Soft, moist, and oh so delicious, this apple cinnamon bread with caramel is every coffee drinkers' dream! The perfect, guilty breakfast meal 🙂
Let me preface by saying today's recipe is more cake-like than bread-like. However, I think it could go either way and I am still calling it a bread! UPDATE: With the changes I have made to the recipe, this apple cinnamon bread definitely represents bread now! I find the texture to be similar to banana bread 🙂
Since my husband surprised me with a new Kitchen Aid mixer over Christmas, I have been wanting to use it big time! The only problem was my receiving it on Christmas day, which was after I had already done all my holiday baking. By that point I did not want to make anymore cookies or cakes (not because I don't love baking, but because I felt like I was going to explode from all the sweets I had ingested!)
My new mixer continued to stare at me. And stare. I finally decided I needed to use him, now! I first made homemade pizza dough. It only seems appropriate since I love pizza. I actually created homemade calzones for the first time and they turned out great. The first question my brother and husband asked was if I noticed a difference in the power of the mixer compared to my classic model. Honestly, I didn't really pay attention because when you use the dough hook, you are only allowed to go to a maximum of speed 2. I figured I would see more of a result when I made buttercream.
Afterwards I surprisingly got some cake making in (like these awesome Lindor Milk Chocolate Cupcakes with Chocolate Buttercream that I swear are my most favorite creation ever!) That's when I really noticed a difference in power. Finally, I went back to bread making and decided upon this apple cinnamon bread. As I said, it was more cake-like in texture, but Mr. TCW thought it paired wonderfully with coffee, deeming it a coffee cake. I still look at it as a bread recipe, but I will let you decide!
Now, this recipe is very simple and sweet. I reduced the sugar from the original recipe, and might do so again next time. However, that aside, the flavors were perfect. We really enjoyed this apple cinnamon bread. I already have a vegan recipe lined up so keep an eye out for that! As for a gluten-free alternative, that may take me some time as I am still experimenting with the gluten-free flour from Robin Hood.
What should you put on this awesome apple cinnamon bread? Well, it is darn good on its own. However, I loved the addition of some homemade coconut butter. I usually always recommend toasted coconut butter, but find here that ordinary coconut butter helped not to mask any of the delicious apple cinnamon flavor. Mr. TCW preferred his with a cup of hot coffee. And kiddo? She was perfectly fine eating the bread as is!
📖 Recipe
Apple Cinnamon Bread
A festive bread that makes your house smell like autumn!
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp. ground nutmeg
- ¼ tsp. salt
- ½ cup coconut oil, room temperature
- 2 eggs, room temperature
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ tsp. baking powder
- ½ cup buttermilk, room temperature
- 2 medium apples, one diced, the other thinly sliced
- ½ cup homemade caramel sauce OR store-bought
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Grease a 9x5 inch bread loaf pan (or any preferred size.)
- In the bowl of your stand mixer, add the sugars and coconut oil. Beat until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in one egg at a time, making sure they are fully incorporated. Mix in vanilla.
- Sift together the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and baking powder. Alternatively add the flour mixture and milk, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix in diced apples.
- Pour half the mixture into your prepared pan. Drizzle with ¼ cup caramel sauce. Top with remaining batter. Arrange sliced apples on top of the batter. Drizzle with remaining caramel sauce.
- Place into the oven and bake for 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes, depending on the pan you use (glass and dark pans differ!)
- Remove from oven and allow to cool on wire rack. When cool, slice and serve with extra caramel if desired!
Notes
I put the caramel sauce on top of the bread before baking and it began to brown slightly be the end, resulting in bold flavors. If you are worried about burning, you can drizzle the caramel sauce on in the last 15 minutes.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 20 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 152Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 19mgSodium: 114mgCarbohydrates: 23gFiber: 1gSugar: 15gProtein: 2g
Now, apple cinnamon bread is not my first bread, and it will definitely not be my last! Probably my first sweet bread, but awesome all the same. I just find with bread recipes that we can never eat them fast enough (obviously not big sandwich eaters here!) My plan is to start freezing them (whether for myself or others!)
Love this apple cinnamon bread with caramel?! Try some of these recipes:
Chocolate Chip Banana Bread with Coconut and Nuts
Jaren (Diary of a Recipe Collector)
I love recipes like this! Apples and cinnamon are one of my favorite combinations too!
Kacey
It worked so well in this bread/cake, and very simple, too!
Christie
I love the swirl in the middle. Wish I had a slice right now.
Kacey
Thanks so much, Christie!
Susie Gall
Oh, if ONLY I had a couple of slices of your delicious bread today. I'm sitting here with my hot cup of coffee, and it is exactly what I would love to eat right now. Thanks for sharing this beautiful bread.
Kacey
My husband stated it was the perfect bread to go with coffee 🙂
Kristen @ A Mind Full Mom
More cake like then bread--sign me up 🙂
Kacey
Haha, I had no complaints, but I did not want to deceive my readers either 🙂
Dee Dee (My Midlife Kitchen)
This looks fantastic! And I agree with you--I love my Kitchen Aid mixer, too. My husband actually already had it when we got married--score! :o) I make baked goods each week for the hubster to take to work on Monday mornings, and this will certainly fit the bill. Looking forward to giving it a try!
Kacey
That is amazing that he already had a Kitchen Aid mixer! I love sending baked goods in with my husband, and I think his coworkers are enjoying eating them just as much 🙂
Melanie | Melanie Makes
I can't think of a more perfect flavor combination - this bread looks delicious!
Kacey
Apple and cinnamon are a classic pairing, and phenomenal!
Brandy M
I was looking for something to bake today! This looks like the perfect winter "dessert" I might be baking this later today!
Kacey
Let me know how it goes! I bought more apples for some winter desserts 🙂
Ginny McMeans
I love quick breads and that swirly layer is fantastic!
Kacey
The swirl layer really brings the cake to a new level.
Becky | The Cookie Rookie
This looks SO incredibly good!!
Laura
What delicious flavors! I cannot believe how long you held out of using the mixer though lol! Have fun with it! Mix 10 years old one finally died over Christmas and I had a new one within 24 hours (thanks to my mom). it is a crucial appliance in my kitchen--she took one look at my face and took pity on me. 🙂
Kacey
Haha! Seriously, once you are spoiled by one, you never go back! I should have clarified and said I made some things in between, but nothing blog worthy (there is no way I could sit for that long without using it!)
Ashlyn @ Belle of the Kitchen
This looks seriously good. I love that you recommend coconut butter. I actually just tried some for the first time the other day and it's amazing! I bet it's perfect in this bread!
Kacey
I personally love coconut butter, especially toasted! It worked so well with this bread (I think butter would be too much.)
Shelby @ Go Eat and Repeat
Apple and cinnamon is such a perfect combination. I think I could make the excuse to have this for breakfast!
Kacey
It is like having cake for breakfast, but since it is called bread, we cannot feel guilty in the end 🙂
Connie | URBAN BAKES
This looks lovely! Apple cinnamon is one of my favorites!
Kacey
Thanks, Connie, it is definitely a winner!
Pamela
This looks so good! Congrats on your new addition by the way. Don't forget to name him/her! 😉 I shared a great tutorial on my new blog about making homemade bread in a Kitchen Aid mixer if you're interested. You can find it here: http://theprudenthome.blogspot.com/2015/02/you-can-bake-bread.html
Also, I'd love to share this recipe on my blog if that's ok with you? I'm still working on building my audience, but I know my friends would love this! I'll make sure to link it directly to your blog so I send more traffic your way. 🙂
Kacey
Hi Pamela,
You can never go wrong with a Kitchen Aid mixer! I love making bread in it and I am not sure how much bread making I would get in if it were not for my mixer. For sure you can share the recipe! Good luck in the food blogging world!
Patricia
Can you out the apples in the bread Instead of in top.
Kacey
For sure! We are already putting diced apple into the bread. You could probably add some more with no issues 🙂