Dutch Apple Bread with Streusel Topping — Soft, Cinnamon-Loaf Recipe

Dutch Apple Bread is a tender, flavorful quick bread loaded with sweet apple pieces — essentially apple pie in loaf form.

Why I Love Dutch Apple Bread

• Perfect for snacking or as a breakfast treat
• Makes one large loaf or several smaller loaves, ideal for gifting
• Quick breads are simple and satisfying to make
• Lightly sweet without being overwhelming

Ingredients

If you have apples on hand, you likely already have everything you need. This recipe uses common pantry items and fresh apples for the best flavor.

• Butter
• Sugar
• Eggs (room temperature if possible)
• Milk (whole milk preferred, but any milk works)
• Vanilla extract
• Baking soda
• All-purpose flour
• Salt
• Apples — about two cups chopped; using two varieties (for example Honeycrisp and Granny Smith) gives a nice balance of sweetness and tartness
• Walnuts (optional)

For the streusel topping

The streusel adds a crunchy, buttery finish:

• Butter
• Flour
• Brown sugar
• Cinnamon

How to Make Dutch Apple Bread

This loaf is a popular seller at my local market — straightforward to prepare and reliably delicious.

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan or prepare mini loaf pans if you prefer smaller loaves.

Step 2: Combine wet ingredients. Cream together 1/2 cup butter and 1 cup granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add 2 eggs, 2 tablespoons milk and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, mixing until combined and scraping the bowl as needed.

Step 3: Combine dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk 1 teaspoon baking soda, 2 cups flour and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet, mixing just until the flour is absorbed — avoid overmixing to keep the bread tender.

Step 4: Add apples and nuts. Fold in 2 cups chopped peeled apples and 1/2 cup chopped walnuts if using. The batter will be thick; spread it evenly in the prepared loaf pan with a spatula.

Step 5: Make the streusel. Combine 2 tablespoons butter, 2 tablespoons flour, 2 tablespoons brown sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon with your fingers or a fork until crumbly. Sprinkle evenly over the batter.

Step 6: Bake. Bake for about 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Because the loaf is dense from the apples, ensure it is fully baked before removing from the oven. Let cool in the pan for a few minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool completely.

What Kind of Apples to Use

A mix of tart and sweet apples works best. Granny Smith brings bright acidity while Honeycrisp adds sweetness and crisp texture. Pink Lady, Gala or Fuji are also good choices.

Apple Bread for Gifting

This recipe can make one large loaf or three mini loaves — the minis are perfect for gifts. Wrap freshly made loaves in waxed paper for a rustic look or use plastic wrap to keep them fresh longer. You can also freeze wrapped loaves for up to three months.

Quickbread Recipes You’ll Enjoy

• Hawaiian Banana Bread
• Mini Blueberry Muffins
• Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread

Other Apple Recipes

• Apple Slab Pie
• Apple Crisp
• Cranberry Apple Chutney

If you try this Dutch Apple Bread, please leave a comment or review — it’s always great to hear how it turned out!

Recipe