Introduction
Fall in a Slice! 🍁🍎 Picture a golden afternoon mellowing into a warm kitchen, where the scent of caramelized apples and cinnamon floats through the air. Our Homemade Apple Cinnamon Swirl Loaf is more than a dessert—it’s a comforting hug in loaf form, inviting you to slow down, slice, and savor every bite. With a tender crumb, ribbons of cinnamon-sugar swirl, and buttery richness, this loaf is perfect for autumn gatherings, weekend brunches, or a quiet moment by the window watching leaves drift by. Bake it once, and you’ll find yourself coming back for more, craving that first aromatic slice as the oven timer chimes.
Organized ingredients (clear categories with measurements)
Base batter
1/2 cup (115 g) unsalted butter, softened
2 large eggs
1/2 cup (100 g) white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups (190 g) all-purpose flour
1 3/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
Apple filling and swirl
1 cup (approx. 2 small) apples, peeled and finely diced (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp work well)
2 tablespoons white sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Cinnamon-sugar swirl batter
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Optional: a pinch of ground nutmeg or allspice for warmth
Additional
Optional glaze: 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 1–2 tablespoons milk or apple cider, a splash of vanilla
Notes on quantities and substitutions
If you prefer a richer loaf, use 1/2 cup butter and a splash more vanilla.
For a dairy-free version, substitute butter with 1/2 cup melted coconut oil and use a flax egg (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed + 2.5 tablespoons water) in place of eggs.
For a chunkier apple texture, reserve a small portion of diced apples to fold into the batter at the end.
You can substitute 1/2 cup damaged or mashed apples into the batter to increase apple flavor without changing texture too much.
Step-by-step method (organized, clean workflow)
