Who said you can’t have cake for breakfast? Apple Bread is a great, indulgent breakfast alongside a hot cup of coffee or tea. You can also serve it for dessert with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream on top. You probably have everything you need in your house to make this recipe, so it is perfect if you’re looking to bake something tasty on a whim. If you’re going apple picking this season, it is also the perfect way to use up those fresh, crispy apples.
The Best Apples for this Recipe
You want to use firm, crispy apples that will hold their structure under heat. Some varieties that work well are Granny Smith, Fuji, Honeycrisp, Cortland, and Golden Delicious. Steer clear of softer varieties, like McIntosh and Macoun. If you want to learn more about apple varietals and which work best for your different fall baking needs pop over and read our guide to the best baking apples.
Tips and Tricks for the Best Possible Apple Bread
This apple bread is considered a quick bread, which means it should be pretty easy to pull together. Just adhere to these tips to ensure that you get the perfect loaf every time.
Keep the butter, eggs, milk, and yogurt at room temperature. This will give you a smoother batter without any chunks. Use an electric hand mixer or stand mixer. It will be much more difficult to create a smooth batter if you are mixing by hand. Don’t over-mix the batter. Use a low speed on your hand or stand mixer and mix until the ingredients are just combined. Line the pan with parchment paper. This will make it much easier to remove the cake after baking. Be careful not to over-measure the flour! When you measure flour, you want it to be light and fluffy, not packed, and dense. Use a fork or spoon to fluff the flour in its container before scooping it up in your measuring cup.
Ingredient Swaps and Variations for Apple Bread
One reason why I love this Apple Bread recipe is because it is customizable based on your flavor preferences and the ingredients you have on hand. Here are some ways you can change the recipe and make it your own.
If you don’t have any Greek yogurt on hand, sour cream will work in its place. If you’re a pumpkin spice lover, feel free to swap the cinnamon in the batter for pumpkin spice. You can add 1/4 cup of chopped walnuts or pecans to your apple cake to give it some crunch.
How to Store Apple Bread
Apple bread will keep for 3 days in a sealed container at room temperature. If you want to make the bread ahead of time, you can wrap it in aluminum foil, place it in a sealed bag, and freeze it for up to three months. Just let the frozen cake thaw at room temperature for 2-3 hours before serving. If you need more guidance on how to freeze baked goods, this guide to freezing and storing banana bread (another favorite of mine) is a great source!
More Quick Bread Recipes to Try
Guinness Bread with Molasses Cranberry Orange Nut Bread Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread Chocolate Banana Bread Rum Raisin Banana Bread
1/4 cup (50g) brown sugar 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar 1/4 cup (30g) all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons butter, melted
For the apple bread
1 1/2 cups (180g) all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature 3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar 1 large egg, at room temperature 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 cup plain, unsweetened Greek yogurt 1/3 cup whole milk 1 large Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Golden Delicious apple, peeled and diced
