Apple Fritter Bread

When you want all the flavor of fried apple fritters but in an easier-to-make, toasty bread form, pull out this Amish apple fritter bread recipe. It is sweet and spiced, with plenty of chopped apples and swirls of cinnamon and sugar. Making a loaf fills the kitchen with fall aromas, whether you bake it for breakfast or brunch or even a midday accompaniment to a hot cup of coffee.

This country apple fritter bread is one of our favorite easy apple desserts to turn to in the fall. Once baked, the apple bread can even be frozen to have on hand for later.

Ingredients for Apple Fritter Bread

• Chopped apples: If you want to slice the fruit in advance, here’s how to cut and store apples so that they don’t turn brown.
• Butter: Melted butter in the batter gives the bread a tender crumb and flavor. Feel free to use salted or unsalted butter.
• Brown sugar: Brown sugar’s light molasses flavor makes a gorgeous pairing with apples. If you can spare a slice or two, apples can help soften brown sugar in the container.
• Eggs: For the best results in this recipe (and others!), bake with room-temperature eggs. If you just pulled them out of the fridge, warm them up more quickly by placing them in warm water.
• Milk: Whole milk moistens the bread batter. It’s also part of the simple icing that’s drizzled over the baked loaf.
• Cinnamon: This spice is the costar of our Amish apple fritter bread recipe! Use your favorite type of cinnamon, whether it’s spicy Vietnamese or milder Ceylon.
• Flour: Quick bread recipes like this one can be made with basic, all-purpose flour.
• Vanilla extract: For the best flavor, use a good brand of vanilla extract—or even your own homemade vanilla extract.
• Confectioners’ sugar: Sifting confectioners’ sugar is one of many baking steps you shouldn’t skip, even when you’re making a simple vanilla glaze.
• Baking powder: This staple baking ingredient is one that you should always have on hand. In this country apple fritter bread recipe, baking powder helps the batter rise. Consider testing the baking powder before using it to make sure it’s not expired—otherwise, you’ll end up with a loaf that doesn’t rise as much as it should.
• Salt: Just a little salt in the bread batter enhances the flavors of the spices and the chopped apples.

Directions

Step 1: Combine the wet ingredients

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Preheat the oven to 350°F. Prepare a 9×5-inch loaf pan by greasing the inside and lining it with parchment, letting the edges hang over the sides.

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Beat the sugar and melted butter together in a large bowl at medium speed until they’re well combined, four to five minutes.

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Add the eggs, one at a time, and beat for two to three minutes until they’re fluffy and pale in color.

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Then, beat in the vanilla extract.

Step 2: Mix the dry ingredients and make the batter

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Mix the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt in a separate small bowl. To make the batter, alternate adding the dry ingredients and milk to the wet ingredients, stirring just until the batter is smooth.

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Then, fold in the chopped apples.

Step 3: Add the batter to the pan and make the swirl

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In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar and cinnamon for the swirl. Then, pour half the bread batter into the prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle half the brown sugar-cinnamon mixture over the top. Pour the rest of the batter into the pan, followed by the rest of the cinnamon sugar.

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Use a knife to swirl the mixture. Put the pan in the oven and bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the bread cool on a wire rack.

Editor’s Tip: Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Use the edges of the parchment to lift the bread out of the pan.

Step 4: Add the glaze

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Combine the confectioners’ sugar, milk and vanilla extract in a small bowl until smooth.

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Drizzle the glaze over the top of the cooled bread.

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Apple Fritter Bread Variations

• Make it nutty: Fold about 3/4 cup chopped nuts, whether it’s walnuts, pecans, almonds or hazelnuts, into the bread batter. Here’s how to chop nuts with a food processor or a kitchen knife.
• Add dried fruit: Add raisins, golden raisins or dried cranberries to the bread for bits of chewy, fruity flavor throughout.
• Give it some apple pie flavor: Instead of just cinnamon, make this Amish apple fritter bread recipe with an apple pie spice blend, which is a mixture of cinnamon, allspice, cardamom, nutmeg and ginger.

How to Store Apple Fritter Bread

Keep your country apple fritter bread fresh for several days and enjoy every bite by storing it properly: Slide the cooled loaf inside a resealable storage bag with the air pressed out, or wrap the loaf tightly with food wrap. Then, store the bread in the fridge.

How long does apple fritter bread last?

When wrapped tightly and kept chilled, apple fritter bread will last up to five days. Refrigeration helps preserve the freshness of the apple pieces in the loaf.

Can you freeze apple fritter bread?

Yes, freezing bread makes it last much longer. Double-wrap the loaf in storage wrap and then tin foil. Store the bread in the freezer for up to three months.

To defrost the bread, move it to the fridge to thaw over several hours or overnight. You can also slice the bread before freezing and help yourself to just one or two pieces at a time, warming up slices in the toaster.

Apple Fritter Bread Tips

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What are the best types of apples for apple fritter bread?

The types of apples that work best in this apple fritter bread recipe are ones that keep their shape after baking. Tart apples in particular will balance the sweetness of the bread. Try Granny Smith, Cortland, Braeburn and Gravenstein.

Can you make apple fritter bread in a different-sized pan?

Yes, instead of making apple fritter bread in a rectangular loaf pan, you can bake the batter in a 9-inch round or square baking dish. The bake time will be shorter for these shallower pans, so begin testing the centers in about 20 to 25 minutes. The batter can also be divided between 12 to 16 muffin cups and baked for 12 to 15 minutes.

What can you serve with apple fritter bread?

Serve sweet and cinnamony slices of apple fritter bread at breakfast or in the afternoon with coffee and tea. Try it warmed up and spread with butter. The bread can also be served as an apple dessert, especially with a side of custard sauce, a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of homemade whipped cream.