There is nothing quite like the smell of sweet apples and warm cinnamon baking on a crisp autumn day. This quick bread is incredibly moist, loaded with juicy chunks of fresh apples, and a layer of cinnamon sugar right through the center. Best of all, you don’t need a stand mixer, and you don’t need to wait for yeast to rise. It’s a simple stir-and-bake quick bread recipe.

Ingredients:

Cinnamon Swirl & Topping:

• ⅓ cup granulated sugar
• 1 tbsp ground cinnamon

Quick Bread Batter:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• ½ cup sour cream (or plain Greek yogurt for extra moisture!)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups apples, peeled and finely diced (Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Granny Smith work perfectly)

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease a standard 9×5-inch loaf pan with non-stick spray or line it with parchment paper.
2. In a small bowl, mix together the ⅓ cup sugar and 1 tablespoon cinnamon for the swirl. Set this aside.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
4. In a large bowl, whisk the melted butter and 1 cup of sugar together. Add the eggs one at a time, whisking well after each. Stir in the sour cream and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth.
5. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Fold gently with a spatula just until combined (do not overmix!). Gently fold in the finely diced apples.
6. Pour half of the thick batter into your prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle half of your cinnamon sugar mixture evenly over the batter. Layer the remaining batter on top and finish by sprinkling the rest of the cinnamon sugar over the very top.
7. Take a butter knife and gently drag it through the batter in a zig-zag pattern to create a marble effect. Bake for 55 to 65 minutes. It is ready when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
8. Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack. Slice it thick and serve as-is, or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Enjoy!