Here’s a soft, moist Apple Cinnamon Swirl Loaf with ribbons of cinnamon sugar and tender apple pieces — perfect for breakfast or dessert.
🍎 Apple Cinnamon Swirl Loaf
Ingredients
For the loaf
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup milk (or buttermilk for extra tenderness)
- 1½ cups peeled and finely chopped apples (about 1–2 medium apples)
For the cinnamon swirl
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
Optional glaze:
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1–2 tablespoons milk
Instructions
1️⃣ Prep
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Grease and line a 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper.
2️⃣ Make the batter
- In a bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
- In another bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy (2–3 minutes).
- Beat in eggs one at a time.
- Stir in vanilla.
- Alternate adding dry ingredients and milk, mixing just until combined.
- Fold in chopped apples gently.
3️⃣ Create the swirl
- Mix brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.
4️⃣ Assemble
- Pour half the batter into the loaf pan.
- Sprinkle half the cinnamon sugar mixture over the batter.
- Add remaining batter.
- Sprinkle remaining cinnamon sugar on top.
- Use a knife to gently swirl through the batter.
5️⃣ Bake
- Bake 50–60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- If top browns too quickly, tent loosely with foil.
Cool in pan 10–15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
Optional Glaze
Mix powdered sugar and milk, then drizzle over cooled loaf.
💡 Tips for Best Results
- Use firm apples (like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp).
- Don’t overmix the batter — keeps loaf tender.
- Let cool fully before slicing for clean cuts.
If you’d like, I can also give you:
- A cream cheese-filled apple loaf
- A streusel-topped version
- Or a healthy whole-wheat variation
