Is there anything better than a loaf of soft, sweet, and cinnamony bread? We don’t think so! This healthy apple cinnamon bread is a perfect breakfast for crisp fall mornings. Packed with fresh apples, whole wheat flour, and a touch of cinnamon, this quick and easy apple cinnamon loaf is the quintessential taste of autumn!
Three Must Know Cooking Skills
For recipe success, learn how to:
Culinary Tips for the Best Apple Cinnamon Bread
If you have young kids or picky eaters in your home, dice the apples into smaller pieces.
Don’t peel the apples! Not only does it make the bread more nutritious, but it also cuts down the number of steps – less work for you!
Measure the flour properly to prevent dense bread. Fluff, spoon, and level; don’t scoop and pack!
Whisking the dry ingredients together mimics sifting and evenly distributes the ingredients, so don’t substitute another utensil.
Why add the diced apple to the dry ingredients? It helps to ensure they are evenly distributed throughout the bread, although we have found it might not make as big of a difference in this recipe.
Don’t overmix the batter! Watch our muffin method culinary technique video to learn how to mix the batter just enough so that you end up with light and fluffy bread.
When measuring brown sugar, pack it in the cup. If you are trying to reduce your sugar consumption or prefer less sweet bread, reduce the sugar to ½ cup; the recipe will still come out great!
If your oven runs hot, check the bread for doneness after 45 minutes.
Ingredient Substitutions
- White Whole Wheat Flour: substitute spelt flour or whole wheat pastry flour for a similarly light taste, color, and texture. You can also substitute 1 cup whole wheat flour and 1/2 cup all purpose flour. To make this apple cinnamon bread gluten-free, use a gluten-free flour mix. We have had good success with Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free Flour.
- Cinnamon: substitute pumpkin pie spice.
- Apples: diced fresh pears would make a great substitution.
- Buttermilk: substitute plain yogurt, Greek yogurt, kefir, or sour cream. You can also make your own buttermilk by mixing ½ cup milk with ½ Tablespoon white vinegar or lemon juice.
- Eggs: to make this apple cinnamon bread vegan, substitute the eggs with flax eggs. To make one flax egg, mix 1 Tablespoon of ground flaxseeds with 3 Tablespoons of water and let it rest for 10 minutes. Eggs help leaven the bread, so a vegan version might not be quite as fluffy.
- Canola Oil: substitute avocado oil. Do not substitute olive oil, as this has a strong flavor. Do not substitute vegetable oil, as this is not a heart-healthy oil.
We love buying our spices from The Spice House. Click on the picture below to view & try out hundreds of flavorful spices and herbs!
Recipe Variations
Turn this into a high fiber cinnamon bread by adding ¼ cup ground flaxseed (flaxseed mill) to the dry ingredients, topping the batter with raw pumpkin seeds, or using only whole wheat flour. If using only whole wheat flour, we recommend using white whole wheat flour or whole wheat pastry flour.
You can also add 1/4 cup toasted pumpkin seeds, toasted walnut or pecan pieces, dried cranberries, and/or raisins for added nutrition, texture, and flavor. Add these ingredients in with the diced apples. Note that these ingredients increase the weight of the bread, so it might not rise as much.
Want to make mini apple cinnamon bread loaves? Prepare mini bread loaves with parchment paper or non-stick spray and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
This batter works for muffins too! To make apple cinnamon muffins, prepare a 12-cup muffin pan with muffin liners or non-stick spray. Use a portion scoop to divide out the batter. Cook for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. The diced apples will stay firmer in muffins because muffins take less time to cook. If you enjoy a softer apple bite, dice the apple into smaller pieces so they cook faster, or simmer them in a saucepan with a little water before using.
Equipment Recommendations
You just need a few pieces of kitchen equipment to make this healthy recipe come together!
- Nested Mixing Bowls
- Measuring Cups & Spoons
- Liquid Measuring Cup
- Spatula
- Apple Slicer or Chef’s Knife
- Loaf Pan
Is this apple cinnamon bread healthy?
The key ingredients that make this apple cinnamon bread recipe healthier than store bought varieties are whole wheat flour, fresh apples, and less sugar than leading brands.
Whole Wheat Flour
Whole wheat flour is a good source of fiber, B vitamins, Vitamin E, trace minerals, and phytochemicals. Replacing refined grains (i.e. white flour) with whole grains (i.e. whole wheat flour) may reduce the risk of developing chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. (1)
Apples
Does an apple a day keep the doctor away? It certainly can help! Apples contain prebiotic fibers which support good gut health. (2) Apples also contain phytochemicals such as quercetin and catechin which may play roles in cancer and cardiovascular disease prevention. For most nutrition, leave the peel on. (3)
Less Added Sugar
High sugar consumption is not good for health, and in general, most Americans eat way too much. Men should aim to consume less than 9 teaspoons (~36 grams) of sugar per day, and women should aim to consume less than 6 teaspoons (~24 grams) of sugar per day. (4) Each slice of apple cinnamon bread in this recipe has 3 teaspoons (12 grams) of added sugar. Reducing the brown sugar to ½ cup would result in 2 teaspoons (8 grams) of added sugar per slice.
Serving Suggestions
We doubt you’ll be able to resist slicing a warm piece of this cinnamon bread when it’s fresh out of the oven! Enjoy on its own for a satisfying snack, as a tasty treat after lunch, or topped with almond butter for a balanced breakfast.
Storage Recommendations
Because this is a moist cinnamon apple bread, it will spoil more quickly at room temperature. Store the bread in a bag or container at room temperature for a couple of days or in the refrigerator for up to one week. Make sure the bread is entirely cool before storing.
Want to make a batch of this healthy apple bread for later? This bread is great for the freezer! Once cooked, cool completely, wrap, then store in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. You can also freeze in slices for a quick single-serve option. When ready to eat, thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
Want more recipes like this easy apple bread recipe?
Check out some of our other favorite whole grain recipes!
Whole Grain Pancakes Base Recipe
Apple Cinnamon Granola Clusters
Baked Oatmeal Cups Base Recipe
Apple Cinnamon Bread
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups white whole wheat flour*
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 medium or 1 large apple (~2 cups diced ½")
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup buttermilk
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup canola oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° F. Prepare a 9×5 bread loaf pan with nonstick spray or parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, gently whisk whole wheat flour, all purpose flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Add diced apples to flour mixture. Toss until evenly coated.
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk together brown sugar, buttermilk, eggs, oil, and vanilla.
- Add buttermilk mixture to flour mixture. Using a spatula, fold ingredients just until moistened. Do not overmix.
- Pour batter into the prepared bread loaf pan. Bake 50-55 minutes or until slightly golden and a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. Enjoy!
This Post Has 4 Comments
This apple cinnamon bread recipe is the most heartwarming (& belly-filling) taste of fall! I was out of eggs, so I used flax eggs instead, and it still came out delish!
So great to hear!
Could I use maple syrup instead of sugar for this recipe?
Absolutely! That’s a great way to adjust the recipe to your taste and according to what you have on hand!