This frosted apple bread is perfect for fall. It’s loaded with chopped apples, perfectly spiced with cinnamon then bakes up tender and moist before being topped with a cream cheese frosting!Â
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This frosted apple bread is a favorite for fall baking! It’s loaded with tart apple pieces which gives the quick bread a moist, tender crumb while warm cinnamon and brown sugar give it the best sweet taste!Â
In past apple seasons, I have made Dutch apple bread and apple bread with crumb topping, but for this easy apple bread from scratch I topped it with a creamy homemade cream cheese frosting which makes it perfect for serving for breakfast, snack or even an apple dessert!Â
Why I Love This Recipe
- Easy apple bread recipe: This simple bread with apples doesn’t require any yeast making it quick to prep then it’s ready to bake in the oven!Â
- Full of cozy fall flavors: When fall rolls around, this moist apple bread is full of warm cinnamon spice, tart apples and smothered in a sweet cream cheese frosting!
Ingredients and SubstitutionsÂ
- Baking staples: All-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, eggs and salt.
- Spices: Ground cinnamon adds warm flavor for a delicious cinnamon apple bread. You could also add a pinch of nutmeg and ground cloves.Â
- Sugar: Both brown sugar and granulated sugar add sweetness to the bread.
- Apples: Peeled and diced fresh apples such as Granny smith or pink lady. I used two apples so there would be plenty of apples in each bite.Â
- Butter: I used unsalted butter. Vegetable oil can be substituted.Â
- Milk: 2% or whole milk are what I typically use but any milk will work.
- Vanilla extract: Or use almond extract for a different flavor!
- Cream cheese frosting: Full fat brick style cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla extract and cream.
How to Make Frosted Apple Bread
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon baking powder, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl, combine chopped apples and brown sugar.
In a large mixing bowl using an electric mixer, cream the sugar and butter then beat in the eggs one at a time then beat in the milk and vanilla.
Combine the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients and stir apple bread batter until just combined. Fold in the apple mixture.Â
Transfer apple batter to the prepared loaf pan and bake. Cool the apple cinnamon bread in the pan for, then move to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
In a mixing bowl, beat softened cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla. Add cream 1 Tablespoon at a time to arrive at desired thickness then frost apple bread.Â
recipe tips
- Best kind of apples to use: Crisp apples are best! I love Pink Lady or Granny Smith, Honeycrisp apples, Jonathan, Gala or Braeburn are good varieties too.Â
- Peel your apples: This will make your bread more appealing! When you leave the peels on, it tends to separate from the apples while baking and creates an odd chewy texture.Â
- Avoid dense bread: This is usually a sign that you overmixed your bread. Only mix the bread until combined. It’s okay if there are still some flour streaks!Â
- If apple bread is falling in the middle: Most likely this means that your quick bread is underbaked. Bake the bread for the full amount of time and avoid opening the oven door as air drafts can make bread fall.
- Tent apple bread if browning: Use a sheet of foil to tent over the bread pan if the top of the bread is browning too quickly.Â
Variations
- Shredded apples: Instead of chopped apples try using shredded apples so you have some apples in every bite of the quick frosted apple bread.Â
- Apple bread with cream cheese glaze: Instead of a thicker frosting, thin the frosting with some additional cream and then drizzle over the bread.Â
- Add-ins: Add ½ cup chopped walnuts, pecans, raisins or dried cranberries.Â
- Less butter: Replace ½ of the butter with applesauce, similar to my applesauce bread!
- Caramel: Make caramel apple bread or add a caramel drizzle on top of the frosting!Â
More Quick Bread Recipes
If you are like us and love a delicious quick bread then I am sure you are going to like this Frosted Apple Bread too! Enjoy!
- 1½ cups  all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1¼ cups peeled and chopped apples (granny smith, pick lady- approximately 2 small/medium)
- ¼ cup brown sugar (lightly packed)
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- â…“ cup butter (softened unsalted)
- 2 large eggs (room temperature)
- ½ cup milk (2% or whole milk) room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
FROSTING
- 4 ounces cream cheese (room temperature)
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- ½-1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3-4 tablespoons milk or cream (room temperature)
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Pre heat oven 350F/180C, grease or line with parchment paper a 9 inch / 23 cm loaf pan.
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In a medium bow, whisk together the flour, cinnamon baking powder, baking soda and salt.
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In a medium bowl combine the apples and brown sugar.
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In a large bowl beat the sugar and butter until creamy, approximately 2 minutes, beat in the eggs one at a time, beat in the milk and vanilla. Add the dry ingredients and stir just until almost combined, fold in the apple mixture and mix just to combine. Do not over mix. Batter should be lumpy.
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Transfer to the prepared loaf pan. Bake approximately 50-60 minutes, test for doneness with a toothpick. Cover with foil if the bread is browning too much.Â
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Cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then move to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting. Enjoy!
FROSTING
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In a medium/large bowl, beat the cream cheese and powdered sugar, add the vanilla and cream (1 tablespoon at a time) to arrive at desired thickness.Â
Storing Apple Bread
- Store:Â Wrap frosted apple bread in plastic wrap or store in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 days or store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.Â
- Freeze:Â To freeze apple bread, skip the frosting. Cool completely then wrap in plastic wrap then foil and store in a freezer safe bag for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator still wrapped then add frosting and enjoy.
Calories: 186kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 156mg | Potassium: 98mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 265IU | Vitamin C: 0.5mg | Calcium: 44mg | Iron: 1mg | Phosphorus: 69mg