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Cinnamon Sugar Swirled Apple Butter Bread. Better than you could get at any coffee shop, this yummy bread is a real fall treat! Soft apple butter bread made with apple butter, sweetened with honey, swirled with cream cheese, and topped with Honeycrisp apples plus sweet cinnamon sugar. Best enjoyed warm, right out of the oven, with a generous smear of salted honey butter. The perfect way to celebrate the autumn apple season!
It’s finally apple season! Look, I love summer produce, but there’s something so special about autumn apples. They’re crisp, sweet, and refreshing. Nothing really can beat a tree-picked apple. They’re one of my favorite fall treats!
Since it is September, I always try my best to really embrace apple season. So many people start breaking out the pumpkin recipes, but it’s just not time – yet.
The inspiration for this recipe is really pretty simple. There are a lot of fall treats out there with apples, especially in bakeries and coffee shops. One of my favorites is an apple cider doughnut, which I highly recommend picking up while picking fresh apples!
I took the flavors I love so much from the apple cider doughnuts and applied them to this bread. I also took some ideas from my pumpkin butter bread that I make every season. Then I combined a few recipes and developed this sweet, soft, and apple-filled bread. I love it!
My first taste testers were my cousin Matt and his wife, Caroline. I sent this bread out with my parents when they went to SoCal last week to give to them. Caroline is in the hospital with a pregnancy complication. But all is expected to go well and they will be meeting their little baby girl (Freya) on Wednesday! Matt and Caroline both raved about this bread to my parents (although anything in comparison to hospital food is good). They couldn’t believe how moist and delicious it was.
Here are the quick details
Of course, I wanted this bread to be a little more special than all the others out there. So I used spiced apple butter, and not just apples, to really make this yummy! Apple butter is more reduced down than apple sauce, it contains less moisture, and is usually spiced.
You can use my homemade apple butter, or pick some up at Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, and most grocery stores. Of course, I am partial to mine. Just make sure your apple butter is spiced for best flavor.
This is all made in one bowl. You’ll mix the wet ingredients with the dry and that’s it. I used honey as the sweetener. But mostly because I LOVE the warming flavor it adds to baked goods this time of year. The coconut oil keeps the bread doughy. And a touch of cinnamon sugar really adds the spice.
The next step is to spoon some of the batter into your loaf pan. Then swirl in the cream cheese, add chopped apples, and then the cinnamon sugar. If you don’t love cream cheese, you can omit it, but I think it works well with the fall flavors.
For the apples, Honeycrisps are my go-to. I love them!
As the bread bakes, oh my gosh, your kitchen will smell incredible. It’s going to put you in that cozy fall mood.
While the bread is baking, make the honey butter, and that’s it, done.
This is a very easy fall baking project, so it really should be on your must-make list! Enjoy a slice or two with honey butter. Such a wonderful treat to enjoy! Oslo and Asher both loved every bite of this bread, apples and all! Plus it’s a little healthier than what you’d pick up from the bakery, so we love that!
Looking for other sweet apple recipes? Here are a few ideas:
Baked Apple Cider Doughnuts with Cinnamon Maple Glaze
Brown Butter Apple Blondies with Cinnamon Maple Glaze
Spiced Pecan Apple Cider Doughnut Cake
Mulled Spiced Apple Cider Doughnuts
Double the Streusel Apple Butter Bars
Homemade Slow Cooker Maple Apple Butter
Lastly, if you make this Cinnamon Sugar Swirled Apple Butter Bread, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Cinnamon Sugar Swirled Apple Butter Bread
Servings: 1 loaf
Calories Per Serving: 4127 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 1/3 cup melted coconut oil
- 1/4 cup apple butter
- 1/4 cup yogurt or sour cream
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour or whole wheat pastry flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 Honeycrisp apples, chopped (about 3/4 cup)
- 4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
Honey Butter
- 4 tablespoons salted butter, at room temperature
- 2 tablespoons honey
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 350° F. Butter a (9×5 inch) bread pan.2. In a bowl, combine the sugar and cinnamon. 3. In a large bowl, stir together the coconut oil, apple butter, honey, yogurt/sour cream, egg, vanilla, and milk, until combined. Add the flour, baking soda, and salt, and mix until just combined. 4. Spoon half the batter into the prepared bread pan. Dollop teaspoon size amounts of the cream cheese over the batter. Gently swirl the cream cheese using a sharp paring knife. Arrange the apples in an even layer over the cream cheese. Sprinkle with half the cinnamon sugar, then evenly spoon the remaining batter over the apples. It's OK if the batter doesn't fully cover the apples. Sprinkle over the remaining cinnamon sugar.5. Bake for 55-65 minutes, or until the center is just set. I usually cover my bread halfway through baking to prevent burning. 6. Meanwhile, make the honey butter. In a bowl, combine the butter, honey, and a pinch of salt.7. Remove the bread and let cool, or enjoy warm with extra honey butter.
I don’t typically cook with coconut oil, can vegetable oil be substituted?
Hi Tracie,
Yes, that will work well for you! I hope you love this bread, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
My husband said this was the best breakfast bread I have ever made, and I have made a lot of them. Absolutely, delicious.
Hi Suzette,
Wow, that is awesome!! So glad to hear you all enjoyed the recipe, thanks for making it! xTieghan
SO delicious and moist!! Made it last night and it’s already gone 🙂 omitted the cream cheese and used coconut milk instead of milk because we didn’t have any and so so yummy, will be making again today and all fall ! Thank you Tieghan!!
Hey Kaitlyn,
Thank you so much for your kind message and making this bread! I love to hear that it was a hit! xxT
Amazing, moist, flavorful bread! My family of 4 ate almost the whole loaf as it came out of the oven last night.
Hey Mary Beth,
Awesome!! I love to hear that your family enjoyed this bread, thanks so much for trying it out! xTieghan
Wow!! Just perfect
Hi Tyra,
Happy Monday!! Thanks a lot for making this bread and sharing your review, I am so glad it was enjoyed! Have a great week! xx
Just next level – will be baking this every September for years to come!!!!
Hi Chloe,
Happy Sunday!! I love to hear that this recipe was tasty, thanks a lot for making it! xxT
Delicious
Hi Charlene,
Happy Sunday!! I love to hear that this recipe was tasty, thanks a lot for making it! xxT
Made this morning and it was the perfect way to start fall baking! So delicious. Loved the cinnamon sugar crunch on the top. What do you recommend for storing? Fridge since it has cream cheese?
Hey Hailey,
Amazing!! I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it! You can store in the fridge or on the counter in an airtight container. Have a great weekend! xTieghan
Made this tonight for the first time and it was FANTASTIC! Recipe was easy to follow. Not too sweet and full of flavor. Thank you!!!
Hey Sarah,
Thanks so much for making this bread! I love to hear that it was a hit:) Happy Thursday!
Just baked a loaf of the cinnamon swirl apple butter bread…delicious! I substituted gluten free 1 for 1 flour. Incredibly moist and not overly sweet. The cream cheese is a perfect balance to the cinnamon sugar. This will be a fall favorite!
Hey Kristen,
Perfect!! I appreciate you giving this recipe a try, I love to hear that it was a winner! xTieghan
I was really excited about trying this recipe since it is almost fall. I made it this past Sunday and followed the recipe. It came out with a weird taste which I think is from the coconut oil. I have never used coconut oil before in cooking. Also, the apples could have been a little more tender, perhaps pre-baked and then put into the bread. I think this could also be a little bit more moist.
Hi Erin,
Thanks for giving this recipe a try and sharing your feedback, so sorry to hear you didn’t love it! xTieghan
Hey Tieghan,
I was making this bread and watching you on the Drew Barrymore show so much fun! The bread turned out so yummy. Couldn’t find apple butter at the store or even at Trader Joe’s they said they’ll be getting it in soon. So instead I used almond butter. Omitted the cream cheese and used sliced up apple in the middle of the batter turned out so delicious. Love your recipes, love all your cookbooks?
Hey Pamela,
Thanks so much for your kind message and checking out the episode on the Drew Barrymore show. I am so glad you enjoyed this recipe, thanks for trying it out! xTieghan
Made this for the first time and my family devoured it! My husband said it was the most delicious bread I’ve ever baked! Planning to make it for a family gathering and serve with ice cream for dessert. Thanks for the awesome recipe!!!! 🙂
Hi Allison,
Happy Friday!! Thanks a ton for making this recipe and sharing your review, I am so glad it was a winner:)
Absolutely delicious, I made this GF, substuting the flour for ‘One for one’ flour. Will definitely make it again.
Hey there,
Wonderful!! I appreciate you taking the time to make this recipe, I am so glad it was a hit! Happy Wednesday:)
What book is this from?
Hi Rachel,
This recipe is only on the blog, the recipes in the cookbooks are exclusive to the books:) xT
This was amazing! While it might be healthy-ish, not so healthy if you eat the whole thing in one day! I didn’t have 1/2 cup honey so subbed sugar and it was great. Will definitely make again.
Hi Jennifer,
Happy Tuesday! Thanks for making this bread, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! xTieghan