Sweet, buttery quick bread, cinnamon topped chunks of apple, and super easy... what's not to like?
Table of Contents
🗝️ Key takeaways
- Warm fall flavors and a gooey apple layer make us feel all cozy inside.
- This apple bread is a perfect recipe for brunch or an after-school snack in the fall. It freezes well so it can be a grab-and-go breakfast, too.
- Be sure to check the tips section for my secret for keeping parchment paper in place.
Ditch the hot oil!
Easy apple fritter bread tastes like your favorite country breakfast, but without any messy frying. Plus, the apple-cinnamon mixture and sweet glaze on top are *chef's kiss!*
🧾 Ingredients
This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.
📖 Variations
There are plenty of ways to make this apple fritter bread your own!
- Make a Dutch apple streusel bread by adding a crunchy, crumbly topping before baking! Use the Dutch Apple Pie streusel recipe.
- Use fresh peaches instead of apples and it will be similar to this simple peach bread.
- Add a cup of chopped pecans or walnuts to the batter.
- Add raisins to the batter.
- If you have a bunch of pears they work well, too.
- Don't want a glaze? Just dust with a bit of powdered sugar for a pretty presentation.
- No buttermilk? Either make your own buttermilk substitute or use regular milk. If you use regular milk change the baking powder to 2 teaspoons and leave out the baking soda.
🔪 Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page.
- Stir the brown sugar and spices into the peeled, diced apples.
- Beat the butter and sugar; add vanilla and eggs.
- Mix in the dry ingredients.
- Blend in the buttermilk.
- Add half the batter to a prepared pan.
- Top with half of the apple mixture.
- Spoon on the remaining batter.
- Add the remaining apples. I usually sprinkle with a little brown sugar, too. Bake as directed.
🥫How to store apple fritter bread
Store apple bread at room temperature for 2 days wrapped in plastic wrap or placed in an airtight container.
To refrigerate
It will last up to about 4 days if you wrap it with plastic wrap or put it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
To freeze
Apple fritter bread freezes nicely for up to 3 months.
I like to slice it and put parchment paper between the slices before freezing. That way, I can get just one slice out at a time when I'm craving a delicous treat.
Microwave individual slices to thaw and warm. The lovely, cinnamon-apple aroma wafting up the stairs is a great way to turn any late riser into a morning person!
💭 Things to know
Expert Tip: Sprinkling to top with a little brown sugar or turbinado sugar before baking gives it a little crunch. Use about a tablespoon.
- I use a mixture of Honeycrisp and granny smith apples for the best flavor but you could use MacIntosh, Northern Spy, Braeburn, or whatever you like.
- You don't need to use parchment if you don't want to but it does help with the removal of the apple fritter bread!
- Always spray loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray whether you're using parchment or not.
- I know it's tempting to cut into the bread as soon as it's done baking, but it's really important to let it cool fully on a wire rack, first. This resting time allows the apple and brown sugar mixture to thicken up just a bit (it gets all caramelly and gooey) which holds the bread together better.
- If your parchment paper keeps popping out of the prepared loaf pan, use some chip clips to hold the paper in place. Just remember to remove the clips before baking, of course!
- Check for doneness with a toothpick—but look closely! Just like in the best Amish apple fritters, the apple mixture will stay gooey once the baking is complete. Don't confuse that good moistness with wet batter, or vice versa.
- Leftover buttermilk? Here's how to use it!
👩🍳 FAQs
Quick bread bakes similarly to a cake in that it uses baking powder/baking soda as the leavening agent instead of yeast. This means you just have to combine the ingredients and bake! Save the kneading for some other day.
That could happen for a variety of reasons. Too much liquid in the batter is the main cause. Sometimes, its due to weak (close to expiration) baking powder or baking soda. Other times a loaf can sink if you let the batter stand too long before baking or pull it out of the oven before it's done baking. Follow this easy recipe closely and you'll have success!
Does my rooster crow every morning? Yes, the answer is yes. Surprisingly, in the baking world, a crack on top of a loaf is quite desirable and a sign of delicious apple bread!
📚 Related recipes
We love Amish apple fritter bread around here but sometimes we need a little something different.
- With a not-too-sweet crumb and tender, fresh apples, Irish Apple Cake just doesn't get any better—oh wait, did I not mention the Whiskey brown butter sauce drizzled on top?!
- There aren't many things better than a good 'ol Dutch Apple Pie. From the buttery crust to the crunchy streusel, it's just like Grandma used to make.
- Cranberry nut bread is another delicious loaf we love in the fall and winter!
- Blueberry cream cheese coffee cake is like an old fashioned crumb cake - we love it!
- Another one of my favorite loaf-pan bread recipes, Oreo Banana Bread tastes classic, but with a hint of chocolatey, childhood flair. Give it a try next time you have the urge to bake!
- When the first cool weather hits (and by cool I mean 80 degrees or less) I am all about this moist, cinnamony apple bundt cake.
There are so many different kinds of quick breads to try!
📞 The last word
This easy quick bread recipe is full of all the cinnamon goodness of apple fritters but without the frying!
It's a sweet loaf that's delicious for any fall breakfast (or try these pumpkin scones or gingerbread waffles), brunch, or afternoon snack!
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need. Don't forget that you can click on "add to collection" to save it to your own, private recipe box!
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Amish Apple Fritter Bread
Print Pin Recipe Save Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
Apple Bread Batter
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup white sugar
- ½ cup buttermilk
- ½ cup butter, softened
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
Apple Mixture
- 1 pound apples, about 2 cups or so, peeled and diced
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ginger
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon cloves, optional
Glaze
- 1 cup Confectioners sugar
- ¼ cup Melted butter
- 1 tablespoon cream, or milk if needed for consistency
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan, line with parchment, then grease the parchment.
- Mix brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves together in a bowl.
- Stir into peeled and diced apples until the apples are covered.
- Beat the white sugar and butter together until light and fluffy.
- Beat in eggs, 1 at a time, and beating about 1 minute after each addition.
- Stir in vanilla.
- Combine flour, baking soda, salt, and baking powder together in a bowl.
- Stir the flour mixtur into the creamy butter mixture.
- Stir in the buttermilk.
- Spoon half the batter into the pan, evening out the top with the back of your spoon.
- Add half the apples that are coated with the cinnamon brown sugar mixture.
- Add the remaining batter in. and top with the remaining apples and cinnamon mixture.
- Top with the remaining apples and cinnamon mixture, pressing down lightly.
- Sprinkle with a little extra brown sugar if desired.
- Bake for 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- If it begins to brown to much on the top just tent it with aluminum foil.
- Let cool completely before removing from pan.
- Drizzle with the glaze.
Glaze
- Mix the confectioner's sugar and butter together. Add cream as needed to make a drizzly glaze
- Spoon over the cooled bread.
Notes
- I use a mixture of honeycrisp and granny smith apples for best flavor but you could use MacIntosh, Northern Spy, Braeburn, or whatever you like.
- You don't need to use parchment if you don't want to but it does help with the removal of the apple fritter bread!
- If your parchment paper keeps popping out of the prepared loaf pan, use some chip clips to hold the paper in place. Just remember to remove the clips before baking, of course!
- Check for doneness with a toothpick—but look closely! Just like in the best Amish apple fritters, the apple mixture will stay gooey once the baking is complete. Don't confuse that good moistness with wet batter, or vice versa.
- Leftover buttermilk? Here's how to use it!
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
First published March 25, 2015. Last Updated July 22, 2023 for editorial improvements and more helpful information.
Amy says
Made it for my co-workers and they went crazy for more. Very good way to start any day. I was wondering if u could substitute apple pie filling for fresh apples?
Marye says
No. I tried that and it was a mess!
Mary says
When lining the pan with parchment paper do I put it on the bottom and the sides?
Marye says
Yes. 🙂
Cynthia | What A Girl Eats says
Oh, Marye! This bread is speaking to me! I'm so ready for fall, and this is the perfect autumn bread!
Marye Audet says
thanks so much, Cynthia!
Ashley @ Wishes & Dishes says
Too funny! I just made apple fritter bread today! I have to say, yours looks better. Haha.
Marye Audet says
🙂 thank you!
Patricia @ Grab a Plate says
Just gorgeous! And with that touch of whiskey, I'm sure all these flavors combine for the perfect "intro to fall" type treat! Yum!
Kathy Walker says
This sounds amazing! I love apple fritters so you know this will be on the short list!
Marye Audet says
It's so good!
Susan | LunaCafe says
This looks incredible.Can't wait to try it.
Kristen @ A Mind Full Mom says
Sounds like an amazing place that inspired this recipe for you--and I love that you added Whiskey 🙂
Melissa says
We just started picking apples on our farm. This Fritter Bread looks so good. It's perfect for fall.
Susan | LunaCafe says
These look so decadent. And I'm going to look for that interesting whiskey. Who could resist? 🙂
Shannon @ rumblyinmytumbly says
LOVE the idea of putting some whiskey in the glaze. Yours turned out beautifully.
Sherry Wright says
Do you mind sharing the brand of Apple pie filling you used since you said it was so good and contains no corn syrup? Also, are there no other apples, other than what's in the canned apple pie filling? Thanks, Marye.
Marye Audet says
The pie filling is the only source of apples. It's the Lucky Leaf Premium.. fruit, sugar, cornstarch. spice... not thing else. 🙂
Carolyn Winter says
I really wish I had read this reply from you before I made the bread. I just read your comment and I made it with just any old pie filling I picked up on sale. It was pretty messy. Unless it’s supposed to be only something you serve in a bowl.
Carolyn
Marye Audet says
Aww I'm sorry. :/