Apple Cinnamon Bread with Oatmeal

Filled with apples and walnuts you’ll love Apple Cinnamon Bread with Oatmeal on cool fall mornings. A delicious yeast dough slightly sweetened with honey and apples will make this bread a favorite.

Even though apple cinnamon bread uses yeast, and is not a quick bread recipe, it has easy instructions and doesn’t require much hands-on time. Mix up the dough and walk away while it rises. Or make it the day before and pop it in the fridge overnight. The next day all you have to do is bake it.

Each bite is soft and moist from the apples, but it also has a great texture from the oatmeal and walnuts.

Cinnamon apple bread is one of those recipes you’ll find an excuse to make again and again. With a soft, chewy texture and spiced apple flavor, it’s great for breakfast and brunch, coffee breaks and any time you need a pick-me-up. Don’t like apples? Try a delicious honey oatmeal bread instead.

Try bringing an apple cinnamon loaf to your next breakfast meeting, your colleagues will love it!

Since this apple bread recipe is brushed with honey, you don’t need a powdered sugar glaze. However, if you’d like to make it a little sweeter, try the caramel cream cheese frosting that I use with apple cinnamon rolls. 

If you’re tight on time and need a quick bread recipe try streusel pumpkin bread or banana bread.

Why you’ll love it

• Fresh apples add natural sweetness
• Soft and chewy texture
• Make the dough ahead of time
• Great for breakfast or brunch
• Freeze leftovers for later

What you’ll need 

Apples – 1-2 medium apples, you can use any variety that you like. I generally use fuji or honeycrisp. 

Pro tip: If you use a softer apple that has more juice, you will need to add a bit more flour. The dough should not be too sticky to handle.

Walnuts – for more flavor toast them in a skillet over medium heat for 2-4 minutes, or you can roast them in the oven at 350º. You can also substitute pecans, but I prefer the taste of walnuts with apples.

Oats – You’ll need the thick-cut old-fashioned oats, instant will not work in this recipe.

Yeast – regular active dry yeast, or instant.

Milk – the higher the fat content of the milk, the richer the bread. You can use whole milk or cream, but don’t use skim milk.

Pantry items – flour, oil, cinnamon , brown sugar, salt and honey

You will need a 9 x 5 inch loaf pan for this apple bread recipe, it makes a very large loaf and will overfill an 8.5 x 4.5 inch disposable loaf pan. If that’s all you have use two instead.

Tips for working with yeast dough

Tip #1 – Don’t kill the yeast

Don’t be intimidated if you’ve never made yeast rolls or bread from scratch. As long as you use fresh yeast mixed with lukewarm liquid, your dough will rise. You’ll know the yeast is active if it bubbles and foams. If the water is too hot, it can kill the yeast and you won’t get the bubbles. If that happens, just throw it out and start again. 

You can also use instant yeast that you don’t have to proof with water. After experimenting with both, I’ve found the traditional to be a little better for bread but I’m not sure I can actually tell a difference. I grew up using traditional so that’s just what I’m used to.

Tip #2 –  Find a warm place to let it rise

Be sure to let the dough rise in a warm place. If your house is cold, you can warm your oven for about a minute, then turn it off and place the bowl of dough inside. My favorite way is to heat a microwave by boiling a bowl of water and then place the dough in the microwave for a warm humid place to let it rise. 

Tip #3 – You can refrigerate the dough

You can make most yeast recipes a day ahead of time. Cover the pan tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate it overnight after it has been formed into rolls or bread.  Bring the dough to room temp the next day while the oven warms up.

How to make apple cinnamon bread

Step 1 – prep the ingredients

Warm the water and milk in a small bowl in the microwave for about 15 seconds, don’t let it get too hot. Chop the apples and walnuts.

Step 2 – mix everything together

Pour the yeast into the bowl of a stand mixer along with the milk mixture. Stir to combine. Let sit for 5 minutes or until bubbly. Then add the oil, brown sugar, salt, oats, cinnamon, apples, walnuts and 1 cup of flour.

Step 3 – knead

With a dough hook, knead the ingredients for about 2 minutes, until combined. Gradually add the remaining cup of flour and mix until the dough is uniform, it won’t be smooth because of the oatmeal and apples

Pro tip: To make this bread without a stand mixer, use a spatula to stir the milk mixture with the oil and dry ingredients. Knead on a floured work surface until the dough is smooth.

Step 4 – let it rise

Lightly flour a work surface. Form the dough into a ball and  place it in a greased large bowl. Cover it with plastic wrap and let it rise for about an hour or until doubled.

Step 5 – form into a loaf

Grease a 9×5 loaf pan. Punch the dough down and roll it into a rectangle the same width as your pan. Let the dough rise in the prepared pan for about an hour, until it’s an inch over the top.

Step 6 – bake

Brush the top with honey and sprinkle with some raw oatmeal. Heat the oven to 375°and bake for 30 minutes until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.

The bread will need to cool before you try to slice it. It’s great served with honey butter or a simple powdered sugar drizzle. 

How to make honey butter

Let your butter get soft but not melted. Then add an equal amount of honey and stir to combine. 

This apple walnut bread is so moist and has both a great texture and flavor from the apples, walnuts and honey. I love a fresh slice while it’s warm with a mug of tea.

How to store homemade bread

Since there are no preservatives, homemade bread will dry out fairly quickly. Store in an airtight container for 1-2 days on the counter then freeze. It will dry out if refrigerated.

If you love yeast bread but are looking for something sweeter, my Dollywood cinnamon bread is amazing, or there’s nothing quite like homemade cinnamon rolls.

All out of yeast? Try these one of these no yeast bread recipes,  Irish soda Bread, cheesy pull-apart bread, or buttermilk cornbread biscuits.

FAQs and tips

How do you keep apple bread fresh?

One loaf won’t last long, but if you have leftovers put them in an airtight container and store at room temperature for 1-2 days. If you need longer storage, keep the bread in the freezer for up to 2 months.

What kind of apples are good for baking?

Firm apples that hold their shape are best for recipes that are baked. Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, Jonathan and Fuji varieties won’t get mushy in the oven. Avoid softer apples like Red Delicious or McIntosh.

Can yeast bread rise too long?

If yeast dough rises too long it could deflate or develop a sour taste. For best results, follow the recipe’s instructions. Or press a finger into the dough and if the indent remains, you’ll know it’s risen enough.

More perfect-for-fall recipes

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