Easy Apple Fritter Bread with Vanilla Glaze

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This Easy Apple Fritter Bread is soft, cozy, and packed with tender apples, cinnamon sugar, and a sweet vanilla glaze. It has all the flavor of a classic apple fritter in a simple homemade loaf that’s perfect for fall mornings, snacks, or dessert.

Easy Apple Fritter Bread glazed on a cooling rack with a plaid towel and the rest of the glaze in a white bowl with a whisk next to it

Apple fritters were always one of my dad’s favorites, so making this recipe felt a little extra special. I wanted to take that cozy apple fritter flavor and turn it into something simple I could make at home during the fall.

This bread is soft, full of apples and cinnamon, and finished with that sweet vanilla glaze. It feels cozy, nostalgic, and just like the kind of recipe I want baking in my kitchen on a fall day.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Easy to make. No yeast, no frying, and nothing complicated.
  • Full of apple flavor. Tender apples are tucked into every bite.
  • Soft and moist. Greek yogurt helps give this loaf the best texture.
  • Cozy fall flavor. Cinnamon, brown sugar, and apples make it perfect for the season.
  • That vanilla glaze. Just enough sweetness on top to make it feel like a true apple fritter.
  • Perfect anytime. Delicious for breakfast, an afternoon snack, or even dessert.

Ingredients You’ll Need

A flat lay of the ingredients needed for this recipe
  • Apples: The star of the recipe and give the bread plenty of tender, fresh apple flavor.
  • Brown sugar: Adds sweetness and gives the apple layer that cozy caramel-like flavor.
  • Cinnamon: Brings in all that warm fall flavor.
  • Butter: Keeps the bread rich, soft, and flavorful.
  • Cane sugar: Sweetens the bread without making it overly sweet.
  • Eggs: Help hold everything together and give the loaf structure.
  • Vanilla extract: Adds a little extra warmth and sweetness.
  • Greek yogurt: Helps keep the bread soft and moist.
  • Whole milk: Loosens the batter and keeps the crumb tender.
  • All-purpose flour: Gives the bread its structure.
  • Baking powder & baking soda: Help the loaf rise and stay light.
  • Sea salt: Balances the sweetness and brings out all the flavors.
  • Powdered sugar: Creates the simple glaze on top.
  • Milk & vanilla: Turns the powdered sugar into that sweet, smooth vanilla glaze.

How to Make Easy Apple Fritter Bread

Please see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full recipe details

  1. Prep the pan and oven. Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease or line a loaf pan with parchment paper.
  2. Make the apple mixture. Peel and dice the apples into small pieces. Toss them with the brown sugar and cinnamon until they are evenly coated, then set aside.
  3. Mix the cinnamon sugar. In a small bowl, stir together the brown sugar and cinnamon for the swirl.
  4. Make the wet mixture. In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and cane sugar until light and creamy. Add the eggs one at a time, then mix in the vanilla, Greek yogurt, and milk.
  5. Add the dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and sea salt. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and gently mix just until combined.
  6. Layer the bread. Spread half of the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Top with half of the apple mixture and half of the cinnamon sugar. Add the remaining batter, then finish with the rest of the apples and cinnamon sugar.
  7. Swirl everything together. Use a butter knife to gently swirl through the batter a few times. Don’t overdo it because you still want those little pockets of cinnamon sugar and apples throughout the loaf.
  8. Bake. Bake for 50–60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs. If the top starts browning too quickly, loosely cover it with foil near the end of baking.
  9. Let it cool. Allow the bread to cool in the pan for about 15 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack.
  10. Add the vanilla glaze. Whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Drizzle it over the cooled or slightly warm apple fritter bread before slicing and serving.

Recipe Tips

Dice the apples small so you get tender apple pieces in every bite and the loaf slices easily.

Don’t overmix the batter. Stir just until everything comes together to keep the bread soft and tender.

Use a firm baking apple like Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Fuji, or Granny Smith so the apples hold their shape.I used a mix of Fuji and Granny Smith. I love this combo!

Swirl lightly. A few passes with a butter knife are enough to create those cinnamon sugar pockets without blending everything together.

Watch the top while baking. If it starts getting too brown before the center is done, loosely cover the loaf with foil.

Let it cool before glazing. If the bread is too hot, the vanilla glaze will melt right off.

Check the center for doneness. Because of all the apples, this bread can stay moist in the middle, so make sure a toothpick comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs.

How to Store

Store your apple fritter bread in an airtight container on the counter for up to 2 days or in the fridge for up to 5 days. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months and thaw when ready to enjoy.

the apple fritter bread sliced on a cutting board with a silver bread knife and a piece on a white plate with a silver fork

Frequently Asked Questions

Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Fuji, or Granny Smith all work really well. I like using an apple that stays tender but still holds its shape while baking. I used a mix of Fuji and Granny Smith in this recipe.

I recommend peeling them for the softest texture, but you can leave the peel on if you prefer.

No, but it really gives the bread that classic apple fritter feel and adds just the right amount of sweetness.

Every oven is a little different, and the apples add extra moisture. If the center still looks wet, give it a few more minutes and loosely cover the top with foil if it’s getting too brown.

More Apple Recipes You’ll Love

the apple fritter bread sliced on a wooden cutting board with a silver knife and a plaid napkin

Easy Apple Fritter Bread

This easy apple fritter bread is soft, moist, and filled with tender apples and a brown sugar cinnamon swirl. Finished with a simple vanilla glaze, it has all the cozy flavor of an apple fritter in an easy homemade loaf.
Prep Time:15 minutes
Cook Time:1 hour
Total Time:1 hour 15 minutes
Course: Breakfast, Dessert, snacks
Cuisine: American
Keyword: apple bread recipe, apple fritter bread, cinnamon apple bread
Servings: 10 Slices

Ingredients

Apple Mixture

  • 2 cups apples peeled and diced
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Cinnamon Sugar Swirl

  • ⅓ cup brown sugar
  • 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon

Apple Fritter Bread

  • ½ cup unsalted butter softened
  • ½ cup cane sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
  • ¼ cup whole milk
  • 1¾ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt

Vanilla Glaze

  • ¾ cup powdered sugar
  • 1-2 tablespoons milk
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease or line a 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper.
  2. Add the diced apples, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon to a bowl. Stir to coat and set aside.
  3. In a small bowl, mix together the ⅓ cup brown sugar and 1½ teaspoons cinnamon for the cinnamon sugar swirl.
  4. In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and cane sugar until creamy.
  5. Add the eggs one at a time, then mix in the vanilla, Greek yogurt, and milk.
  6. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and sea salt.
  7. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and gently mix just until combined. Do not overmix.
  8. Spread half of the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Top with half of the apple mixture and half of the cinnamon sugar.
  9. Spread the remaining batter over the top, then add the remaining apples and cinnamon sugar.
  10. Gently swirl a butter knife through the batter a few times.
  11. Bake for 50–60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Loosely cover with foil if the top begins to brown too quickly.
  12. Let the bread cool in the pan for about 15 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack.
  13. Whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Drizzle over the cooled or slightly warm bread.

Notes

  • Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Fuji, or Granny Smith apples all work well.
  • Dice the apples fairly small so they bake evenly throughout the loaf.
  • Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Did you make this recipe?

I’d love to see! Tag @simplychelseahome on Instagram and leave a comment below!!

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