Brown Butter Apple Fritter Bread Recipe – Easy Cinnamon Apple Bread
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On Fridays when I have my kids, we always do “Donut Friday”, which is our little tradition where we stop for donuts on the way to school. The other day, my son surprised me and ordered an apple fritter (definitely not his usual choice). I never order a donut for myself, so he’s always sweet enough to pay the “mommy tax” and give me a bite of everything he knows I’ll love. And oh my gosh — this apple fritter was SO good.
I immediately thought an Apple Fritter recipe would be awesome for September since it’s apple season. The problem? I don’t love frying things at home. Too messy, oil everywhere… It’s a rare occasion. But a baked fritter just wouldn’t be the same. So I started looking for alternatives and found recipes for Amish apple fritter bread. It sounded like the perfect compromise — easy, no frying, but still full of those cozy September apple season flavors I was craving. This is how my brown butter apple fritter bread recipe came to be.
This apple fritter bread recipe is one of my favorite ways to bring that cozy fall feeling (yes, Phoenix is still well over 100 degrees) into the kitchen without the mess of frying. It’s soft, swirled with cinnamon sugar, and loaded with juicy apples. An apple fritter in loaf form.
This recipe is quick, easy, and perfect for apple season. Whether you call it Amish apple fritter bread or cinnamon apple bread, it’s a simple apple recipe perfect for when that fall feeling starts coming around in September.
Brown Butter Amish Apple Fritter Bread Recipe Ingredients
Here’s what makes this loaf so special (and a few swaps if you need them):
- Apples – Gala, Pink Lady or Honeycrisp work well. Granny Smith apples add a bit of tartness if you prefer that.
- Brown Sugar + Granulated Sugar – I used brown sugar mixed with cinnamon for the cinnamon sugar layer in the middle and on top. Both sugars help make the sweet cake.
- Butter – I always use salted butter, but unsalted is fine.
- Eggs – Help bind everything together.
- Milk – Adds moisture (you can swap with almond milk or oat milk).
- Flour + baking powder – The base for a soft, tender loaf.
- Cinnamon – Essential for that apple fritter flavor.
- Vanilla extract – Rounds out the sweetness.
- Powdered Sugar – Combined with milk and vanilla, it makes that delicious glaze for the top.
How to Make Brown Butter Apple Fritter Bread
This cinnamon apple bread is super easy to make. Here’s how it comes together:
Step 1: Prep the apples – Peel and chop your apples, then toss them in cinnamon and sugar. This gives them that caramelized apple fritter flavor.
Step 2: Brown the butter – Add the butter to a fry pan or skillet over low to medium heat and stir constantly until it turns a brown color. This happens fast, so keep an eye on it so it doesn’t burn! Immediately transfer it to another bowl to cool for a few minutes before making the batter.
Step 2: Make the batter – Cream butter and sugar together until fluffy. Add eggs, vanilla, and milk, then slowly mix in the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, salt).
Step 3: Layer the loaf – Pour half the batter into a greased loaf pan, add a layer of cinnamon apples, then sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Repeat with the rest of the batter and apples. Swirl gently with a knife for that pretty marbled effect.
Step 4: Bake – Pop it in the oven until golden and a toothpick comes out clean. The apples will soften, the sugar will caramelize, and your kitchen will smell like fall heaven.
Step 5: Optional glaze – Once cooled, drizzle with a simple powdered sugar glaze. Totally optional, but highly recommended.
Why You’ll Love This Apple Fritter Bread Recipe
- Tastes like an apple fritter, without the mess of frying.
- Browning the butter just makes this apple bread SO good. Somehow it makes it taste even more like fall!
- Perfect for fall — one of my favorite September apple recipes.
- Kid-approved (and easy enough for them to help make).
- Freezer-friendly — bake one loaf now, save one for later.
- Cozy, sweet, and swirled with cinnamon apples.
Brown Butter Apple Fritter Bread Recipe (Amish Cinnamon Apple Bread)
Equipment
Ingredients
For the Cinnamon Sugar Swirl & Topping:
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 2 tsp cinnamon
For the Cinnamon Apple Filling:
- 2 medium apples peeled, cored, and diced into small pieces.
- ⅓ cup brown sugar packed
- 1 tbsp cinnamon
For the Batter:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¾ cup milk
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup 1 stick butter, melted and browned
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For the Vanilla Glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 3 tbsp milk
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Grease and flour a 9×5 inch loaf pan.
- Brown the butter. Add the butter to a frying pan over low-medium heat and stir constantly until it starts to brown. This happens very quickly! Immediately transfer to a separate bowl to cool a bit.
- In a small bowl make the brown sugar and cinnamon sprinkle mixture.1/3 cup brown sugar, 2 tsp cinnamon
- In a separate bowl, combine the diced apples, ⅓ cup of brown sugar, and 1 tablespoon of cinnamon. Toss well to coat the apples and set aside.2 medium apples, ⅓ cup brown sugar, 1 tbsp cinnamon
- In another bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, ½ cup of brown sugar, baking powder, and salt.2 cups all-purpose flour, ¼ cup granulated sugar, ½ cup packed brown sugar, 2 tsp baking powder, ½ tsp salt
- In a stand mixer or in a bowl with an electric hand mixer, fluff together the milk, eggs, melted brown butter, and vanilla extract until combined.¾ cup milk, 2 large eggs, ½ cup 1 stick butter, melted and browned, 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Slowly add the dry ingredients until just combined. Don’t over-mix the batter.
- Spread half of the batter evenly into the bottom of the prepared loaf pan.
- Spoon about 2/3 of the cinnamon sugar apples over the batter, spreading it into an even layer and pressing down slightly so the apples stick in the batter
- Sprinkle this layer with half of the brown sugar cinnamon mixture.
- Carefully spread the remaining half of the batter over the top of the apple layer.
- Repeat. Spread the rest of the apples over the top, and sprinkle the rest of the brown sugar and cinnamon mixture on top.
- Place the loaf pan in the preheated oven and bake for 55-65 minutes. The apple fritter bread is done when a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out mostly clean.
- Let the loaf cool in the loaf pan for about 15-20 minutes.
- Carefully run a knife around the edges and turn the loaf out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- Make the glaze by whisking together the vanilla, powdered sugar, and milk. You can add more milk, one teaspoon at a time, until you reach your desired drizzling consistency.1 cup powdered sugar, 3 tbsp milk, ½ tsp vanilla extract
- Drizzle the glaze over the top of the bread. Let the glaze set for a few minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Don’t Overmix: Overmixing can make the loaf tough. To ensure a tender bread, mix the batter only until you no longer see streaks of dry flour.
- Let the bread cool completely before glazing.
- Storage: Store the bread in an airtight container at room temperature for 24 hours or in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
FAQ’S About Apple Fritter Bread
Yes! Freeze it by the loaf or by the slice. Wrap tightly in plastic and foil, then freeze up to 2 months. Thaw unwrapped at room temperature before serving.
They’re very similar. Both are baked instead of fried and have layers of apples and cinnamon sugar. Apple fritter bread is just in loaf form.
Tart apples like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Fuji are great because they don’t get mushy and balance the sweetness. Gala and Pink Lady apples are a little softer.
No. If you don’t have time or don’t want to brown the butter, just melt the butter in the microwave and use that instead!
Sound Bite – This Apple Fritter Bread Recipe Pairs Well With Cardigan by Taylor Swift
Make sure to pin the image below, tag me @foundre.life on Instagram and leave a review or comment if you make this recipe. ENJOY!
