 65 minutes. The bread is done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs attached.
- Cool Before Serving. Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Best apples to use are Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Fuji, as they hold up well during baking without becoming too mushy.
- Store the bread at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to 1 week to maintain freshness.
- This bread freezes beautifully. Wrap it tightly and freeze for up to 3 months for later enjoyment.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dessert / Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
