This recipe describes how to create a delightful “Cinnamon Swirl Apple Loaf Cake,” a moist and tender quick bread infused with chunks of sweet apple and a delectable cinnamon-sugar swirl, all topped with a sweet, drizzled glaze. The image prominently features a freshly baked loaf, golden-brown on the outside, with a visible streusel-like topping that has been generously drizzled with a white glaze. A slice cut from the loaf reveals a tender, light-colored crumb with hints of fruit (likely apples or bananas based on typical loaf cakes) and a distinctive reddish-brown swirl of cinnamon and sugar running through the interior. The combination of warm spices, tender fruit, and a soft cake texture makes this loaf cake a comforting and satisfying treat, perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a delicious snack with coffee or tea. The easy preparation makes it a wonderful option for home bakers looking for a flavorful and relatively simple dessert.
Ingredients:
For the Apple Loaf Cake:
- 1 ½ cups (180g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup (56g) unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup (120g) plain Greek yogurt or sour cream (for moisture)
- 1 large apple (such as Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Fuji), peeled, cored, and finely diced (about 1 cup)
For the Cinnamon Swirl:
- ¼ cup (50g) packed light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
For the Glaze:
- 1 cup (120g) powdered sugar (confectioners’ sugar)
- 2-3 tablespoons milk (whole milk or 2%) or apple juice
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
Equipment:
- 9×5 inch loaf pan
- Large mixing bowl
- Medium mixing bowl
- Small bowl (for cinnamon swirl)
- Whisk
- Rubber spatula
- Electric mixer (handheld or stand mixer recommended for creaming butter and sugar)
- Paring knife and cutting board (for apples)
- Wire cooling rack
Instructions:
Part 1: Prepare for Baking & Cinnamon Swirl
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×5 inch loaf pan, or line it with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the longer sides to easily lift the loaf out later.
- Prepare Cinnamon Swirl: In a small bowl, combine the packed light brown sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour. Stir in the 2 tablespoons of melted butter until the mixture is crumbly and well combined. Set aside.
- Prepare Apples: Peel, core, and finely dice the apple. Aim for small, consistent pieces to ensure even distribution throughout the cake.
Part 2: Prepare the Loaf Cake Batter
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the softened ½ cup unsalted butter and ¾ cup granulated sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy (about 3-4 minutes). Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Beat in the large egg until fully incorporated. Stir in the 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
- Incorporate Wet and Dry: Add half of the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Then, add the Greek yogurt (or sour cream) and mix until incorporated. Finally, add the remaining dry ingredients, mixing on low speed only until no streaks of flour remain. Be careful not to overmix, as this can result in a tough cake.
- Fold in Apples: Gently fold in the finely diced apples with a rubber spatula until they are evenly distributed throughout the batter.
Part 3: Assemble and Bake the Loaf Cake
- Layer the Batter and Swirl: Pour about half of the cake batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread it evenly. Sprinkle about half of the cinnamon swirl mixture over the batter.
- Add Remaining Batter and Swirl: Carefully spoon the remaining cake batter over the cinnamon layer, spreading it gently to cover the swirl. Sprinkle the remaining cinnamon swirl mixture over the top of the batter.
- Create Swirl: Using a butter knife or a skewer, gently swirl the cinnamon mixture into the top layer of the batter with a back-and-forth motion, being careful not to drag it all the way to the bottom of the pan. This creates the visible swirl in the baked cake.
- Bake: Place the loaf pan in the preheated oven. Bake for 55-70 minutes, or until a wooden skewer or toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. If the top of the loaf starts to brown too quickly, you can loosely tent it with aluminum foil during the last 15-20 minutes of baking.
- Cool: Once baked, remove the loaf pan from the oven and place it on a wire cooling rack. Let the cake cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes before carefully lifting it out using the parchment paper overhang (if used) or inverting it onto the wire rack to cool completely.
Part 4: Prepare Glaze and Serve
- Prepare Glaze: While the cake is cooling, prepare the glaze. In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, 2-3 tablespoons of milk (or apple juice), and ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract until smooth. Add more liquid, a tiny bit at a time, if the glaze is too thick, or more powdered sugar if it’s too thin. You want a consistency that can be drizzled.
- Drizzle Glaze: Once the loaf cake has cooled completely (or at least to lukewarm), generously drizzle the prepared glaze over the top, allowing it to cascade down the sides.
- Slice and Serve: Allow the glaze to set slightly if desired, then slice the Cinnamon Swirl Apple Loaf Cake and serve.
- Storage: Store any leftover loaf cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days. For longer storage, it can be wrapped tightly and frozen for up to 2-3 months.
Tips for Success:
- Don’t Overmix: Overmixing the batter develops the gluten, leading to a tougher, denser cake. Mix only until ingredients are just combined.
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure your butter and egg are at room temperature. This helps them cream together more easily and creates a smoother batter.
- Properly Diced Apples: Finely dicing the apples ensures they cook through evenly and are well-distributed throughout the cake.
- The Swirl: When creating the swirl, don’t overdo it. A few gentle passes with a knife are enough to create a nice marbled effect without completely blending the cinnamon mixture into the batter.
- Glaze Consistency: Adjust the milk/juice in the glaze gradually until you achieve a thick but pourable consistency. Too thin, and it will disappear into the cake; too thick, and it won’t drizzle nicely.
- Testing for Doneness: A toothpick or skewer inserted into the center of the loaf should come out clean, without wet batter attached.
- Cooling is Key: Allow the cake to cool mostly or completely before glazing. Glazing a hot cake will cause the glaze to melt and soak into the cake, rather than sitting on top.
- Sweet Dessert: This Cinnamon Swirl Apple Loaf Cake is categorized as a sweet dessert. It fits alongside other sweet baked goods and desserts, such as the Pineapple Upside Down Loaf Cake, Fresh Strawberry Pie, Southern-Style Peach Cobbler, Super Moist Chocolate Truffle Cake, the chocolate cake held by a woman, Decadent Chocolate Ganache Layer Cake, Double Chocolate Cream Dream Cake, Fluffy Japanese-Style Blender Sponge Cake, Delightful Strawberry Crunch Cookies, No-Bake Cherry Cheesecake Lasagna, Southern-Style Blackberry Cobbler, Easy No-Bake Peanut Clusters, Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake, Homemade Fruit Cake, Classic Apple Bundt Cake, Creamy Lemon Pudding, Leche Flan, Fluffy Asian-Style Sponge Cakes (Mamon), Super Soft Vanilla Breakfast Cake, Lemon Meringue Cheesecake, World’s Best Butter Cookies, Classic Homemade Strawberry Cake, Healthy Carrot Cake, Homemade Creamy Ice Cream, Mini Cherry Cheese Danish, Pineapple Pecan Cream Cheese Pound Cake, Caramel Cream Cheese Pound Cake, Orange Blender Cake, Blueberry Bundt Cake, an unnamed chocolate pie, Maple Cream Pie, Vanilla Custard Puff Pastry Squares, Sweet Milk Fudge Squares, Strawberry Banana Pudding, Pineapple Upside Down Cupcakes, Fried Apple or Peach Pies or Yogurt Cake. It is distinct from savory items such as Sticky Honey Garlic BBQ Ribs, Cheesy Biscuit Bake with Pepper Topping, Irresistible Marinated Feta Cheese, Savory Sheet Pan Egg Muffins, Sizzling Chinese Pepper Steak with Onions, Longhorn Steakhouse Parmesan Chicken, Chicago Style Deep Dish Pizza, Dorito Taco Salad, Hearty Ground Beef Cabbage Soup, Pan-Fried Cod with Lemon Butter Sauce, Crispy Ground Beef Rolls, Southern-Style Cheddar Cheese Quick Bread, Fish Cutlets, Old Fashioned Salisbury Steak, Shepherd’s Pie, Braised Oxtail, Garlic Parmesan Fried Lamb Chops, Mac and Cheese, Pepperoni Pizza Bombs, Garlic Butter Lobster and Scallops, Fresh Napa Cabbage Salad, or a simple loaf of bread.