Apple Bread

Apple bread is one of our favorite recipes for fall, when crisp weather beckons and makes us hungry for warming spices and treats featuring seasonal ingredients.

This recipe, in particular, provides a wonderful, simple framework from which you can improvise. Just remember, in order to break the rules, it helps to know them first. For example, a core concept in baking is to balance the ratio of carbohydrate, protein, and fat, because each macronutrient brings its own flavor, texture, and benefit to a recipe. If that piques your interest, you may want to take a look at our guide to everything baking. It will help you gain knowledge and, therefore, confidence. Now let’s get baking!

Apple Bread Ingredients

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• All-purpose flour: Among the popular types of flour, all-purpose flour has the right balance of protein for a variety of recipes. It’s strong enough to hold together bread, but light enough for flakier baked goods.
• Sugar: Granulated sugar features a uniform texture that easily blends with other ingredients in this recipe for apple bread.
• Cinnamon: This warming spice combines wonderfully with apples. If you’d like, you can also grate in some ginger or other spices like clove and allspice.
• Baking soda: Baking soda reacts with acids to create little air pockets in baked goods, helping them rise and become fluffy.
• Baking powder: A combination of baking soda, cream of tartar, and cornstarch, baking powder comes with the acidic ingredient necessary for the baking soda to react. This is perfect for recipes that are otherwise low in an acidic component.
• Eggs: The fat from the yolk of an egg helps combine all the ingredients, while the protein from the white helps provide the dough with needed structure. Note that this recipe calls for room-temperature eggs.
• Canola oil: Canola oil is neutral in flavor, so it’s a popular option. That said, you can substitute it for butter or coconut oil using a 1-to-1 ratio.
• Vanilla extract: Vanilla provides a wonderful aroma and, of course, flavor. If you make homemade vanilla extract, you’ll save both money and a trip to the grocery store.
• Apples: The star of the show, we recommend a slightly tart and crisp apple for this recipe. A variety like Pink Lady or even Granny Smith would work well.
• Walnuts: Ever notice that ingredients that ripen together go well together? Well, both walnuts and apples are harvested in the fall, making this nut a natural choice for this recipe.

Directions

Step 1: Mix the dry ingredients

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To get prepped, preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two greased 8×4-inch loaf pans with parchment, then grease the paper too. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.

Editor’s Tip: While it helps to line the pans, it’s not absolutely necessary. If you thoroughly grease both pans, you should be set.

Step 2: Mix the wet ingredients

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In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, oil, and vanilla extract.

Step 3: Combine the wet and dry

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Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, and stir until just moistened (the batter will be thick).

Step 4: Add the apples and walnuts

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Fold the apples and walnuts into the batter, then transfer the batter to the two prepared pans.

Step 5: Bake the bread

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Bake the bread until a toothpick inserted in the center of each loaf comes out clean, 50 to 55 minutes. Let the bread cool in the pans for 10 minutes before removing it to wire racks to cool completely.

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Apple Bread Variations

• Add dried fruits: Ingredients like regular or golden raisins, dried apricots, or dried dates would be wonderful additions to any apple bread recipes. Just know, you may want to cut back on the sugar to compensate for the extra sweetness.
• Use a different kind of sugar: Different types of sugar provide distinct flavors and textures that you may enjoy. For example, you can substitute brown sugar for the granulated cane sugar, using a 1-to-1 ratio.
• Make it vegan: This recipe is already nearly vegan, so you can use an egg substitute and enjoy a similar result.

How to Store Apple Bread

Now that you’re in the bread-making business, of course you want to know how to keep bread fresh. Bread stored in the fridge can lose its moisture, so it’s best to store it on the countertop. Once the bread is completely cooled, transfer it either to a bread box or an airtight container, where it can last on the counter for up to three days.

Can you freeze apple bread?

Stored properly, apple bread can keep in the freezer for up to two months. To do this, pre-slice the bread once it has cooled, then wrap the individual slices in reusable beeswax wraps. Place each slice in an individual freezer bag, or put them together in a large bag. When you’re ready to eat more, thaw just what you need in the fridge overnight.

Apple Bread Tips

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What’s the secret to moist bread?

Make sure you don’t overmix the batter, because this causes the gluten bonds to become stronger. Ultimately, the bread will become tougher and chewier. You can also leave a pan of water on the rack below the bread as it bakes. This causes steam to accumulate in the oven and infuse the loaf with added moisture.

Why is my apple bread dense?

While you don’t need to allow this recipe to rise, if you do find it dense, you have a few options. First, avoid overmixing the batter, which can cause it to become tough. Second, try adding a tad more baking powder, which will help further lighten the texture of the bread.

Why did my apple bread fall apart?

Most likely, it’s too moist. This happens when there is too much of one or more wet ingredients, or when the bread is underbaked. You’ll also want to make sure you bake this recipe as soon as the batter is ready. Allowing it to sit for too long allows the moisture from the apples to escape into the batter.