Apple Fritter Bread

This moist apple bread is basically my apple fritter cake baked in a loaf pan. It’s soft, buttery, and filled with juicy bites of cinnamon apples and finished with a sweet glaze icing. 

Like an apple cake, this apple fritter bread is soft and vanilla-based. I like to call this version “bread” because it makes it more acceptable to devour a slice or three for breakfast. Plus, this is a much easier alternative to baking an actual cake.

This has become a staple in my house during apple season. Fans of apple fritter donuts can enjoy all the flavors of chopped apples and sugary cinnamon in quick bread form, no frying necessary. And if you ask me, this from-scratch apple fritter loaf cake tastes even better than the donut shop.

In my mind, it’s always apple season. I do most of my best apple baking in the fall, but there isn’t a time when I’ll turn down a delicious apple recipe. And this apple fritter bread recipe is one that everyone loves.

Why This Apple Fritter Bread is a Great Fall Baking Recipe

• Easier than making donuts. If you love apple fritter donuts, you’ll love how easy it is to recreate those cozy fall flavors without any of the rising, shaping, or deep frying.
• Fresh apples throughout. The cinnamon apples caramelize inside the bread and taste just like little bites of homemade apple pie filling.
• Minimal ingredients. If you’re sitting with a bunch of fresh fall apples, there’s a good chance you have everything you need to make this fritter bread. The rest of the ingredients are pantry staples.
• Follow along step-by-step. Make this apple fritter bread in a little over one hour from start to finish. I include all of my best baking tips to ensure a moist, flavorful loaf every time.

What Is an Apple Fritter?

Your typical donut shop apple fritter is fried yeasted dough filled with apple chunks and cinnamon, drizzled with sweet icing. If you love the apple fritter donuts from Dunkin’ or your local supermarket bakery, I know you’re going to love this homemade apple fritter bread! It has the same flavor profile, adapted to my apple cinnamon bread recipe.

Ingredients Needed

Here are the key ingredients in this delicious, simple apple fritter bread recipe. Scroll to the recipe card below for the full list with exact recipe measurements.

• Brown Sugar – I like the deeper caramelized flavor of light brown sugar in the cinnamon sugar swirl. You can use white granulated sugar in a pinch.
• Cinnamon – If you’d like, replace the cinnamon in this recipe with a mix of fall spices, like cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cloves, and ginger. You could also use apple pie spice.
• Apples – Peeled, cored, and diced into bite-sized pieces. I use Granny Smith apples in most of my apple recipes. They have a good balance of tart and sweet, and they hold their structure the best when cooked or baked. See below.
• Butter – I always bake with salted butter (it’s a personal preference), but unsalted is fine to use, too. Bring the butter to room temperature before you begin.
• Eggs – Also at room temperature. It makes these ingredients easier to mix into the bread batter.
• Vanilla – Make sure to use pure vanilla extract and not imitation.
• Flour – Weigh the flour for your bread using a digital kitchen scale or use the spoon and level method to avoid overmeasuring. Too much flour leads to a dry loaf.
• Baking Powder – Check that the leavening you’re using is as fresh as possible. If it’s old or expired, the quick bread won’t rise properly.
• Milk – This can be 2%, whole milk, or any milk you prefer.
• Powdered Sugar – Mixed with a little bit of milk to make the sweet powdered sugar glaze. For a richer glaze, swap milk with heavy cream.

What Apples Are Best for Apple Fritter Bread?

Not all apples are created equal when it comes to baking. Whether I’m baking pie, crisp, or apple pie bread, some apples are better suited to cooking and hold up at high temperatures more than others. These are the varieties I recommend for this recipe.

• Granny Smith: My favorite baking apple. Granny Smith are firm, tart apples that cut the sweetness in the filling while holding their shape nicely.
• Honeycrisp, Braeburn, and Pink Lady: Both of these are sweet-tart, crisp, and also good choices for baking. They won’t cook down too much and stay firm and juicy.
• Gala and Fuji: These types of apples become slightly softer when cooked, but they still have a sweet, rich flavor. I’d suggest using them in a mix with firmer varieties.

How to Make Apple Fritter Bread

Once baked and glazed, this apple fritter bread resembles a giant apple fritter donut in loaf form. I make this using my KitchenAid mixer, but if you don’t have a stand mixer, this quick bread comes together easily enough with a bowl and a whisk, too.

1. Get ready to bake. Start by prepping your loaf pan with non-stick spray. I also like to line the pan with a long rectangle of parchment paper to cover the bottom, extending up the ends of the pan. It makes the finished bread very easy to remove.
2. Prepare the apples and cinnamon mixture. Next, mix cinnamon and brown sugar in a small bowl. Separately, peel and chop the apples and then toss the apples with the granulated sugar and cinnamon. These two mixtures will be the filling and topping for your apple fritter bread. You can set them aside while you mix the batter.
3. Mix the bread batter. Meanwhile, cream the butter and granulated sugar in the bowl of your stand mixer. Add the eggs, one at a time, and then the vanilla. Mix until it’s smooth. Make sure to scrape the sides of the mixing bowl frequently so nothing gets stuck at the bottom! Finally, mix in the flour, baking powder, and lastly, the milk. Doing this gradually helps avoid overmixing the batter, which is key to a soft, tender loaf.
4. Assemble. Now, pour half of the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Top it with half of the cinnamon apples mixture, then half of the cinnamon sugar mixture. Swirl the apples into the batter using a butter knife. Repeat this step with the remaining ingredients, and swirl again.
5. Bake. Bake this apple bread at 350ºF for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the bread comes out with just a few moist crumbs. Afterward, let the bread cool in the pan for 15 minutes, and then loosen the edges with a butter knife. Transfer the loaf to a wire rack to cool completely.
6. Drizzle with icing. Before serving, quickly whisk together powdered sugar and milk to make the glaze. Drizzle this on top of the bread, just like that sweet glaze on apple fritter doughnuts!

Baking in Different Pan Sizes

If you don’t have a loaf pan, you can bake your bread in another pan, like a bundt pan or muffin tin, with just a few tweaks to the method and baking time.

• Bundt pan: In this case, the baking time may be shorter. Check the bread after 45 minutes. Be sure to thoroughly grease the pan.
• Apple fritter muffins: Halve the recipe for the cinnamon apples and cinnamon sugar. Instead of layering them into the muffins, simply swirl the apples and cinnamon sugar on top. These will also need to bake for less time. (You might also like these cinnamon swirl muffins and pumpkin apple muffins!)

Tips for the Best Apple Fritter Bread

• Don’t overmix the bread batter. Too much mixing overdevelops the gluten in the flour and gives the bread a dense texture.
• Test the bread for doneness. Use a toothpick to test that your apple fritter bread has baked all the way through. The tester should come out mostly clean, or with a few moist crumbs. If it comes out streaked with batter, the center is still undercooked.
• Avoid soggy bread by cooling the baked loaf in the pan for 10-15 minutes, and then removing it to finish cooling on a wire rack. Make sure the bread has cooled fully before you store it airtight; otherwise, condensation can make the bottom soggy.

Toppings and Serving Suggestions

Beyond the classic sweet glaze, these are some more delicious ways I like to enjoy a slice of cozy apple fritter bread:

• With a scoop of 2-ingredient homemade ice cream
• As a coffee cake with coffee or tea
• Drizzled with microwave caramel sauce
• Topped with buttery streusel before baking
• Frosted with brown sugar frosting

Storage and Freezing 

This apple fritter bread is a perfect make-ahead treat for weekday breakfasts or special fall brunches. Here are the best ways to store it to ensure it stays fresh and not dry.

• Store airtight. Store your apple fritter bread at room temperature for up to 3 days, or in the fridge for up to 5 days. I like to line the bottom of the container with paper towel to absorb any excess moisture.
• Freeze it. Wrap the bread in plastic wrap, and then place it inside a Ziploc bag. Freeze for up to 2 months for best freshness. Allow the bread to thaw at room temperature when you’re ready to serve it.

More Delicious Apple Recipes to Try

• Apple Crisp
• Apple Turnovers
• Mini Apple Pies
• Apple Brown Betty 
• Apple Strudel
• Apple Crumble Tart