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    • Nov 26, 2023

Apple Cinnamon Bread with Brown Sugar Icing

It was our very first time hosting Thanksgiving now that we have a house to do so in, yay! I had to find the perfect dessert for the special occasion. I wanted to go traditional, so I knew I wanted to work with either apple or pumpkin. Apples are so magickal (see below for more on that!), and I felt like I have made more than enough pumpkin desserts this season, so I began my search for something apple-based.


I went back to my Pinterest Baking Board to look for things I've pinned in the past, but hadn't yet made. That's when I remembered I've always wanted to try this Apple Cinnamon Bread Recipe from a website called Oh My Goodness Chocolate Desserts. It looked like everything I wanted for my Thanksgiving dessert, complete with apples and cinnamon, and it could be cut into smaller slices for guests who were too full to fully indulge in dessert, but maybe wanted to try a bite.

The way this recipe is originally written was a tad bit confusing at times, so I modified it here. Aside from that, this bread came out PERFECT. I mean, like can't-stop-eating perfect. Like everything-you-want-in-an-apple-dessert perfect. Like I-will-probably-bake-this-every-Thanksgiving perfect. Okay, enough high remarks, let's dive into what actually makes it perfect.


The bread itself is essentially like a soft, luscious, vanilla cake (it's called a bread, but really does taste more like a moist cake to me!). The layers are filled with fresh, chopped apples that have been coated in cinnamon and sugar, and then another layer of cinnamon and sugar swirl.


I topped this baby with a creamy Brown Sugar Icing (different from the original recipe), which really ties the entire dessert together. A slice of this apple bread is not too sweet, not too heavy. I feel like it's a cross between an apple coffee cake and cinnamon muffin, making it able to pass as a breakfast treat too! It's a great dessert for any gathering, and it was fairly easy to whip up with simple ingredients.

Magickal Ingredients Used:

Apples: Apples are often used to symbolize love, and they can be used in rituals for luck, prosperity, creativity, and protection.

Cinnamon: Prosperity and attracting money, passion, promoting spirituality and stimulating psychic abilities.


The Recipe

  • Prep Time: 10 minutes

  • Cook Time: 55-70 minutes

  • Category: Dessert/breakfast

  • Yield: Makes 1 9x5 loaf


Here's What You Need:

Cinnamon-Sugar Swirl:

  • 6 Tablespoons light brown sugar

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Bread:

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter room temperature

  • 2/3 cup sugar

  • 2 eggs-room temperature

  • 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • 1/2 cup milk

Apples With Cinnamon Sugar Coating:

  • 2-3 medium apples (Granny Smith or Gala work best, but any will do!) - peeled and diced into small cubes/chunks

  • 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar

  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Brown Sugar Icing:

  • 3/4 cup packed light or dark brown sugar

  • 1/4 cup milk

  • 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter

  • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

  • 1 and 1/2 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar

  • pinch of salt, to taste

Here's What To Do:

  1. Grease 9 x 5-inch loaf pan with baking spray, line with parchment paper leaving large overhang the sides so you could easily lift the bread from the pan. Adjust the oven rack just below the center (to the lower third position) and preheat the oven to 350 F.

  2. Make your Cinnamon-Sugar Swirl: Mix ground cinnamon and brown sugar, and set aside.

  3. Make the Bread Batter: Beat room temperature butter with sugar and vanilla extract. Add eggs and mix to combine. Add mixture of dry ingredients (flour, salt and baking powder) and mix to combine. Slowly pour in milk and mix just to combine. Scrape down the bowl with rubber spatula to make sure there’s no lumps remain. Set aside.

  4. Prepare the Apples With Cinnamon Sugar Coating: Peel and dice apples in small chunks. Toss apples with cinnamon and 2 Tablespoon granulated sugar sugar, ensuring each piece is coated. Set aside.

  5. Spread half of the bread batter in prepared pan, scatter half of the apples with cinnamon sugar coating and sprinkle with one half of cinnamon-sugar mixture on top. Spoon remaining batter and gently smooth the top. Scatter remaining coated apples and top off with cinnamon-sugar mixture.

  6. Bake in preheated oven about 55-70 minutes, or until the toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. This is a heavy loaf full of apples, so if your bread takes longer, that’s OK. Just tent it with aluminum foil after 30-40 minutes to prevent the top from browning too much.

  7. Remove from the oven and cool 20-30 minutes in the pan set on a cooling rack. Then using the paper overhang lift the bread from the pan.

  8. Make the brown sugar icing: Combine the brown sugar, milk, and butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the butter has melted and mixture is smooth. Bring to a simmer. Allow to simmer for 1 minute then remove from heat and whisk in the vanilla extract and sifted confectioners’ sugar until smooth and combined. Taste, then add a pinch of salt if desired—I always add a tiny pinch. Let the icing cool for 5 minutes to slightly thicken. Drizzle over cooled bread.


This bread is best served at room temperature, but you can also warm it if you prefer! Cover and store bread at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Enjoy!





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