When you need a treat that just screams fall, this Apple Bread with Crumb Topping is perfect. It comes together without much fuss and delivers a perfectly tender crumb and warm cinnamon apple flavor. It is a family-friendly quick-bread that will become a household favorite. Enjoy with a cup of coffee for an unbeatable comfort food experience.
This apple bread recipe is one of my favorite sweet treats to make when the weather starts to cool. (Which here in Florida, means we see weather below 85!)
I can't tell you how many times I've made this delicious quick bread recipe for my family, and it gets rave reviews every time.
Ingredients
For the Pan
- Unsalted Butter: You could use salted butter or even cooking spray to prep your pan.
- All-Purpose Flour: Creates a non-stick surface for easy bread removal. Don’t skip this step (unless you prefer to use parchment paper) - it is a game changer in getting quick breads out of the pan.
Crumb Topping
- Sugar: You could use brown sugar for the topping if you prefer.
- Flour: I used all-purpose flour for this recipe. I believe a gluten-free 1:1 flour would work, but I have not tested this.
- Cinnamon: Use a good quality of ground cinnamon for the best flavor.
- Butter: I recommend unsalted butter.
Bread
- Flour: Use all-purpose white flour.
- Sugar: Use white granulated sugar.
- Baking Powder: Use baking powder and not baking soda.
- Ground Cinnamon: A good quality will add a lot of flavor.
- Sea Salt: You could use table or kosher salt if you prefer.
- Buttermilk: If you don’t have buttermilk you can make your own by mixing ½ tablespoon of lemon juice with a ½ cup of regular milk.
- Applesauce: Adds moisture and a subtle apple flavor.
- Eggs: I recommend large eggs.
- Vanilla Extract: Vanilla bean paste may be used.
- Butter: I recommend using unsalted butter.
- Peeled and Chopped Apples: Anything goes! Use pink lady, gala, honeycrisp, Braeburn, golden delicious, or granny smith apples to make this apple cinnamon bread recipe.
Wendy's Tips and Tricks
- Don't Overmix: To keep the bread tender and light, stir the batter until just combined.
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Let the eggs and buttermilk come to room temperature for better mixing and a smoother batter.
- Proper Measuring: Use the spoon-and-level method for measuring flour to avoid dense bread.
- Even Spreading: Spread the batter evenly in the loaf pan to ensure it bakes uniformly.
- Test for Doneness: Insert a toothpick into the center of the bread; it should come out with just a few crumbs or clean when it's done.
- Wait to Slice: Allow the bread to cool before slicing to prevent it from crumbling.
- Go Nuts: Nuts make a great addition to the bread - I recommend walnuts or pecans. Use about ½ cup, and be careful with too many add-ins. They can cause your pan to overflow and make the bread crumbly.
- Storage Tips: Store the bread covered in plastic wrap at room temperature for up to three days (or in an airtight container), or freeze it for longer freshness. The fridge dries bread out, which is why I recommend the freezer for longer storage.
Step by Step
More Quick Bread Recipes
- Bread Machine Banana Bread is a ridiculously good and a great way to use your leftover bananas.
- Cranberry Orange Bread combines tart cranberries and orange for a burst of flavor that is perfect for the holidays.
- Bread Machine Pumpkin Bread is a fall favorite that is so easy to make.
- Lemon Loaf is a super-quick and flavor-packed cake with just the right amount of punch from fresh lemon juice and zest.
Apple Bread Recipe with Crumb Topping
When you need a treat that just screams fall, this Apple Bread with Crumb Topping is perfect. It comes together without much fuss and delivers a perfectly tender crumb and warm cinnamon apple flavor. It is a family-friendly quick-bread that will become a household favorite. Enjoy with a cup of coffee for an unbeatable comfort food experience.
Servings: 12
Calories: 310kcal
Ingredients
For the Pan
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Crumb Topping
- ½ cup sugar
- ⅓ cup flour
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ cup butter cubed
Bread
- 2 cups all-purpose flour 9 ounces; 256 grams
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ cup buttermilk
- ½ cup applesauce
- 2 large eggs at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup butter melted and cooled
- ½ cup peeled and chopped apples
Optional Glaze
- 1 cup confectioner’s sugar
- 4 teaspoons water
Instructions
Prep the Pan
- Position the rack in the lower third of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Prep a 9 x 5 loaf pan by buttering it and then sprinkling with flour. Tap out any excess flour.
- Make the Crumb Topping
- In a small bowl whisk together the sugar, flour, and cinnamon. Cut in the butter with a pastry blender or fork until crumbly.
Make the Bread
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
- In a medium bowl, combine the buttermilk, applesauce, eggs, and vanilla. Whisk until blended. Pour over the dry ingredients and stir in the butter until just combined. Stir in the apple.
- Pour the batter into the prepared plan and spread evenly.
Top and Bake
- Sprinkle the prepared topping over the bread. Bake, rotating hallway through, for 50 to 55 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. If your bread starts to get to brown at the end, you can tent the bread with aluminum foil.
- Let cool in the pan on a rack for 30 minutes, and then remove from pan.
Optional Glaze
- If desired, make a glaze by combining 1 cup of confectioners sugar and 4 teaspoons water in a small bowl. Add more liquid, 1 teaspoon at a time as needed. Drizzle over the loaf.
Nutrition
Calories: 310kcal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 61mg | Sodium: 308mg | Potassium: 171mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 447IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 72mg | Iron: 1mg
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