Amish Apple Bread

Searching for the perfect cozy bake that fills your home with the scent of cinnamon and baked apples? This Amish Apple Bread is a moist, flavorful loaf packed with tender fruit and warming spices, making it an irresistible treat for breakfast, snacks, or dessert. I find it’s the best way to welcome autumn, and it freezes beautifully so you can enjoy a slice of that comforting flavor anytime.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

This recipe reminds me of my grandmother’s kitchen in the fall, where apple picking was always followed by a day of baking. She had a similar recipe, stained and well-loved, that she called her “friendship bread” because she loved to give extra loaves away to neighbors. This version, with its rich crumb and generous apple chunks, always brings back those warm memories of sharing and simple, delicious homemade food.

Ingredients

Here is what you’ll need to make this apple bread:

For the Bread:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ cup milk or buttermilk
• 2 cups peeled and finely chopped apples (about 2 medium apples, such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp)

For the Cinnamon-Sugar Topping (Optional):

• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Step-by-step instructions for making the recipe

Follow these simple steps for a perfect result every time:

1. Prep and Preheat: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×5-inch loaf pan, or line it with parchment paper.
2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Set aside.
3. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the softened butter and 1 cup of sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
4. Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
5. Combine Batter: With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the dry flour mixture and the milk (or buttermilk) to the butter mixture, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined. The batter will be thick.
6. Fold in Apples: Use a spatula to gently fold the chopped apples into the batter until evenly distributed.
7. Add Topping and Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top. If using, mix the 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon for the topping and sprinkle it evenly over the batter. Bake for 55 to 65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
8. Cool: Let the bread cool in the pan for 15-20 minutes, then run a knife around the edges and transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

Amish Apple Bread

A supremely moist and flavorful quick bread packed with fresh apples and warm spices, perfect for a cozy breakfast, snack, or dessert.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr

Cooling Time 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 20 minutes mins

Servings: 10 slices

Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack

Cuisine: American

Calories: 300

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

Bread Batter

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ½ cup unsalted butter softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ cup milk or buttermilk
• 2 cups peeled and finely chopped apples about 2 medium apples

Cinnamon-Sugar Topping

• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Equipment

• 9×5 inch Loaf Pan
• Electric Mixer
• Large Mixing Bowl
• Medium Mixing Bowl

Method

 

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×5-inch loaf pan, or line it with parchment paper.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Set aside.
   2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
3. In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the softened butter and 1 cup of sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
   ½ cup unsalted butter, 1 cup granulated sugar
4. Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
   2 large eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
5. With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the dry flour mixture and the milk (or buttermilk) to the butter mixture, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined. The batter will be thick.
   ¼ cup milk or buttermilk
6. Use a spatula to gently fold the chopped apples into the batter until evenly distributed.
   2 cups peeled and finely chopped apples
7. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top. If using, mix the 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon for the topping and sprinkle it evenly over the batter.
   2 tablespoons granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
8. Bake for 55 to 65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
9. Let the bread cool in the pan for 15-20 minutes, then run a knife around the edges and transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

Notes

Pro Tip for Moist Bread: The moisture from the apples is key! Don’t be alarmed if the batter seems very thick—the apples will release moisture as they bake, creating a wonderfully tender crumb.

Variation Idea: For a delightful streusel topping, mix ¼ cup flour, ¼ cup brown sugar, 2 tbsp cold cubed butter, and ½ tsp cinnamon with a fork until crumbly. Sprinkle over the batter before baking instead of the cinnamon-sugar.

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