Is there a more heavenly fragrance on earth than that of apple cinnamon bread baking? I think not – the wafting clouds of cinnamon sugar seem to overtake the kitchen, inviting you to the oven.
The smell of good bread baking, like the sound of lightly flowing water, is indescribable in its evocation of innocence and delight. • M.F.K. Fisher
This recipe comes from Red Star Yeast and includes some of my favorite things: tender apples, a generous ribbon of cinnamon sugar, crunchy walnuts. Once the loaves have cooled (yes, the wait will test your willpower!), drizzle with cinnamon glaze for a slice of pure fall comfort.
Apple Cinnamon Walnut Bread
Adapted from Red Star Yeast
4 cups bread flour, divided + additional if needed
1 package Red Star PLATINUM Yeast
2 tsp salt
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup water
1/2 cup low-fat milk
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
Filling
2/3 cup sugar
4 tsp cinnamon
1 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
2 cups peeled and diced apples
2/3 cup chopped walnuts
Glaze
2/3 cup powdered sugar
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 Tbsp low-fat milk
1/2 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Combine 1 cup bread flour, yeast, salt, and sugar in a large mixer bowl; mix on low speed until incorporated. Heat water and milk in a microwave-safe measuring cup for 45 seconds to 1 minute, until very warm (120-130°F). Add warm milk mixture and butter to flour mixture and mix until combined.
Add remaining bread flour 1 cup at a time, mixing just until combined. Switch out the flat beater for a dough hook, and knead dough for 5 minutes until smooth and elastic (if dough is sticking, add additional bread flour 1 tablespoon at a time – I added an additional 1/4 cup). The dough is ready when smooth and tacky (dough will stick to the finger, then release).
Place dough in a large bowl coated with cooking spray and cover with plastic. Let the dough rise in a warm place until doubled in size (about 30 minutes). To check if dough has doubled, lightly flour two fingers and press them down into center of dough. If indentations remain, punch dough down and divide in half. Turn sections out onto a lightly floured board, cover and let rest 10 minutes. Whisk together sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.
Use a lightly floured rolling pin to roll each section into a 9 x 13-inch rectangle. Leaving a 1/2-inch border, brush sections with melted butter and sprinkle evenly with cinnamon sugar. Divide apple pieces and walnuts evenly over dough; press gently into dough with rolling pin (my filling Instagram).
Starting with a short end, roll each rectangle into a log, pinching dough to seal seam and ends. Spray two 9 x 5-inch loaf pans with nonstick spray and place dough seam-side down in pans. Cover loosely with plastic sprayed with nonstick spray and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 30 minutes. In the last 15 minutes of rising, preheat oven to 350°F.
Bake bread for 30 minutes, then tent with foil. Continue to bake another 25 minutes (for a total of 55 minutes) until loaves are deep golden and an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center of one loaf registers 190°F. Cool in pans on wire rack for 10 minutes; turn out of pans to cool completely.
For the glaze, combine powdered sugar, cinnamon, milk, butter, and vanilla in a small bowl. Set rack with breads over a piece of wax paper and drizzle with glaze; let set before serving. Wrap leftovers well and store at room temperature; toast before serving.
Yield – 2 loaves, 12 servings per loaf
Calories – 175 (per slice)
Carbs – 30
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Disclosure: I was compensated for writing and photographing this post by Red Star Yeast. All opinions expressed are my own.
38 comments
Gorgeous! Now if only I could have a slice of this bread right now 🙂 Pinning!
I can imagine how heavenly your kitchen must be smelling.
What lovely flavors and so beautiful!
Ooh! Swirly cinnamony sugary apple goodness inside!!! I must have some!
This is perfection, Laura! I can only imagine how amazing your kitchen smelled while baking this!
I can almost smell the cinnamon wafting through my screen! Perfect recipe to usher in fall – even if we’re not ready. 😀
What an intoxicating taste of fall! My family would adore the luscious apple studded loaf!
Holy fall this looks delicious
This bread = heaven! And that is that.
Gorgeous loaf! I’ve never tried adding chopped apple or nuts to a yeasted cinnamon bread…just raisins. Love this twist for fall, Laura! Thanks for sharing. Pinning!
I love everything about this, Laura. The glaze on top, the cinnamon swirls and the apples. So good !
Stunning Laura!! I want a slice or two right now, but I will just have to make this!! I ant my house to smell like fall all morning long! Love this!
Ooh I’m loving the cross section Laura! 😀
The swirls? That glaze! Oh my gosh!! Divine 😀
Pinned!
Those swirls are so pretty, but I know the glaze would be my favourite. I used to love eating the glaze off sweet breads when I was little. Ah the memories!
Apple + cinnamon = heaven!
This bread looks heavenly! It’s a rainy weekend here in Buffalo, a perfect weekend to bake a loaf of this gorgeous bread!
Oh this looks wonderful, Laura! Love it!!!
No, to answer your first question Laura. I find apples and fall spices totally irresistible! Your bread looks amazing, it’s the kind that I would probably eat 3 or 4 slices in one sitting!
What a lovely surprise to have that pinwheel inside the bread. I have just made banana and blueberry bread but it has no surprises. You header has changed again. I loved your last one.
How beautiful to slice into this gorgeous loaf! I can’t tell you how thrilled I am to smell cinnamon sugar this time of the year 🙂 I so want this for breakfast tomorrow 🙂
I totally agree, there’s nothing like a home made fresh bread and this one with apples, oh so yum! The kitchen must smell delicious.
even though I can’t eat a lot of gluten I WILL, however, make seasonal breads “just” for the lingering smells in the house.
true!
What a beautiful loaf of bread!
A deliciously seasonal bread! That combo is heavenly.
Cheers,
Rosa
Ha ha, I can see you really like apples. This bread looks amazing, beautiful swirl!
What a perfect bread to celebrate the entrance of fall. Your house must have smelled amazing. Delish!
Gorgeous apple bread that I have to bake very soon. I bet it smelled divine while it was baking and even better once you sliced into it!
Laura, I can almost smell this amazing bread. Gosh, my mouth is watering so much right now. Must make this bread:) Thanks for sharing.
Beautiful bread! Glad you shared inside – I didn’t expect inside is swirl (roll?) like that! So pretty and delicious. I agree, the smell must be wonderful!
With the swirl and glaze, do I need anything else?!
HOLY swirl!!! Laura, this is beyond! Oh man…do you deliver?!?!
Fabulous looking swirl of cinnamon and nuts in this bread. I’m a glaze fan so that makes it even better!
You’re right the smell of cinnamon and apples is the best part of fall baking!
Nothing better than cinnamon sugar on toasted bread! I’m a big fan of both cinnamon and apples 😉 Your bread is a beauty Laura 😉
I think we’re taste bud twins. All your treats always make me want to run to the kitchen and bake them…or knock on your door for a handout!
Lovely bread!
OH MY WORD!!! Gorgeous, seriously! I love breads with a swirl in them:-) Hugs, Terra
Oh my goodness. You make the prettiest bread! You’re really a master of yeast. 😀
I make a lot of cinnamon-y breads but this looks way better than anything I’ve ever created! Yummy.