Caramel Apple Bread
This caramel apple bread is the best seasonal treat for fall! Moist and tender this quick bread is bursting with fresh, juicy apples, warm cinnamon spice and then drizzled with a thick caramel glaze.
This quick-to-make sweet bread is filled with the best sweet and fruity flavors! Perfect for fall or any holiday occasion, caramel apple bread is full of seasonal warmth and classic taste.
While this bread is different from my easy applesauce bread, it has quickly become a favorite as it is the best combination of my favorite Dutch apple bread and caramel apple cake recipe. It can also be served for breakfast or dessert!
The apples in this bread are left whole which looks impressive when sliced. Top it with the caramel glaze and there is nothing better than a piece of it with a cup of tea or coffee.
Why You Will Love Caramel Apple Bread
- Fresh juicy apples: This apple cinnamon bread is baked with whole fresh apples.
- Moist and tender: A moist quick bread with a tender crumb and fresh apple in every bite make this the perfect fall dessert!
- Warm fall flavors: Warm cinnamon, sweet sugar and a caramel glaze make this feel decadent enough to be called a cake.
- Versatile serving: Serve this caramel apple pie bread for breakfast, snack or dessert! It will quickly become one of your favorite fall treats.
Recipe Ingredients
- Apples: Small or medium sized apples that have been cored and peeled
- Dry ingredients: All-purpose flour, cinnamon, salt, baking powder, granulated sugar and brown sugar.
- Wet ingredients: Softened butter, large eggs, vanilla extract and heavy cream or whipping cream.
- Caramel sauce: You will need wrapped caramel candies and cream. You can also use your favorite store-bought caramel sundae sauce.
How To Make Caramel Apple Bread
To start, combine dry ingredients of flour, cinnamon, salt and baking powder in a medium sized or large bowl. Whisk then set aside.
In a medium sized mixing bowl using an electric mixer, beat the three large egg whites until firm.
In another bowl, beat the softened butter with both sugars until light and creamy. Add the vanilla and then the egg yolks one at a time beating after each addition before adding the cream.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients a little at a time to combine then gently fold in egg whites.
Spoon approximately ⅓ of the mixture into the prepared bread pan and place the cored and peeled apples in a row top side up on the batter. Cover with the remaining batter.
Bake until golden brown or a toothpick comes out clean.
Remove caramel apple bread recipe from the oven and let cool completely before drizzling with delicious caramel sauce if desired and serve.
How To Make Caramel Glaze
Unlike a homemade classic caramel sauce, this glaze recipe is simply made with caramel candy and cream.
- In a small saucepan on the stovetop or microwave-safe bowl, add caramels and cream.
- Stir constantly on low heat, until combined and smooth.
- Drizzle over cooled caramel apple bread and enjoy!
What Kind Of Apples Are Best For Apple Bread?
I used a Royal Gala apple as it has a nice crunch and not too tart of a taste. Granny Smith apples are a favorite variety to use for baked goods.
Other firm apples that are great to use include Jonathon, Jonagold and Gala. Honey Crisp apples and Pink Lady are sweeter apples and are best used in combination with a tart apple. Golden delicious apples can be used but tend to be mushy after baking.
Substitutions And Variations
- Diced apples: Instead of keeping your apples whole for this apple caramel bread, you can dice them for chunks of apple instead.
- Warm spices: Add ground nutmeg or a pinch of ground cloves in addition to the cinnamon. Apple pie spice could be substituted for the cinnamon if desired.
- Streusel topping: Make a crumb topping like I do in this apple bread with a crumb topping recipe!
- Nuts: Pecans would be delicious on top of the apple bread.
- Caramel sauce: If you would like to use a homemade caramel sauce, try this one from my caramel apple cheesecake tarts or this maple caramel sauce.
- Other fall fruit: While whole pears would be a good option, I usually save those for this Italian pear cake and dark chocolate pear cake.
Expert Tips
- Room temperature ingredients: Bringing your eggs and cream to room temperature helps them incorporate more fully with the rest of the apple caramel bread ingredients.
- Test for doneness: To know when your caramel apples bread is done baking, use the toothpick test. If a toothpick or cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean, the bread is done.
- Line baking pan: For easy removal of the bread from the pan, line the loaf pan with parchment paper.
- Cool completely: This recipe for caramel apple bread needs to be cooled completely before adding the caramel drizzle.
- To serve: This delicious quick bread tastes great on its own, with peanut butter, nut butter or with some homemade apple butter!
Recipe FAQS
If the bread was overmixed before baking it will turn out dense. Only combine ingredients with the flour until just mixed to avoid this from happening! Also, don’t forget to whip your egg whites first as it will help this cake-like bread rise more fully.
Store leftover apple bread in an airtight container on the counter or in the fridge for up to 4 days.
To freeze bread, first cool completely. Then wrap bread in plastic wrap then again foil to retain moisture. Keep frozen in a freezer safe bag for up to two months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
Dark brown sugar contains more molasses and will give a deeper, slightly richer flavor, but either can be used depending on your preference.
More Apple Recipes
- Italian Apple Cake
- Apple Crostata
- Cinnamon Apple Strudel
- Caramel Upside Down Apple Cake
- Baked Apple Butter Donuts
So why not celebrate Autumn with this Tasty Caramel Apple Bread? Enjoy!
Caramel Apple Surprise Sweet Loaf
Ingredients
- 3 small – medium apples (cored and peeled)
FOR THE BREAD BATTER
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
- 3 large eggs separated (room temperature)
- 1 large egg yolk (room temperature)
- ⅔ cup butter (softened)
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar (packed)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ½ cup whole/whipping cream
CARAMEL SAUCE
- 14 caramels unwrapped
- 2 tablespoons cream
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 350F (180C). Grease and flour a 9 inch (23 cm) loaf pan.
FOR THE BREAD BATTER
- In a medium bowl whisk together flour, cinnamon, salt and baking powder. Set aside
- In a medium bowl beat the 3 egg whites until firm.
- In a large bowl beat the butter and sugars until light and creamy, approximately 3 minutes, beat in the vanilla, then add the yolks one at a time beating in between each addition. Beat in the cream, then the flour mixture a little at a time, just until combined.
- Gently fold the egg whites into the creamed mixture just until combined. Spoon approximately ⅓ of the mixture into the prepared loaf pan, place the cored and peeled apples in a row top side up on the batter. Cover with the remaining batter and bake for approximately 45-50 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Remove from oven and let cool completely. Drizzle with caramel sauce if desired. Enjoy!
CARAMEL SAUCE
- In a small sauce pan add caramels and cream, on low heat, stirring constantly, cook until smooth.
Notes
Nutrition
Updated from October 19, 2016.
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Rosemary, the presentation of this loaf is stunning! I love that you put the whole apples in the bread the way you did!! Love!
Hi Kristen, thanks so much, have a great weekend.