This apple cinnamon bread is soft and cake-like, with swirls of cinnamon and enough apples for each bite! Combining the apples with cinnamon and brown sugar before mixing it into the bread adds a delicious pop of flavor. This recipe is perfect for enjoying with a cup of hot chocolate or tea!

Ingredients: Apple mixture

1 ½ cups peeled and chopped apples

⅓ cup brown sugar

2 tsp cinnamon

Ingredients: Bread batter

½ cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature

¾ cup white sugar

2 large eggs

⅓ cup unsweetened applesauce

1 ½ tsp vanilla extract

1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour

2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp ground nutmeg

1 tsp baking powder

½ tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt

½ cup milk

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×5 inch bread pan with non-stick cooking spray.
2. Apple mixture: Stir together the peeled and chopped apples, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Set aside.
3. Bread batter: Whisk together flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. Beat butter and white sugar together until smooth. Add in eggs, applesauce, and vanilla extract and beat until well combined.
4. Combine the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients and mix on low speed. While the mixer is still running, pour the milk into the batter. Be careful not to overmix.
5. Pour about ½ the batter into the bottom of the bread pan. Spoon the apple mixture evenly on top of the previously poured batter. Pour the rest of the batter over the apples and using a knife, swirl the batter down the center of the pan.
6. Bake for 60-75 minutes. The bread is ready when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Across oven types, cook time may vary. Start to check your bread after around 1 hour. 
7. After removing from the oven, allow the bread to cool completely on a wire rack. Enjoy!

This piece also appears in our December 2022 print edition.