Apple fritters are one of my all-time favorite fall treats. I love the crackly glaze, those irresistible crispy edges, and chunks of apple packed into tender dough. And while I’m usually quick to make my favorite bakery treats at home (looking at you yellow birthday cake ), apple fritters are not one of them because I hate the hassle of frying. Instead, I make a loaf of apple fritter bread.
This is the apple recipe that everyone in my family looks forward to every year and friends beg me to make. It’s a fall baking bucket list item for sure! Between the layer of cinnamon apples rippled through tender quick bread and the crispy cinnamon sugar and glaze drizzled over the jagged layer of apples blanketing the top, this bread has serious apple fritter vibes and all the flavors you’d expect from the classic donut. Best of all: no frying necessary.
Why You’ll Love It
- It has the most ultra-tender crumb. One of the first things everyone notices about this bread is that it’s so unbelievably tender and moist.
- The cinnamon-sugared, glazed apple topping is incredible. Between the tender apples, crisp-sugared edges, just the right amount of cinnamon, and streams of glaze, the top layer of the bread is pure perfection.
Key Ingredients in Apple Fritter Bread
- Apples: Sweet-tart apples like Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, or Pink Lady are great apples for baking. They have great flavor and a firm, crisp texture and keep their shape during baking.
- Cinnamon: This warm spice is folded into the batter, mixed into the sautéed apples, and used for the cinnamon-sugar topping.
- Sugar: It’s a trifecta of sugar, but each one has a purpose. You’ll use brown sugar for the sauteed apples, granulated sugar for the bread batter and cinnamon-sugar topping, and powdered sugar for the glaze.
- Fat: A mix of melted unsalted butter and neutral cooking oil (think, canola or vegetable oil) ensures that the bread is flavorful and has a super moist-tender texture.
Helpful Swaps
- Plain Greek yogurt (preferably full fat) can be used in place of sour cream.
- Granulated sugar can be used as a substitute for brown sugar when cooking the apples.
