Easy Apple Fritter Bread ~ tart apples are swirled with brown sugar and spices in this classic loaf cake, topped with a sweet crackly glaze. This apple quick bread takes a cue from the down home deep fried apple fritters grandma made. Fall baking doesn’t get any better than this!
this apple fritter bread is just irresistible.
The minute I tossed together the chopped apples with the brown sugar and the spices, I knew this was going to be a winner. The smell of just those ingredients alone was amazing, even before it hit the oven!
If you’ve ever had an apple fritter, you know that that crunchy, sweet glaze, covering apples and dough and spices is pretty heavenly. This loaf bread is a nod towards that delicious golden apple fritter, but without the messy deep frying.
what are apple fritters?
- This quintessential fall treat has a long history that goes back to Roman times! A food has to be pretty good to survive that long.
- Apple fritters are fresh chopped apples folded into a rich batter and then deep fried, doughnut style. They’re dusted with powdered sugar, or sometimes glazed. Think doughnut meets funnel cake meets delicious.
Juicy apples and a creamy glaze are great, but the heart of any quick bread is the batter itself. The base for this recipe is the same as the cake in my Buttermilk Lemon Bread, and it’s really lovely, the texture is moist and light.
tip for getting the best texture in quick bread ~
- Make sure to beat your butter and sugar thoroughly, I usually go for a full 5 minutes, and I actually set a timer.
- Beating the butter and sugar together in a stand mixer is ideal, because it’s hands free. You’re more likely to cream your ingredients for the correct amount of time that way. You’ll be rewarded with a beautifully light textured cake.
what type of apples are best for baking?
- I used Honeycrisp here, I like them because they’re tart and hold up well during baking.
- I would also suggest Granny Smith, Gala, or Fuji. But honestly, go with what you like.
tvfgi recommends: the perfect loaf pan
Loaf pans can be surprisingly tricky to work with because they come in all kinds of sizes and most recipes aren’t specific about the dimensions. This is the classic 1 1/4 pound, 9×5 loaf pan that is your best bet for most recipes. USA pans are my favorite because they’re sturdy, and made here in the US.
I recommend having at least 2 loaf pans in your collection because many loaf cake recipes are formulated for 2 loaves.
more apple-y goodness!
- Apple Cider Doughnut Cake
- Rustic Apple Galette
- Honeycrisp Apple Cardamom Cake
- Authentic Irish Apple Cake
Apple Fritter Bread
Equipment
- standard 9×5 loaf pan
Ingredients
For the cake
- 2 large apples, cored and chopped, or about 2 and 1/2 cups chopped apples.
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
- 3 large eggs
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
- 1 3/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup half-and-half or whole milk
For the glaze
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 5-6 Tbsp water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Butter the sides of a 9 inch loaf pan, and line with parchment paper.
- Mix the chopped apples with the brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg, and set aside.
- In an electric mixer with a paddle attachment, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
- Add the eggs, one at a time, letting them get fully incorporated. If the mixture starts to look a little separated and weird here, don’t worry! That’s fine.
- Add the vanilla extract, and mix to combine.
- Add the flour, salt, and baking powder to the mixer, and slowly mix to combine. While it’s mixing, slowly add the milk or half-and-half, and continue to mix until everything is just evenly incorporated.
- Spread about half the batter into your prepared loaf pan. Top with about half the apple mixture, spreading it out in an even layer.
- Spread the rest of the cake batter on top of the apples. With a chopstick, or skewer, lightly swirl the apple mixture into the batter, if you’d like. Or you can leave it in an even layer.
- Top with the rest of the apple mixture, spreading out in an even layer.
- Bake for 75-85 minutes. Towards the end of the baking time, check on your cake and tent loosely with tinfoil if the top is starting to get too brown.
- Allow the cake to mostly cool, and remove it from the loaf pan, before adding the glaze.
- To make the glaze, whisk together the powdered sugar and water. Drizzle over the cooled loaf cake and allow to set before slicing.
Nutrition
This recipe looks heavenly & can’t wait to try. Just curious if u can use almond milk in please of the half & half?
I think that should work fine.
Can you use buttermilk?
Yes, sure.
This is in the oven now. Smells great! The only thing is it’s too much for one bread pan. Next time I’m splitting it into 2 loaves. This one went over the top. Hopefully it bakes all the way through.
I made this last night and it is spectacular! It was everything my family could do not to eat the entire thing. We loved it. Thanks for brightening up a rainy quarantine day in LA!
I’ve made this twice now and it really is divine! Made it without the glaze as I’m not one for the extra sugar And it does take a little longer in my oven than indicated, but really, Sue, a keeper of a recipe I’ll make again and again. Btw, just had a slice with ginger ice cream. Truly yum!!
This was a hit at our Christmas brunch down here in New Jersey! Thanks for the great recipe. I made it Christmas Eve afternoon and it tasted perfect the next morning. I used 1 Honeycrisp, 1 Granny Smith, and 1 Snapdragon apple, but ommitted icing per my family’s tastes.
Does this recipe lend itself to making ahead?
You can make it a day ahead, but I wouldn’t do it more than that.
Hi Sue
Thank you so much for letting me share this great appelcake. I have posted the recipe on my blog today and are so happy sharing it with my danish readers. I have of course adapted the recipe slightly to adjust to danish taste and kitchen habits. The main thing is that I have been cutting the amount of sugar down and using a different more flavourful combination af sucker. Have a great autumn and thanks again.
This one was fantastic, Sue! I skipped the glaze, and my family inhaled the bread. (I’ll admit that I licked the beaters and the bowl….holy yum, what a great batter!)
Thanks Penny!
for the apple fritter cake you indicate 2 sticks of butter – is that 1/2 a cup of ? Here in Ontario (Canada) we don’t have sticks of butter it comes in a pound to indicate on the side 1/4 cup, 1/2 cup etc.
That’s one cup Carol, (226 grams) I added that to the recipe. Butter can definitely be confusing!