Easy Amish Apple Fritter Bread

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Amish Apple Fritter Bread is the kind of homemade dessert that instantly fills your kitchen with the warm, comforting aroma of cinnamon and baked apples. This easy recipe combines a soft, buttery loaf with layers of sweet cinnamon sugar and tender apples, creating a texture that’s moist, rich, and perfectly balanced. Every slice tastes like a classic apple fritter baked into a simple loaf, making it ideal for quick baking when you want something cozy and satisfying. Made with simple ingredients and straightforward steps, this is one of those easy dessert recipes that feels special without being complicated, perfect for family gatherings, weekend baking, or a comforting treat with coffee.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Easy recipe with simple, pantry-friendly ingredients
• Beginner-friendly and truly a no-fail recipe
• Budget-friendly and perfect for everyday baking
• Family favorite that’s loved by kids and adults
• Soft, moist texture with layers of cinnamon apple flavor
• Crowd-pleaser for brunch, holidays, or casual desserts

About the Ingredients

This Amish Apple Fritter Bread uses classic baking staples that come together for incredible flavor and texture. Each ingredient has a purpose, helping create a loaf that’s tender, flavorful, and bakery-worthy.

Unsalted butter forms the base of the batter, adding richness and moisture. Softened butter creams easily with sugar, giving the bread a light and fluffy structure.

Granulated sugar sweetens the batter without overpowering the apples. It also helps create a tender crumb when creamed with butter.

Eggs provide structure and stability, ensuring the loaf holds together while staying soft inside.

Vanilla extract enhances the overall flavor, adding warmth and depth that complements the apples and cinnamon.

All-purpose flour gives the bread its structure. Measuring accurately is key to keeping the loaf soft and not dense.

Baking powder helps the bread rise, creating a light texture instead of a heavy loaf.

Milk adds moisture and helps blend the batter smoothly. Whole milk gives the richest result, but other options work as easy substitutions.

Fresh apples are the star of this recipe. They soften as they bake, adding natural sweetness and a juicy texture. Firm apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp work especially well.

Cinnamon and sugar combine to create the signature apple fritter flavor. The cinnamon-sugar swirl adds sweetness and a warm spice throughout the loaf.

Brown sugar in the swirl adds a deeper, caramel-like sweetness that pairs beautifully with the apples.

Powdered sugar and milk, used in the optional glaze, create a light, sweet finish that makes this bread feel like a bakery-style homemade dessert.

Tips & Tricks

Chop the apples into small, even pieces so they soften evenly during baking. This helps prevent large chunks that may sink or stay too firm.

Use room-temperature butter and eggs for smoother batter and better texture. This simple baking tip makes a noticeable difference.

Layer the batter carefully to keep the cinnamon-sugar swirl evenly distributed. This ensures every slice has that classic apple fritter taste.

Check the bread around the 50-minute mark, as oven temperatures can vary. Cover loosely with foil if the top browns too quickly.

Allow the loaf to cool before slicing to let the layers set. This prevents crumbling and helps keep clean slices.

Pro Tips

For extra apple flavor, toss the chopped apples with a splash of lemon juice before mixing with sugar and cinnamon. This enhances freshness without overpowering the recipe.

If you prefer a stronger cinnamon taste, increase the cinnamon slightly in the swirl. This is an easy way to customize the flavor.

Use parchment paper to line the loaf pan for easy removal and cleaner edges.

For a richer finish, drizzle the glaze while the bread is slightly warm so it melts into the top layer.

Serve slices lightly warmed with butter for a comforting, crowd-pleasing sweet that feels extra indulgent.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and lightly flour a 9×5-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper.
2. In a small bowl, toss the chopped apples with 2 tablespoons granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Set aside.
3. In another bowl, mix together the brown sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon for the swirl.
4. In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
5. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then mix in the vanilla extract.
6. Add the flour and baking powder, mixing just until combined.
7. Gradually stir in the milk until the batter is smooth and well blended.
8. Pour half of the batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread evenly.
9. Sprinkle half of the cinnamon-sugar mixture over the batter, then layer half of the apples on top.
10. Spread the remaining batter evenly over the apple layer.
11. Top with the remaining apples and cinnamon-sugar mixture.
12. Gently swirl with a knife to create a marbled effect.
13. Bake for 50–60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
14. Let the bread cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
15. If desired, drizzle with glaze once fully cooled before slicing and serving.

Variations

For a healthier twist, reduce the sugar slightly and use unsweetened applesauce in place of a small portion of the butter. This keeps the bread moist while lowering sweetness.

Create a gluten-free version by using a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour. Make sure the baking powder is gluten-free as well.

Add chopped walnuts or pecans for extra crunch and a nutty contrast to the soft apples. This is a great option for customizable desserts.

Try a caramel apple version by drizzling caramel sauce over the apples before layering them into the batter.

Swap cinnamon for pumpkin spice to give the bread a fall-inspired flavor that works beautifully during the holidays.

How to Store Amish Apple Fritter Bread

Store Amish Apple Fritter Bread tightly covered at room temperature for up to two days. This keeps the loaf soft and flavorful without drying out.

For longer storage, refrigerate the bread in an airtight container for up to five days. Bring slices to room temperature or warm slightly before serving.

This bread is freezer-friendly and works well as a make-ahead dessert. Wrap individual slices or the whole loaf tightly in plastic wrap and foil, then freeze for up to three months.

To reheat, warm slices in the microwave for 15–20 seconds or in a low oven until just heated through. This restores the soft texture and enhances the cinnamon aroma.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make Amish Apple Fritter Bread ahead of time?
Yes, this bread can be baked a day in advance and stored covered at room temperature or in the refrigerator. It tastes even better the next day as the flavors settle.

What are the best apples to use?
Firm apples like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Fuji work best. They hold their shape and provide a balanced sweet-tart flavor.

Can I skip the glaze?
Absolutely. The bread is delicious on its own, but the glaze adds a bakery-style finish if you want extra sweetness.

How do I know when the bread is done?
Insert a toothpick into the center of the loaf. If it comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs, the bread is ready.

Can I make this recipe healthier?
You can reduce the sugar slightly, use low-fat milk, or add whole wheat flour for part of the all-purpose flour. These easy adjustments still result in a delicious loaf.

Amish Apple Fritter Bread

A moist, tender loaf layered with cinnamon-sugar apples and a buttery vanilla batter, finished with a classic swirl and optional sweet glaze.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 55 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Servings: 8 slices

Course: Breakfast, Dessert

Cuisine: American, Amish

Calories: 320

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened (115 g)
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar 130 g
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 190 g
• 1 3/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 cup milk 120 ml
• 2 medium apples peeled and chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)
• 2 tbsp granulated sugar for apple layer
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon divided
• 1/3 cup light brown sugar packed (65 g)
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar optional glaze (60 g)
• 1–2 tsp milk or cream optional glaze

Method

 

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and lightly flour a 9×5-inch loaf pan or line with parchment paper.
2. In a small bowl, toss chopped apples with 2 tablespoons granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Set aside.
3. In another bowl, mix brown sugar with the remaining 1 teaspoon cinnamon to make the swirl mixture.
4. In a large bowl, cream together butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla extract.
5. Mix in flour and baking powder, then gradually add milk until batter is smooth.
6. Pour half of the batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle with half of the cinnamon-sugar mixture and half of the apples.
7. Spread remaining batter on top, then add remaining apples and cinnamon-sugar. Gently swirl with a knife.
8. Bake for 50–60 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
9. Cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. Drizzle with glaze if desired once cooled.

Notes

Use firm apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for best texture. Tent loosely with foil if the top browns too quickly.

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