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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.
Can I use gluten free flour? Love all your recipes!
I would love to know this as well! Was thinking of trying with 1:1 gf flour!
I haven’t personally tested this recipe with GF flour before, but you could probably use a 1:1 ratio! 🙂 xT
I would love to make this for my daughter! Unfortunately, she can’t have sugar. Do you have a recommendation for a swap?
Hi Nina! You could probably use honey as a swap! XT
This was an absolutely delicious bread! My whole family loved it.
Hi there! Thank you so so much! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe! Have an amazing weekend 🙂 xT
Can you recommend a substitute for the honey?
Thank you! You are the best!!! <3
Sugar or maple syrup! xT
Do you recommend leaving the peel on the apples? Can’t wait to try this recipe out, perfect fall flavors!
Hi there! I usually just leave the peel on because it’s easier, but feel free to peel them if you’d like! xT
This was great! Really loved the flavors. Doubled the recipe and made two loaves. Adjusted slightly for altitude, but it came out perfect. Thanks!
Thanks Julie!!
I dont have apple butter, so I googled and it says I can sub applesauce…so Im going to give it a whirl! Bc everything you post and in your book is amazing!!
Yep, you can use applesauce! Hope you enjoy this recipe! xT
I am wondering if you could freeze this bread as successfully as others with the fresh apples and cream cheese?
Hi Marsha! I haven’t ever frozen this bread before so I’m not sure! So sorry! xT
is that really the calories per serving 4125?
No, I’m sorry sometimes the calories calculator miscalculates with the algorithm! xT
What can you substitute for the coconut oil? Allergic….
Hi Christine,
You could use another neutral oil that you enjoy:) Let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope it turns out well for you! xx
great recipe! how long can this bread be stored?
Hi Alvy,
Wonderful!! Thanks so much for making this recipe and sharing your feedback, so glad to hear that it was a hit! This bread is great for up to 1 week! xx
Can you use gala apples?
Yep, those would work great! xT
I have a question about the coconut oil. It solidified when I added the sour cream and eggs, is that supposed to happen? I feel the batter/ dough didn’t spread down through the apples and caused the bread to break in half when sliced.
Hey Lisa,
Thanks for giving this recipe a try! Was your sour cream and eggs super cold? I recommend they be at room temp, the oil shouldn’t solidify:) I hope this helps! xx
Fabulous bread, and very easy to put together with things you always have on hand.
Hey Suzette,
Wonderful!! I appreciate you making this recipe and your comment, so glad to hear it was enjoyed! Have a great weekend:)
This is amazing. I’m going to try it again for holiday gifts, but I’m going to: add more cream cheese. I feel like it could have had twice as much cream cheese in it. I’m also going to beat the cream cheese with the cinnamon and sugar before spreading it. I’m going to bake it at 325 for maybe a little longer. I can’t wait to try it again. Absolutely delightful!
Hey Siri,
Wonderful!! Thanks a bunch for making this recipe and sharing your feedback! Love to hear that it was enjoyed! Happy Holidays!🎄🎁
Absolute bomb. Easy to make. I love what you are doing Teighan. I was a bit nervous that my bread might break while I take it out from the loaf pan, but it came off well. Maybe because I buttered it well. But a parchment paper would be great too.
Hey Richa,
Wonderful!! I love to hear that this recipe was a hit, thanks for giving it a try! Have a great weekend:)