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When apple season rolls around, one of my favorite things to do is grab a bag of fresh apples and start baking. There are so many delicious ways to use them, but this easy homemade Apple Bread is one recipe you'll want to make again and again.

This bread is soft, moist, and packed with chunks of fresh apple in every bite. Add plenty of warm cinnamon, a little brown sugar, and a simple glaze if you like, and you've got the perfect fall quick bread.

The best part? There's no yeast, no rising time, and no complicated steps. Just mix everything together, pour it into a loaf pan, and bake!

Easy Homemade Apple Bread

If you love banana bread and zucchini bread, think of this apple bread as their fall-inspired cousin. It's a classic quick bread, which means baking soda and baking powder do all the work instead of yeast.

The apples add natural sweetness and plenty of moisture, while cinnamon and nutmeg give the loaf that cozy fall flavor we all crave once the weather starts cooling down.

Serve a thick slice with your morning coffee, pack it into lunchboxes, or warm it slightly and enjoy it as an afternoon snack.

What Kind of Apples Are Best for Apple Bread?

One of the great things about this recipe is that you can use several different varieties of apples.

For baking, I like apples that hold their shape and have a good balance of sweet and tart flavor. Some of my favorites include:

• Granny Smith
• Honeycrisp
• Pink Lady
• Fuji
• Gala
• Braeburn

You can even combine two varieties. Using one tart apple and one sweet apple gives the bread an especially delicious flavor.

Ingredients You'll Need for Homemade Apple Bread

For the apple bread:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ cup sour cream
• 2 cups peeled and finely chopped apples

For an optional glaze:

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons milk
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

How to Make Homemade Apple Bread

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper so the bread is easy to remove after baking.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Set the dry ingredients aside.

In a separate large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together until creamy.

Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract and sour cream.

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix just until everything is combined. Be careful not to overmix the batter because this can make your bread dense instead of soft and tender.

Gently fold in the chopped apples.

Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread it evenly.

Bake for 50 to 65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs attached.

If you notice the top getting too brown before the center is finished baking, loosely cover the loaf with aluminum foil for the remaining baking time.

Allow the bread to cool in the pan for about 15 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack.

Add a Simple Vanilla Glaze

Apple bread is absolutely delicious on its own, but a quick vanilla glaze makes it feel a little more like dessert.

Whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Once the apple bread has completely cooled, drizzle the glaze over the top.

Be sure the loaf is cool before adding the glaze. If the bread is still warm, the glaze will melt right into it instead of creating that pretty drizzle over the top.

Don't Overmix Your Apple Bread

One of the biggest secrets to making really good quick bread is knowing when to stop mixing.

Once you add the flour mixture, stir only until you don't see any large streaks of dry flour. Then gently fold in your apples.

Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour and can leave you with a tougher, heavier loaf.

Do I Need to Peel the Apples?

I prefer peeling the apples for this recipe because it gives the bread a softer texture.

Apple peels won't hurt the recipe, though. If you're short on time or don't mind a little extra texture in your bread, you can leave them on.

Either way, chop the apples into relatively small pieces so you get a little apple in every bite.

Fun Add-Ins

Once you've made the basic apple bread, there are all kinds of ways to change it up.

Try adding chopped pecans or walnuts for some crunch. You could also stir in raisins, dried cranberries, cinnamon chips, or even white chocolate chips.

For an extra cinnamon flavor, sprinkle cinnamon sugar over the batter right before baking. It creates a lightly crunchy, sweet topping that's delicious with the tender apple bread underneath.

How to Store Apple Bread

Because this bread contains plenty of fresh apples, it stays moist for several days.

Once completely cooled, wrap the loaf tightly in plastic wrap or place it in an airtight container. Keep it at room temperature for about 2 to 3 days.

For longer storage, keep it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

I love warming individual slices for just a few seconds before serving. Add a little butter and it's almost impossible to resist.

Can You Freeze Apple Bread?

Yes! Apple bread freezes beautifully, which makes this a great recipe to make while apples are in season.

Allow the loaf to cool completely, then wrap it tightly in plastic wrap followed by aluminum foil. Place it in a freezer-safe bag or container and freeze for up to 3 months.

You can also freeze individual slices. This is especially handy when you want something sweet with your morning coffee but don't need an entire loaf sitting on the counter.

Let the bread thaw overnight in the refrigerator or for a few hours at room temperature.

If you're planning to freeze the loaf, I recommend waiting to add the glaze until after it has thawed.

What to Serve With Apple Bread

A warm slice of apple bread is wonderful all by itself, but I especially love serving it with a little salted butter.

It's also delicious alongside:

• Hot coffee
• Chai tea
• Hot apple cider
• A pumpkin spice latte
• Fresh fruit
• Scrambled eggs for a sweet-and-savory breakfast

You can even warm a thick slice and top it with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce for an easy fall dessert.

More Ways to Use Fresh Apples

If you go apple picking this fall and come home wondering what in the world you're going to do with all those apples, don't stop with apple bread.

Use them to make homemade applesauce, apple butter, apple pie filling, apple muffins, apple crisp, baked apples, or apple pancakes.

Fresh apples work in savory recipes, too. Add thinly sliced apples to grilled cheese sandwiches, fall salads, or roasted pork dishes.

Easy Apple Bread for Fall

There's something about the smell of apples and cinnamon baking in the oven that instantly makes the house feel like fall.

This homemade Apple Bread is an easy way to use fresh apples, whether you picked them yourself at the orchard or grabbed a bag from the grocery store.

It's moist, tender, filled with fresh apple pieces, and loaded with warm cinnamon flavor. Enjoy it for breakfast, serve it for dessert, or wrap up a loaf and give it to a friend.

And if you're already pulling out the loaf pan, you might want to make two. This is one of those fall breads that disappears quickly!

Love quick breads? Check these recipes out

• Blackberry Lemon Bread
• Cheddar Bay Biscuit Bread
• Chocolate Chip Banana Bread