A quick and easy Apple Bread recipe that’s loaded with shredded apples! Spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla, this moist apple bread is perfect for fall!
Looking for more apple recipes? Try my old fashioned apple crisp!
My mom’s homemade Apple Bread recipe is a favorite around here. I especially like to bake this in the fall, using just-picked apples from my parents’ trees or ones from a local orchard. The bread is moist and perfectly spiced, with tons of fresh apple flavor in every single bite!
Why We ❤️ this Apple Bread Recipe
My mom has been making this apple bread for as long as our daughters can remember – they affectionately call it “Grandma Barb’s Apple Bread”. 🥰 Here’s why my family requests it:
- BEST apple flavor. Really. I’ve never tasted an apple bread with this much apple flavor in every bite. And that’s because this recipe calls for shredded apples. The moist, flavorful apple shreds get distributed evenly throughout the batter, making this hands-down the BEST apple bread recipe!
- Quick & easy. I can have two pans of apple bread in the oven in just 20 minutes!
- Awesome flavor & texture. I adore warmly spiced fall baked treats, and this apple cinnamon bread is top of list. It’s fabulously moist and packed with flavor!
“Beautiful color and the whole house smelled liked apple pie baking. It’s absolutely DELISH, this recipe totally surpasses others! It’s moist and has such good flavor!”
Susan
Why Are the Apples Shredded for this Bread?
At the very core of this apple quick bread is a mess of shredded apples. I recommend using an apple variety that is firm and has some tartness, such as Granny Smith, Haralson, or the sweeter Honeycrisp. Shredding the apples infuses each bite of bread with rich apple flavor. It also avoids any potential issues with diced apples, which can sometimes sink to the bottom of your bread.
If you’re wondering exactly how to shred apples, all you need is a box grater. Simply peel the apples and grate them using the largest holes on the grater. It’s super easy and doesn’t take much time at all.
A few more awesome apple recipes for you: my favorite apple crisp is an easy and super delicious treat, Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats is a great way to get your day started, and how about a cocktail? This Apple Sangria with Bourbon and Thyme is perfect for sitting around an autumn fire or entertaining for Thanksgiving!
How to Make Apple Bread
I love how easily this quick bread recipe comes together. Here’s how to make it. Find ingredients and exact measurements in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Prep: Preheat your oven and grease two 8×4 loaf pans.
- Shred the apples: I use the large holes on a box grater for this. Just peel the apples and then shred them.
- Add sugar: Mix the shredded apples with sugar and let them sit for a bit. This will infuse each piece of apple with extra sweetness.
- Add remaining wet ingredients: Then stir in the oil, eggs, vanilla, nuts, and raisins (if using).
- Mix dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices.
- Combine dry ingredients with wet ingredients: Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing just until you don’t see any dry bits of batter.
- Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared pans and bake until the bread is golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool & enjoy: Let the apple bread rest in the pan for about ten minutes, then turn out onto a rack to finish cooling. Once the bread has cooled, slice it up and dig in!
Tips for the Best Apple Bread
- Shred the apples. This is actually less work than dicing, the method that many apple bread recipes call for. Plus, this method distributes the apples all throughout the bread.
- Let shredded apple and sugar mingle. It might be tempting to skip the step where the apples and sugar sit for a bit. It does add prep time, but trust me, this makes the apple bread really moist and extra delicious!
- Use 8×4 pans. I highly recommend using two light-colored 8″ x 4″ loaf pans for this recipe, as they’re the perfect size. They are just a touch smaller than a 1-pound loaf pan.
The house smells so cozy while this bread is baking. It’s like a big apple-cinnamon hug.
This apple bread is a loaf of fall, packed with shredded apples. I think it’s truly the best apple bread recipe, with a variety of flavor and texture in every single bite.
Can I Leave Out the Nuts and Raisins?
There are very few recipes where I can get away with “sneaking in” raisins, as our daughters are not the biggest fans. And this apple bread is one of those exceptions.
However, if you or anyone in your family is opposed to either nuts or raisins, just leave them out. The bread will turn out just fine. :)
Can I Freeze Apple Bread?
The bread freezes extremely well. So I like to stash one loaf away for later. This makes for an easy baked treat with only the minimal effort of taking it out to thaw.
To freeze your apple bread, let it come to room temperature. Then wrap it in a couple layers of plastic wrap and place it in a freezer-safe baggie. It will keep really well for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to eat it, defrost the apple bread in the fridge overnight.
Apple Bread
Ingredients
- 4 cups shredded fresh apple, from approximately 4 large peeled apples (Use apples that are flavorful and firm, and hold their shape when baking, such as Haralson, Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, etc.)
- 2 cups sugar
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup chopped roasted pecans or walnuts, optional (I love the ones from Trader Joe's!)
- 1 cup raisins, Craisins, or chopped dates
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon Morton kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 8" x 4" bread pans and set aside.
- Using the large holes on a box grater, shred peeled apples down to the cores; discard the cores, until you have 4 cups of shredded apple.
- In a large bowl, fold together shredded apples and sugar, and let sit for 15 minutes until sugar dissolves. There will be a lot of liquid.
- Add oil, eggs, vanilla, pecans, and raisins, and stir to incorporate.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Fold dry ingredients into the apple mixture, just until mixed. Divide evenly amongst prepared loaf pans.
- Bake 55 minutes, or until golden and center tests done with a toothpick. Remove pans from oven to cooling rack and let cool for 10 minutes. Then turn breads out of pan onto rack to cool completely before slicing.
Notes
Nutrition Information:
This post was originally published in 2010. I updated some of the photographs and text in September 2019.
Autumn on the farm is such a special time. To see the fruits of farm labor harvested is one of my favorite things. And I love to share the experience with our daughters, to show them how I grew up. The following photos were taken in 2010, when I had originally shared this apple bread recipe.
Tastes delicious.
I loved this apple cake recipe. Grating the apples work really well so there was an even distribution through the cake. I used flaked almonds for the nuts which substituted well. Thanks for sharing.
Can we substitute splenda for sugar? Need to bake it for a person who is not allowed sugar
I have never tried to make apple bread before and came across this recipe and it turned out GREAT! I gave some to my entire family and even my neighbors it was so good. I will definitely make this apple bread again. The secret is in the shredded apples.
My daughter-in-law made this recipe and gave me one of the loaves. It was so good! It will now replace my banana bread recipe that I made all the time. Thank you for the recipe and thank you to my daughter-in-law who introduced me to it.
I tried your recipe for Apple Bread….. it is so good! Thank you for sharing with us!
Can these be made into muffins instead ?
I had a 5 lb bag of granny smith’s…… what to do with them besides apple pie?? I found your recipe on Pinterest and a few hours later……. I took 2 loaves of apple bread out of the oven. House smells wonderful !! I know some happy employees at work that will be enjoying this tomorrow !!
Made this bread for my brother and his wife, Â used a mixture of self picked apples, only half of the sugar (1 cup) Â and it was delicious! Thank you for sharing this great family tradition recipe. Greetings from the Netherlands!Â
Have this bread in the oven now and I can hardly wait for it to be finished. Great use for apples almost past their prime. I substituted gluten free flour and used cranberries and pecans. Smells heavenly already after just 10 mins in. Will whip up some cinnamon sugar cream cheese to go with for sure. Yum :)
Delicious! Made a loaf and muffins to freeze. Will be great for fast and simple breakfast option. I reduced the sugar by a quarter but I think I can go half next time, I also added hemp hearts and chia seeds. Fantastic recipe will definitely be making it again!
I butter toasted the pecans first and replaced raisins with dried blueberries. Delicious and moist!
‘My’ new BEST apple recipe! SO moist and delicious- don’t change a thing!
So tasty and easy. I used half the sugar and one cup unsweetened applesauce to cut the cals.
Can this be revised from loaves to muffins?
This is the best apple bread recipe! Made with 4 apples, dried cranberries, and cinnamon/nutmeg, you have a fall flavors trifecta.  Sweet and spiced just right, it’s perfect with a cup of tea on a crisp fall day. How can you go wrong with 2 apples in each loaf?!
Just made this bread this morning. I followed the recipe and only added a little molasses, whisky & candied ginger. This is the best apple bread I’ve ever made, thank you for a delicious recipe.Â
Baked this just this afternoon and it made my house smell wonderful! I halved the recipe (and left out the raisins) and it turned out great! Easy recipe and it’s nice that it uses pantry staples. Served with a little whipped cream cheese mixed with brown sugar.
This is the very best apple bread. I made it last week and it was a hit! I used a different type apple which were very small so I had to guess about how much apple mixture to use. I would suggest the recipe be updated to include the number of cups of apples please.Â
I made this last night. Amazing!!  My son won’t eat baked apples, but since the apples are grated he ate the bread and said it was delicious. I will definitely make this bread again. Thank you so much for sharing.Â