Apple Streusel Bread
We are so excited to share this apple streusel bread recipe with you today! It’s loaded with warm cinnamon, sweet chopped apples, and grated pear, then swirled with caramel sauce and topped with toasted pecans. Whether you serve it for breakfast, dessert, or an afternoon snack, we promise this loaf will not last long on your counter.
If you love baking with apples as much as we do, you’ll want to check out a few more of our favorite recipes. We think you’ll love our Apple Pecan Cake, our Apple Crumb Galette, and our Apple Cider Donut Muffins too!
Table of contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Bursting with fall flavor: the combination of apples, pear, cinnamon, and nutmeg makes every bite taste like autumn.
- Wonderfully moist: browned butter and grated pear keep this bread soft and tender for days.
- Sweet caramel swirl: a ribbon of caramel sauce runs through the center for a little surprise in every slice.
- Simple to make: no mixer required, just two bowls and a loaf pan.
Ingredients
We’ve made this list to help you save time on your next trip to the grocery store. You can find the full amounts needed in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
This bread starts with a cinnamon spiced batter made from browned butter, granulated and brown sugar, and eggs. Freshly chopped apples and grated pear add natural sweetness and moisture, while a swirl of caramel sauce and roasted pecans give every slice a little something extra.
Variations
- Swap the nuts: try walnuts or almonds in place of pecans if that is what you have on hand.
- Add a streusel topping: sprinkle a buttery brown sugar streusel over the top before baking for extra crunch.
- Make it a spice bread: add a pinch of ground cloves or allspice for a deeper, warmer flavor.
- Use different fruit: grated apple or shredded carrot can stand in for the pear if you prefer.
Instructions
This is a quick overview of the steps needed to make this recipe. You can find the full instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. In a separate large mixing bowl, beat the browned butter with the granulated sugar and brown sugar until smooth and slightly fluffy.
- Add the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Fold in the dry ingredients gradually until just combined.
- Gently mix in the chopped apples and grated pear. Spread half of the batter into the prepared pan. Drizzle a few spoonfuls of caramel sauce over the batter and sprinkle with half of the roasted pecans.
- Spread the remaining batter on top, then finish with the rest of the pecans. Bake for 55 to 65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with only a few moist crumbs.
Expert Tips
- Make sure your browned butter has cooled slightly before mixing it with the sugars, so it does not scramble the eggs.
- Chop the apples finely so they distribute evenly throughout the batter and bake through completely.
- Let the bread cool in the pan for about 15 minutes before turning it out, so it holds its shape when sliced.
- Store leftover bread tightly wrapped at room temperature for up to 3 days, or in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have questions about this recipe? Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions.
Yes! This bread actually tastes even better the next day once the flavors have had time to settle. Wrap it tightly and store it at room temperature.
Absolutely. Wrap the cooled loaf tightly in plastic wrap and foil, then freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
We like a firm, slightly tart apple like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp, since they hold their shape and balance out the sweetness of the caramel.
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📖Recipe
Want to make this recipe? Print the recipe card below, or pin this recipe, so you can find it later.
Apple Streusel Bread
Equipment
- 9×5-inch loaf pan
- parchment paper
- Medium mixing bowl
- Whisk
- large mixing bowl
- Electric mixer
- Rubber spatula
- Wire cooling rack
- Toothpick
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup butter browned and cooled slightly
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup light brown sugar packed
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 medium apples peeled, cored, and finely chopped
- 1 medium pear peeled, cored, and grated
- ½ cup caramel sauce plus more for drizzling
- 1 cup chopped pecans roasted
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan and line it with parchment paper so the bread lifts out easily after baking.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
- In a large bowl, beat the browned butter with the granulated sugar and brown sugar until smooth and slightly fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla.
- Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined, then gently mix in the chopped apples and grated pear.
- Spread half of the batter into the prepared pan. Drizzle a few spoonfuls of caramel sauce over the batter and sprinkle with half of the roasted pecans.
- Spread the remaining batter on top, then finish with the rest of the pecans.
- Bake for 55 to 65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with only a few moist crumbs. If the top browns too quickly, loosely cover it with foil for the last 10 to 15 minutes of baking.
- Let the bread cool in the pan for 15 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack. Drizzle with caramel before slicing and serving.
Disclaimer
Any nutritional data I provide is an approximation and actual dietary information can vary based on ingredients and proportion sizes.
