Winter is here, and there’s nothing like the smell of warm, spiced bread to cozy up your kitchen. This Apple Cinnamon Loaf combines sweet apples, warm spices, and a touch of love to create a perfect treat for the season. Bonus: This recipe is straight from my upcoming cookbook, Baking Great Bread at Home: A Journey Through the Seasons, launching after the New Year! 🎉
🥖 The Secret to Bread Success
When making this loaf, the key is not overmixing the dough. Mix until it just comes together—no need to fully develop the gluten at this stage. The yeast will handle the rest during fermentation.
And let’s talk glaze! If you’ve ever noticed a powdery taste in your confectioner’s sugar glaze, here’s the secret: use warm apple juice instead of cold. Warming the juice helps dissolve the sugar completely, giving you a smooth, delicious finish.
✨ Apple Cinnamon Loaf Recipe
Ingredients
- Bread Flour: 400g (3 1/4 cups)
- Whole Wheat Flour: 100g (3/4 cup)
- Warm Water: 300ml (1 1/4 cups)
- Active Dry Yeast: 7g (2 1/4 teaspoons)
- Sugar: 50g (1/4 cup)
- Butter: 50g (1/4 cup), melted
- Salt: 1 teaspoon
- Cinnamon: 1 teaspoon
- Nutmeg: 1/4 teaspoon
- Diced Apples: 150g (1 cup)
Method
- Activate Yeast: Combine warm water, yeast, and sugar in a bowl. Let it sit for 5–10 minutes until frothy.
- Mix the Dough: In a large bowl, combine flours, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Add the yeast mixture, melted butter, and diced apples. Knead until the dough just comes together—don’t overmix.
- First Rise: Cover the dough and let it rise for 1 hour in a warm place until doubled in size.
- Shape and Proof: Shape the dough into a loaf, place it in a greased pan, and proof for 45 minutes until puffy.
- Bake: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake for 35–40 minutes until golden brown and hollow-sounding when tapped. Cool before glazing.
🍎 Warm Apple Glaze
Ingredients
- 1 cup confectioner’s sugar
- 2–3 tablespoons warm apple juice 🍎
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- A pinch of nutmeg
- A drop or two of vanilla extract
Method
- Warm the Juice: Gently warm the apple juice (not too hot).
- Whisk: Combine the sugar, warm apple juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla in a bowl. Whisk thoroughly until smooth and silky.
- Drizzle: Pour the glaze over the cooled loaf for a festive finish.
Pro Tip: Warming the juice dissolves the sugar more completely, giving you a smooth glaze without that powdery taste!
🎁 Closing Thoughts
This Apple Cinnamon Loaf is just one of many recipes from my upcoming cookbook, Baking Great Bread at Home: A Journey Through the Seasons. It’s perfect for holiday gatherings, a cozy breakfast, or as a homemade gift. 🎅
Call-to-Action
Bake this loaf and share your photos using #BakingGreatBreadAtHome. I’d love to see your festive creations!
