Description
This Homemade Apple Cinnamon Swirl Loaf is a moist and flavorful quick bread featuring sweet, tender apples and a fragrant cinnamon sugar swirl. Perfectly spiced and easy to make, it’s an ideal dessert or a cozy fall breakfast treat that combines soft crumb with a delightful burst of cinnamon and apple goodness.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup sour cream
Fruit
- 1 1/2 cups finely chopped peeled apples (such as Honeycrisp or Fuji)
Cinnamon Swirl
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan thoroughly to prevent sticking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until evenly combined. Set aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, use a mixer to cream the softened butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Then stir in the vanilla extract.
- Incorporate Sour Cream: Mix in the sour cream until the batter is smooth and well combined.
- Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing just until incorporated to avoid overmixing.
- Fold in Apples: Gently fold the finely chopped peeled apples into the batter until evenly distributed.
- Prepare Cinnamon Swirl Mixture: In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar and ground cinnamon to create the swirl mixture.
- Layer Batter and Swirl: Pour half of the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle half of the cinnamon sugar mixture evenly over the batter. Add the remaining batter on top, then sprinkle the remaining cinnamon sugar over it.
- Create Swirl Effect: Use a knife or skewer to gently swirl the cinnamon sugar mixture through the batter, creating a marbled effect.
- Bake the Loaf: Bake the loaf in the preheated oven for 55 to 65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool: Allow the loaf to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- You can substitute Greek yogurt for sour cream to add a tangy flavor and lighten the loaf.
- Add chopped pecans or walnuts for a crunchy texture and additional flavor.
- This loaf is delicious served warm or toasted with a pat of butter.
