Apple Cinnamon Bread with Streusel

This Apple Cinnamon Bread recipe is packed with the flavors of fall! It’s moist, sweet, and topped with a buttery streusel.

loaf of apple bread with a few slices cut out of it on a wooden board

If you’re looking for a sweet treat made with apples, this Apple Cinnamon Bread with Streusel is the perfect one!

It’s a classic quick bread recipe, made with sugar, butter, flour, and buttermilk. It has two cups of apples (more on choosing apples below) and a buttery cinnamon streusel in the middle AND on top.

It’s ideal for a fall baking project, or for gifting to a friend or family member. Pair it with a jar of Easy Crockpot Apple Butter for a festive fall-themed gift.

As a side note—I LOVE taking quick bread to friends who have just had a baby. It’s perfect for breakfast or a quick snack, and you can eat it one-handed.

This Pear Bread with Candied Ginger or Pumpkin Apple Bread are great for a fall baby, and Strawberry Bread or Zucchini Banana Bread are perfect for a summer baby!

Cinnamon Streusel Apple Bread

It would also make a great gift for a new neighbor, or a friend who is moving. My friend Glenda puts together baskets for friends filled with breakfast treats (like scones or quick bread), orange juice, plates, cups, and napkins. What a welcome treat when you wake up in a new home and can’t find the cereal!

It would also be a lovely treat for someone who is in the hospital and dealing with less-than-amazing cuisine.

And finally, this Apple Cinnamon Bread would simply be nice with a cup of tea on a chilly afternoon.

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Cinnamon Streusel Apple Bread

Top tips

  • Granny Smith, Fuji, Pink Lady, Honeycrisp, Braeburn, Golden Delicious, or McIntosh are the best apples for apple bread. They hold their shape when cooked, so there will be small pieces of apple visible in the bread.
  • Don’t have pecans? You can leave them out or substitute walnuts.
  • Warm up any leftovers by microwaving slices for 10–15 seconds each. A pat of butter on top is optional but encouraged! 🙂

Apple cinnamon bread ingredients

ingredients for apple bread on a white table
  • Use your favorite apples for this recipe. I used Fuji apples. Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, McIntosh, or Pink Lady would be good, too!
  • Chopped pecans add crunch. Omit them if you prefer.
  • You can make your own buttermilk by pouring 1 teaspoon of vinegar into ⅓ cup of milk.
  • Soften the butter so it’ll blend well with the other ingredients. Just leave it on the countertop for an hour to soften it.

Streusel ingredients

ingredients for cinnamon streusel on a white table
  • The combination of cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg make this bread smell (and taste) amazing.
  • Keep the butter chilled before mixing it to create large crumbs of streusel topping.

How to make streusel

Cut the butter into cubes, and place the ingredients for the cinnamon streusel in a large bowl.

ingredients for streusel in a glass bowl

Use your fingers, a pastry cutter, or two forks to blend the butter into the flour mixture. I use my fingers and rub the butter into the flour with my thumb and first two fingers. You want both big clumps and small clumps of streusel.

streusel crumbles in a glass bowl

How to make apple cinnamon bread

Mix together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Peel and chop the apples. Spray a 9×5 inch loaf pan with nonstick spray.

Use a handheld mixer to beat the butter and sugar together in a large bowl.

Beat in the eggs until the mixture is smooth.

apple bread batter in a glass bowl

Add half of the buttermilk, beat on low until combined, then half of the flour mixture. Repeat with the remaining buttermilk and flour mixture.

handheld mixer beating apple bread batter in a glass bowl

Fold in the apples and pecans with a spatula.

apple bread batter in a bowl with a spatula

Pour half of the batter into a greased 9×5 inch loaf pan. I use my oil mister to grease the loaf pan. Then, top the batter with half of the streusel.

uncooked apple bread with streusel halfway filled in a loaf pan

Top with the remaining batter and streusel.

uncooked apple bread with streusel in a loaf pan

Bake at 350°F for 55–65 minutes, or until golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean.

apple bread with slices cut out of it on a wooden board

Can I freeze apple bread?

Apple Bread freezes very well. To freeze, wrap it tightly in aluminum foil, then place in a resealable freezer bag. Freeze for up to 2 months.

Defrost overnight at room temperature.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best apples for apple bread?

Granny Smith, Fuji, Pink Lady, Honeycrisp, Braeburn, Golden Delicious, or McIntosh apples are the best for apple bread. All of these apples hold their shape when cooked.

How can I make my own buttermilk?

Add 3 teaspoons of vinegar per cup of milk to create your own buttermilk. For example, if a recipe calls for ⅓ cup buttermilk, pour 1 teaspoon of vinegar into a measuring cup, and fill the cup to the ⅓ cup line with milk. You can use white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or even white wine vinegar.

How do I reheat the bread?

Apple Cinnamon Bread is most delicious when slightly warm. To reheat, place slices in the microwave for 10–15 seconds each.

slices of apple bread falling into a wooden board

Your home will smell AMAZING as this bread is baking. Get ready for everyone to come running to the kitchen!

More quick bread recipes

Also, if you’re making this in the fall, don’t miss my Old Fashioned Applesauce Cake!

Have you tried this recipe? Please leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating and/or comment below!

📖 Recipe

apple bread with slices cut out on a wooden board with apples in the background

Apple Cinnamon Bread with Streusel

Published by Kate
This easy quick bread is packed with fall flavor. Enjoy it on a chilly afternoon, or give it as a gift to a neighbor or new parents!
4.29 from 7 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Servings 10 slices
Calories 402 kcal

Ingredients
  

For the bread:

  • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • cup buttermilk
  • 2 cups peeled and chopped apples (I used Fuji)
  • ½ cup chopped pecans

For the streusel:

  • ½ cup flour
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • Scant ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • Scant ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • 4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x5x3 inch baking pan with cooking spray or butter.
  • Place ½ cup butter in a large bowl. Mix on high with a hand mixer until fluffy. Add the 1 cup sugar and continue beating until pale yellow and fluffy. Slowly beat in the eggs.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the 2 cups flour, baking soda, and salt. Add half of the flour mixture to the butter mixture, beat on low until just combined. Add half the milk and beat until combined. Repeat with the remaining flour mixture and remaining milk.
  • Stir in the chopped apples and pecans (hold back 1 tablespoon of the chopped pecans for the top).
  • For the streusel: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Dice the butter into small cubes, and add the cubes to the flour mixture. Use your fingers to incorporate the butter into the flour mixture, squishing the butter between your fingers. Stop when the butter reaches pea-size pieces.
  • Spread half of the batter into the greased pan. Sprinkle with half of the streusel. Repeat with the remaining batter and streusel. Sprinkle with remaining tablespoon of chopped pecans and pat down lightly.
  • Bake for 55–65 minutes, or until golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean. Check the loaf around 40 minutes—if the top looks golden brown, loosely place a piece of aluminum foil on top for the rest of the baking time.
  • Remove from the oven and run a knife along the edges of the pan. Let cool at least 15 minutes before removing from the pan.

Notes

Don’t have buttermilk? Me neither! I used 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar mixed with ⅓ cup of milk. You could also use white vinegar.
Use an apple that is good for baking, such as Granny Smith, Fuji, McIntosh, Pink Lady, Honeycrisp, or Braeburn. Each of those have a slight tartness that contrasts nicely with the sweet bread.
This bread can be frozen for up to two months, tightly wrapped in aluminum foil and placed in a resealable freezer bag.

Nutrition

Calories: 402kcalCarbohydrates: 54gProtein: 5gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 70mgSodium: 251mgPotassium: 113mgFiber: 2gSugar: 29gVitamin A: 498IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 32mgIron: 2mg
Keyword apple bread
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