Name: Easy Apple Bread Recipe (So Moist!)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 65 min
Total time: 80 min
Ingredients: 6 tbsps soft light brown sugar; ½ cup all-purpose flour; 1 tsp ground cinnamon; 3 tbsps unsalted butter (melted ); ½ medium apple (roughly diced into small pieces. Any baking apple will work (see note 1).); 1¼ cups all-purpose flour; 2 tbsps cornstarch; ¾ tsp baking powder; ¼ tsp baking soda; ¼ tsp salt; 1¼ tsps ground cinnamon; ¾ tsp ground ginger; ¼ tsp ground cloves; ¼ tsp ground nutmeg; 1 cup apples (finely shredded/grated. About one medium apple. ); ¾ cup soft light brown sugar (firmly packed (see note 2)); 2 large eggs (room temperature); ½ cup unflavoured vegetable oil (I use canola); 2 tbsps whole milk (room temperature); 1 tsp vanilla extract/essence

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This simple apple bread recipe is seriously so soft and moist, packed with fresh apples, and filled with cozy spices. But my favorite part? The buttery apple streusel on top, it takes it to a whole other level! Perfect for breakfast or an afternoon snack with a cup of coffee or tea.

Developing This Recipe

When it came to creating an apple bread recipe, I wanted something with a soft but slightly dense texture, plenty of apple flavour, and a loaf that was still easy to slice. But I also wanted to give it a little something extra that would set it apart from other apple bread recipes.

For the batter, I decided to use a method similar to my layered spiced apple cake, where I use finely grated apple rather than chunks. Using grated apple makes the bread much easier to slice, which was exactly what I wanted. Don’t get me wrong, apple chunks work great too, like in my apple muffin recipe, it’s just not the texture I was going for this time around.

Then came the question of that extra oomph on top! My go-to is always my brown sugar streusel, which has been a hit on my classic coffee cake and banana muffins. I wanted the apple to be more visually prominent in this recipe, so I randomly decided to add little pieces of chopped apple to the streusel too.

I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure how it would turn out. I was worried the apples might make the streusel soggy, but it actually turned out so good! The little pieces of apple added even more apple flavour and that extra pop of texture I was looking for.

Try This Out! 🍎

Fresh apple in streusel might sound a little unusual, but trust me, it works! The little pieces soften and slightly caramelise as they bake, adding even more apple flavour without making the streusel soggy.

Why You’ll Love This Apple Bread

If you love cozy apple desserts, I think you’re going to love this quick bread recipe! Here are a few reasons why:

Soft and moist: Freshly grated apple and vegetable oil give this quick bread a soft and moist texture, while a little cornstarch helps keep the crumb light and tender.

Full of cozy apple flavour: There’s fresh apple in both the bread and the streusel, along with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. The combination makes every bite taste like a cozy fall bake.

That buttery apple streusel: The brown sugar streusel is buttery, crumbly, and loaded with little pieces of fresh apple. As it bakes, the apple softens and slightly caramelises, adding a delicious pop of flavour to the top of the loaf.

No mixer needed: This is one of those wonderfully simple quick bread recipes where you don’t need an electric mixer. Just whisk the wet ingredients, combine them with the dry ingredients, add the batter to your loaf tin, and let the oven do the work.

What Apples Are Best for Baking?

When baking with apples, I usually recommend choosing a firmer apple that holds its shape well in the oven. Some good options are Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, Jonagold, Braeburn, and Royal Gala.

Firmer apples tend to keep more of their texture as they bake, so you get lovely little pieces of apple rather than something mushy. Softer varieties can break down more easily and release more moisture, although you can still use them, especially in recipes with a shorter baking time. 🙂

Baking Tip 🍏

Don’t squeeze the moisture out of the grated apple before adding it to the batter. That moisture helps keep this apple bread soft and moist, so you want all those lovely apple juices going into the batter!

How to Make Apple Bread

You can find the full list of ingredients for this cinnamon apple bread in the recipe card at the end of the blog post. For easy navigation, just hit the “jump to recipe” button at the top of the page. Here’s a quick visual breakdown of how to make it, and you’ll also find the recipe video in the recipe card below.

Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C) conventional and lightly grease an 8½x4½-inch loaf tin. Line the tin lengthways with parchment paper, leaving some overhang on the sides to make it easier to lift the bread out later. Set aside.

Apple Streusel Topping

In a small bowl, combine light brown sugar, all-purpose flour, and cinnamon. Mix until well combined and no large lumps remain.

Add the melted butter and stir until you have a crumbly mixture. Add the diced apple and mix until evenly combined. Place in the fridge while preparing the apple bread batter.

Apple Bread Batter

In a medium bowl, sift together all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg. Using a whisk, mix until well combined and set aside.

In a large bowl, combine light brown sugar, eggs, vegetable oil, milk, vanilla, and grated apple. Whisk until smooth and well combined.

Add the presifted dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and gently fold together using a spatula until just combined. Be careful not to overmix. Stop mixing as soon as there are no large streaks of flour remaining and the batter is uniform.

Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread it out into an even layer. Tap the tin on the counter once to remove any large air bubbles.

Remove the streusel from the fridge. If it has clumped together, use your fingers to gently break it up into smaller pieces. Evenly scatter all of the streusel over the top of the batter. It may seem like a lot, but make sure to use it all!

Bake for 65–70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs attached. If you notice the top browning too quickly, loosely cover it with a piece of aluminum foil after about 55 minutes.

Allow the bread to cool in the tin for about 20 minutes. Carefully run a thin knife along the edges of the pan that aren’t lined with parchment paper, then use the parchment overhang to lift it out. Transfer to a wire rack and allow to cool completely before slicing and enjoying!

How to Store Apple Bread

Once completely cooled, store the apple bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, refrigerate for up to 1 week, although the bread may firm up slightly. Let slices come to room temperature before serving, or better yet, warm it slightly for the perfect texture!

Can You Freeze Apple Bread?

Yes! Wrap the cooled loaf or individual slices tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe bag or container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature and gently warm individual slices in the microwave if desired.