By: Jill Mills Updated: Sep 23, 2025

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This Apple Cinnamon Bread features moist cinnamon bread dotted with chunks of apple, cinnamon sugar filling, and a sweet vanilla glaze. Perfect for fall!

A loaf of apple cinnamon bread with a few pieces sliced

Baking bread is such a fall activity, I think, whether it’s real sourdough bread, Amish friendship bread, or a quick sweet bread like this apple cinnamon bread. I’ve been making this for years and it’s still highly requested in our house. It’s super quick and easy to make, so I don’t mind whipping it up several times throughout the fall.

Why I Love This Apple Cinnamon Bread Recipe

Fall flavors. This quick bread is one of my favorite breads to bake in the fall because it just tastes like fall, with chunks of apple and all the cinnamon.
Real chunks of apple. Granny Smith apples are diced and then stirred into the batter in this recipe. I love that you can bite into actual chunks of fresh apples when eating the bread!
The filling! The batter is layered with cinnamon sugar which adds more of that warm fall flavor in every bite. It’s so easy to do but adds such a special touch to this apple bread recipe.

Overhead view of ingredients needed to make apple cinnamon bread

Recipe Ingredients

Here’s an overview of ingredients needed to make this sweet bread. Scroll down to the recipe card below for the exact measurements.

Bread

All-purpose flour
Sugar
Baking powder – Allows the bread to rise in the oven.
Salted butter – Unsalted would be fine too, just add a bit of extra salt.
Ground cinnamon – Gives the bread the cinnamon flavor.
Eggs – Adds structure to the bread.
Vanilla extract
Whole milk – Helps keep the bread extra moist.
Apples – I like to use tart Granny Smith apples when baking to contrast the sweet flavors.

Cinnamon Filling and Topping

Sugar – The topping is made primarily with light brown sugar, plus a small amount of granulated sugar.
Cinnamon – Adds the cinnamon flavor to the filling and topping as well.

Vanilla Glaze

Powdered sugar
Heavy cream – Makes the glaze pourable.
Vanilla extract – Optional but I like to add it for some extra flavor in the glaze.

How To Make Apple Cinnamon Bread

One of the things I love about sweet breads like this one is how easy they are to make. The printable instructions can be found in the recipe card below.

Folding apples into cinnamon bread batter

Prep. Preheat the oven to 350F. Spray the loaf pan with non-stick spray.
Make the filling. Combine the brown sugar, sugar, and ground cinnamon in a bowl.
Make the batter. Beat the butter and sugar until fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla. Whisk together the flour and baking powder then gradually stir them into the batter. Mix in the milk. Gently fold in the apples.

Apple cinnamon bread batter in a loaf pan

Cinnamon sugar over bread batter in a loaf pan

Assemble. Spoon half of the batter into the prepared pan. Top with half of the cinnamon sugar mixture. Repeat with the remaining batter and cinnamon sugar mixture.
Bake. Bake for 45-50 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.

Powdered sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla in a bowl

Drizzling glaze over apple cinnamon bread

Add the glaze. Mix together the powdered sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla. Drizzle over the cooled bread. Slice and serve!

A slice of apple cinnamon bread on a white plate

Tips for Success

Here are a few quick tips for making this apple cinnamon bread recipe.

Other apple choices. I like to use Granny Smith apples because they hold up well when baking and the tart flavor is a wonderful contrast to the overall sweetneess. Other good options into Honeycrisp and Gala apples.
Dice the apples. The apples should be diced into small, bite-sized pieces roughly the same size. I like having actual chunks of apples in various bites of the bread.
Don’t overmix. Take care to not overmix when combining the ingredients. Mix just until the dry ingredients are mixed in with no streaks of flour remaining.
Cool before glazing. Be sure to let the bread cool completely before adding the glaze. Otherwise, it will just melt off the bread.

Two slices of apple cinnamon bread on a plate

Proper Storage

Room temperature. Apple cinnamon bread can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature. It’s best enjoyed within 3-4 days.
Freezer. The bread can also be frozen. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and then place in foil or a ziploc bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. It’s best to do this before glazing.

Apple Cinnamon Bread

Why I Love This Apple Cinnamon Bread Recipe