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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 quick bread recipe 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!
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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 apple bread recipe. 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 ingredients 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. Allow the bread to cool on a wire rack.
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
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.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
I see your note about covering the pan halfway through to prevent burning. What kind of cover do you use and how can that be done on quick loaves when they rise? Thanks!
Hi Sara,
I just place foil over the top:) I hope this recipe turns out well for you, let me know if you give it a try! xx
Should I double the recipe if I want to put it in a bundt pan?
Hey Lauren,
I’ve not tested this recipe in a bundt pan, but yes, I would double it and then increase your bake time. I hope this recipe turns out well for you, please let me know if you give it a try! xT
Could you use apple preserves? Don’t have apple butter.
Hi there,
I’ve never tried this with apple perseveres, I think a thick applesauce might work better for you! Let me know if you give this recipe a try! xT
Would it be possible to make this recipe as muffins rather than a loaf of bread? If so, how should I adjust the time and temperature?
Hey Meghan,
Sure, that would work for you! I would keep the temp the same, just reduce your baking time and start checking for doneness at 20 minutes. I hope you love this recipe! xT
This was absolutely delicious, and easy to make. Used jar apple butter. One of the best sweet bread recipes I’ve ever tried. Lots of cinnamon sugar goodness!!!! Will keep for one of my top go to recipes.
Hi Michele,
Thanks so much for your kind message and making this bread, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! xx
I had downloaded this right away, then later read the comments. I wasn’t paying attention and still made it without the milk – and it was fabulous anyway! I love the subtle sweetness. So good – thank you for sharing so many amazing recipes. You’ve changed how we eat. ❤️
Hey Rachel,
Perfect!! Love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for making it! Happy Wednesday! xx
Does this need to stay in the fridge after it’s made due to the cream cheese? I was thinking about making this for a long drive but wasn’t sure if room temp was ok with the cream cheese.
Hey Jessica,
Nope, you do not need to keep this in the fridge, it’s great on the counter in an airtight container! xx
I followed the recipe almost exactly. Used a few less apples. I live at a higher elevation and it still turned out perfectly! Did have to bake it 5 minutes longer, but will definitely make it again!
Hey Brittany,
Happy Wednesday! I love to hear that this recipe was tasty for you, thanks so much for making it!
I MADE THIS RECIPE YESTERDAY and it is truly amazingly luscious.. I omitted the cream cheese only because I have trouble digesting too much cheese. We could barely stop from eating the whole thing at once!! I used butter rather than coconut oil and spread the apple bits throughout. I’ll be making this recipe a lot!
Hey Lauren,
Wonderful! Thanks so much for making this bread, I am so glad it was enjoyed! Have the best day! xx
So delicious! Made it as instructed and wouldn’t change a thing. Quick question, how do you recommend we store it?
Hey Julie,
Awesome!! I love to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks for making it! You can store in an airtight container on the counter. xx
Honey crisp apples are pretty big. 3/4 C of chopped apples is like not even one apple.
Hi Rachel,
Thanks for sharing! I hope you love the recipe! xx
Great! But you can use about 1/4 of the sugar 🙂 still perf
Thanks for making this recipe Melissa:)
I plan to try this recipe this weekend for our “Sibling Dinner.” Do you think I can sub goat cheese for the cream cheese? What do you think of using almond flour – too much moisture?? Thank you!!
Hi Melissa,
I don’t think goat cheese would be the best choice here, I would just skip the cream cheese if you don’t like it. I think a gluten free flour blend would work best for you rather than almond flour. I hope you love the recipe! xx
Finally made this bread today. Made my own apple butter yesterday for this recipe. Actually used the left over apple butter to eat with bread as well.
Only other addition I made was adding butter to the top of bread before cooking.
Pretty fantastic!
Hey Michelle,
Happy Sunday! I love to hear that this recipe turned out well for you and appreciate you giving it a try!🍂 xT
The BEST quick bread I’ve ever made!! Absolutely delicious and so very easy! I followed the recipe exactly except I wasn’t sure what type of apples I was using because I picked 1/2 bushel of 6 different kinds of apples yesterday with the grandkids and they all went into 1 bag ?. Thanks for this keeper of a recipe!
Hi Diane,
Fantastic!! I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for trying it out! xTieghan
Really great apple bread- cream cheese adds a rich touch! However I don’t think it needs the cinnamon sugar on top- we ended up dusting it off and in the future I will just add half the amount of cinnamon sugar.
Hi Eva,
Thanks so much for making this bread and sharing your feedback! Sorry about the cinnamon sugar! xx
Incredible recipe!! Sooo good. Made directly as instructed, turned out perfect.
Hi Alanna,
Amazing!! Thanks so much for making this recipe! I love to hear that it was enjoyed:) xx
My friend made this and said her cream cheese sank to the bottom. What can I do to prevent this when I make it this week? We live in northern ohio if this helps.
Hey Heather,
It’s hard to say without knowing more about what your friend may have done. Was there anything she adjusted in the recipe? What kind of loaf pan did she use? if you follow the recipe as written with a metal pan you shouldn’t have any issues:) xx