This apple butter bread is a cozy Fall quick bread full of Fall flavors. Apple butter gives it a rich, spiced sweetness, while the moist crumb makes it perfect for breakfast, snack time, or dessert. Pair a slice with coffee or chai for the ultimate autumn treat.
If you love baking with apple butter, this apple butter bread recipe is a must-try (and if you've never tried it, you're in a for a treat)!
With its warm spice and rich flavor, this sweet bread is easy to make for cozy Fall mornings or special gatherings, like a Fall picnic!
For moreย apple recipes, try myย appleย cider donut bread, cinnamon apple blondies, caramelย appleย crumb cake, andย appleย spiceย cupcakes.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
This apple butter bread is packed with concentrated apple flavor from the apple butter and warm spices. Every slice tastes like a bite of Fall!
This is a no-fuss recipe that comes together in one bowl with pantry staple ingredients. The bread bakes up tender and moist, stays fresh and most for days, and freezes beautifully. You can enjoy it plain, with a smear of cream cheese, or toasted with melted butter!
Key Ingredients
For the full ingredient list and quantities, see the recipe card below.
- Apple butter- Apple butter is a thick spread made by slowly cooking fresh apples with sugar and warm spices (like cinnamon, cloves, or nutmeg) until it becomes caramelized and rich in flavor. Despite the name, there's no actual butter in it- "butter" just refers to its spreadable texture. It's basically a concentrated, spiced-up version of applesauce. You can buy it at the grocery store or use homemade apple butter.
- Granulated sugar- Sweetens the batter and helps it hold on to moisture, so don't reduce the amount!
- Brown sugar- I used light brown sugar to add a touch of molasses flavor and not overpower the apple and spices.
- Oil- Helps keep the loaf moist and bouncy for days. Use a neutral oil, like canola or vegetable oil, to not overwhelm the apple flavor.
- Eggs- Eggs help the bread hold its shape. Remember to bring them to room temperature so they mix smoothly into the batter! Pull them out of the fridge 1-2 hours before you start.
- Milk- Use any kind of dairy or non-dairy milk.
- All purpose flour- My top baking tip is to always measure your ingredients, but especially the flour, in grams with a kitchen scale. It's super easy to overmeasure flour by scooping it with a measuring cup, which makes any bake dry! If you don't have a scale, use the spoon-and-level method (fluff the flour, scoop it into your measuring cup, level it off).
- Baking powder and baking soda- These leaveners make the bread rise in the oven. They won't work properly if expired, so check the date before you use them.
- Spices- The bread is flavored with ground cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice! Make sure to check the expiration date since fresh spices have the best flavor.
Optional Mix-Ins
After making the batter, you can fold in 1 cup of:
- Chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans)
- Chocolate chips
- Dried fruit (raisins, craisins, dried apricots)
How to Make Apple Butter Bread
Preheat the oven to 350ยฐF and line a 9x5 loaf pan with parchment paper or great with cooking spray. Use a light-colored metal bread pan; dark pans and silicone pans can cause the bread to burn.
Step 1: In a large bowl, whisk the apple butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, oil, and eggs together until well combined.
Step 2: Whisk in the milk and vanilla extract until smooth.
Step 3: Gently fold the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices into the wet ingredients, stirring until just combined. Be careful not to overmix or the bread might turn out dense!
Step 4: Pour the batter into the pan, then bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of the bread comes out clean with a few moist crumbs attached. Crumbs mean that it's still moist!
Step 5: Transfer the apple butter bread to a wire cooling rack. Let it cool completely (for about 1 hour) before slicing or it might fall apart!
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Applesauce isn't spiced and is more liquidy. It doesn't create the same flavorful, tender bread as apple butter.
The bread is ready when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. If the toothpick has wet batter on it, keep baking for 5-10 more minutes and check again. Since this batter is so wet and thick, it may take an hour or slightly longer depending on your oven.
Store the cooled bread in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days, or refrigerate for up to 5 days. To keep the top from getting sticky, place a paper towel in the container to absorb extra moisture.
More Fall Recipes
๐ Recipe
Moist Apple Butter Bread
Equipment
- 1 9X5-inch loaf pan
- 1 whisk
Need Metric or US Customary Measurements?
Use the buttons below to toggle between grams and cups!
Ingredients
- 225 grams apple butter
- 200 grams granulated sugar
- 25 grams brown sugar light or dark
- 112 grams vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 120 grams milk dairy or non-dairy, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 200 grams all purpose flour
- ยผ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ยฝ teaspoon ginger
- ยผ teaspoon nutmeg
- โ teaspoons allspice
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350ยฐF (180ยฐC). Line a 9x5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper or lightly grease it with nonstick spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the apple butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, oil, and eggs until the mixture looks smooth and well combined.225 grams apple butter, 200 grams granulated sugar, 25 grams brown sugar, 112 grams vegetable oil, 2 large eggs
- Add the milk and vanilla extract, whisking again until fully incorporated.120 grams milk, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices. Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients using a rubber spatula. Mix only until you no longer see streaks of flour. Overmixing can make the bread dense instead of soft and tender.200 grams all purpose flour, ยผ teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon salt, 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, ยฝ teaspoon ginger, ยผ teaspoon nutmeg, โ teaspoons allspice
- Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan. Bake for 55-65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean with just a few moist crumbs attached.
- Let the bread cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then carefully transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely (about 1 hour). Then slice and enjoy!
Notes
- Measure the flour correctly: Too much flour can make the bread dense and dry. For the best results, weigh the flour with a kitchen scale or use the spoon-and-level method (spoon it into your measuring cup and level it off with a knife).
- Use room temperature ingredients: Cold eggs or milk can cause the batter to mix unevenly. Let them sit out for about an hour before baking.
- Check for doneness: Every oven bakes differently. Start checking the bread around 50 minutes. If the top is browning too quickly, loosely cover it with foil for the remaining bake time.
- Storage: Once fully cool, store the bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the fridge for up to a week. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months. Wrap slices tightly in plastic wrap and thaw at room temperature.
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