Easy Apple Bread Recipe with Cinnamon Glaze

This is a sweet and spiced apple bread recipe that's simple to make. It's filled with juicy apple pieces and topped with a cinnamon glaze.

Apple and cinnamon go together so well, so it's only natural to combine them in an apple cinnamon loaf. An apple bread recipe like this is also called an apple quick bread and the method is definitely that! The batter can be whisked together in less than 10 minutes!

Apple Bread - The Details

• What is a quick bread? - It's a quick bread because it is made without yeast. So there is no waiting for it rise. However, yes this apple bread loaf is super quick to put together but it does require a fair bit of baking time. The restricted size of the baking tin means it takes longer to cook the middle of the loaf. Though it is known as apple quick bread, it is much more an apple cake in texture, sweetness and taste.
• Oil - there is no butter in this recipe! Despite being a major butter fan, this particular apple bread is much better with oil. The oil keeps it moist and there is plenty of flavor from the apples and spices that you won't miss the butter.
• Milk - Milk helps combine and loosen the batter. I use a full-fat cow milk but this can substituted with a dairy-free milk of your choice.
• Apples - The variety of apple you choose for your apple bread depends on taste. If you like a tarter bite, choose a Granny Smith. For a sweeter touch, a gala apple works well. Ultimately though you can can use whatever variety you've got.

The Method

Since there is no butter to cream in this recipe, there is no need for any type of electric mixer or whisk. You just need two bowls and a wooden spoon!

First, the dry ingredients are mixed together in one bowl and set aside. Second, the wet ingredients (except for the milk) are mixed together in a separate bowl. Then, the dry is added to the wet, along with milk and folded together gently.

Technically this whole apple loaf could be made in one bowl, but it is best to split the dry ingredients into a separate bowl from the wet ingredients first so you can guarantee the ingredients are dispersed properly before being mixed together.

Adding the flour, spices and baking soda together first means you can stir it all well so there are no clumps of unmixed baking soda in there. If the dry ingredients are dumped into the wet ingredients separately, there will be a fair bit of mixing needed to combine and disperse it all and you can wind up with an over-mixed and dense loaf.

The Cinnamon Glaze

The cinnamon glaze is simply confectioners sugar, ground cinnamon and a little milk to bind it. Drizzle it lavishly over the apple bread and watch it drip down, seep through the cracks and create a beautiful shell over the loaf.

Like baking with fruit? Try this banana gingerbread or orange rhubarb tart.

More apples to use? Why not make pure apple syrup or some salted caramel apple pies!