Kids’ Kitchen: Apple Breakfast Loaf Recipe (with Video)

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I’ve never been one to eat breakfast – I could last on coffee until noon – so I’m always on the look-out for easy healthy breakfast recipes to make the thought of eating breakfast a little more enticing. This Apple Breakfast Loaf Recipe is almost like having cake for breakfast, and it’s simple enough for the kids to make, too!

A decadent, tender breakfast bread with juicy chopped apples and a brown sugar-cinnamon swirl and topping. This easy apple loaf recipe is simple enough for kids to help make and takes less than 10 minutes to prep!

Apple Cinnamon Bread Recipe

My 5 year old daughter loves baking, so I’ve made it my mission to find or develop easy recipes that kids can make semi-independently.

This apple bread recipe not only results in a delicious, tender bread – it also is a great way to teach kids how to safely chop apples and measure ingredients, while developing their fine motor strength.

Side-by-side images of a child cutting apples

To help Ella cut up her apples, we use one of these apple slicers. My trick is that I cut the apple in half (perpendicular to the core) so that the apple halves can lay flat and she can line up her apple cutter with the apple core. We also have these sturdy butter knives and these crinkle cutters that are great for simple chopping. 

By providing kid-appropriate tools, I keep her safe in the kitchen while giving her independence. I basically just had to tell her the measurements and steps of the recipe and she did everything herself! (Except for the oven bit.) You can see all of our favorite kids’ kitchen tools here.

a child using a mixer in a bowl to make apple loaf

This apple breakfast loaf is tender and cake-like, with soft bits of baked apple in the bread and a generous coating of cinnamon and brown sugar on top, along with a swirl of cinnamon sugar in the middle.

It takes less than 10 minutes to whip together and makes the whole house smell amazing in the process.

Ella made this delicious apple bread early one morning and it was the perfect accompaniment to that first coffee of the day. She enjoyed her slice with a big dollop of Greek yogurt. It would also make a great homemade gift that kids can proudly present.

Apple loaf on a gray slate board, with a slice of the loaf broken apart in front to show the apple cinnamon filling

Can you freeze this apple bread? Yes! Wrap the apple bread and then store in airtight freezer containers or freezer bags for up to 2 months. (This set of freezer containers is a crazy bargain.) If you want to freeze each individual portion, you can slice and wrap individually before storing. 

Can this recipe be made gluten-free? Yes, substitute the flour called for in the recipe with a C4C gluten-free flour. Ensure that your flax meal is gluten-free, too.

Can I use a low-carb flour in this recipe? Yes, however if you are using a brand like CarbQuik, you will need to omit the baking powder called for in this recipe.

This recipe has become so popular since we originally posted it in 2016, we decided to update the images and add a recipe video to walk you through each step of the recipe – and also show what the batter should look like at every stage.

Be sure to check out the video and then don’t forget to scroll down to grab your free printable recipe:

 
composite image of a variety of apple-based baking recipes

A decadent, tender breakfast bread with juicy chopped apples and a brown sugar-cinnamon swirl and topping. This easy apple loaf recipe is simple enough for kids to help make and takes less than 10 minutes to prep!

Apple Breakfast Bread Ingredients

Scroll down to the printable recipe card for full measurements.

Tip: if using whole wheat flour, I find that only 1 1/4 cups is needed in this recipe.

Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful

  • Apple Cutter
  • Knife
  • Loaf Pan
  • Mixing Bowl
  • Electric mixer <– this is a great hand mixer if you don’t want to make the investment into a stand mixer and light enough for kids to handle
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Spatula <– I like these spatulas because they are one solid piece and don’t have removable heads for bacteria to get trapped underneath. Plus they are heat-resistant and have a lifetime warranty.
Apple loaf on a gray slate board, with a slice of the loaf broken apart in front to show the apple cinnamon filling

How to Make Apple Breakfast Loaf

Gathering ingredients is always the first step for me in any recipe.

There is no point in prepping your loaf pans if you realize that you are out of an essential ingredient!

process shots of how to make apple loaf

Next, we lined our loaf pan with parchment paper to allow for easy removal (and it’s easier for Ella to do than ensure an even coating of butter & flour).

We grabbed Ella’s apple cutter out of her Kitchen Closet, and she set to work practicing that skill. My trick when kids are using apple cutters like this is to cut the apple in half so that the apple rests flat on the cutting board. We also cut the apples even smaller so that the chunks of apple weren’t too big.

In a medium-sized bowl, combine the flour and baking powder, then set aside.

In a small bowl, mix together the cinnamon and brown sugar. Set aside.

process shots of how to make apple loaf

In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. 

Next, add in the eggs, milk and vanilla extract. Beat until combined.

Beat in the dry ingredients (flour and baking powder) until there are no lumps in the batter – being careful not to overmix.

process shots of how to make apple loaf

Scoop half of the batter into the prepared loaf pan, then top with half of the chopped apples and half of the cinnamon-brown sugar mixture.

Pour the remaining batter overtop, then top with the remaining chopped apples and cinnamon-brown sugar mixture.

Apple loaf on a gray slate board, with a slice of the loaf placed in front and a few apples scattered behind

Bake at 350F for 45-55 minutes, until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

Pin this Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Loaf to make with the kids:

How to make apple cinnamon breakfast loaf, the best apple bread recipe with a tender, cake-like crumb and juicy chopped apples. A cinnamon-brown sugar swirl and topping takes this simple apple bread over the top!

Here’s your free printable version of this Apple Breakfast Loaf Recipe:

Yield: 1 loaf, 8 slices

Apple Breakfast Loaf Recipe

Apple Breakfast Loaf Recipe

A decadent, tender breakfast bread with juicy chopped apples and a brown sugar-cinnamon swirl and topping. This easy apple loaf recipe is simple enough for kids to help make and takes less than 10 minutes to prep!

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour

Ingredients

  • 1 large apple, chopped into small bite-sized pieces
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons ground cinnamon
  • ⅔ cup white sugar
  • ½ cup butter, room temperature
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ cup milk

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Line a loaf pan with parchment paper, or a silicone loaf insert.
  3. Chop up the apples into small 1/2" portions.
  4. Combine brown sugar and cinnamon together in a small bowl and set aside.
  5. Cream white sugar and butter until light and fluffy, then add eggs one at a time, then vanilla.
  6. Add flour and baking powder, then milk.
  7. Pour half the batter into the prepared pan.
  8. Cover with half of the apples.
  9. Pat apples into batter with the back of a spoon.
  10. Sprinkle with half of sugar and cinnamon mixture.
  11. Pour the remaining batter over apple layer; top with remaining apples and add more brown sugar/cinnamon mixture.
  12. Pat topping into the batter with the back of a large spoon.
  13. Bake for 45-55 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the middle of the loaf comes out clean.
  14. Cool in pan 10 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 344Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 78mgSodium: 243mgCarbohydrates: 53gFiber: 2gSugar: 31gProtein: 5g

Sugar, Spice and Glitter uses an auto-generate nutrition calculator. Nutrition information isn’t always accurate unless analyzed in a scientific lab, so these should be considered more of a guideline than medical information.

Pin this Recipe for Later

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

apple loaf on slate tray, with the front slice missing to show off the apple cinnamon swirl in the center of the loaf

Are you a breakfast person? What’s your go-to breakfast for when you want something a bit special?

Be sure to check out our other delicious breakfast ideas, including our California Breakfast Casserole & Sugar-free Banana Bread.

Check out these awesome Kid-Made Breakfasts from my fellow kids’ activity bloggers:

Healthy, Yummy, Gluten-Free Blueberry Muffins | Living Montessori Now

Buttermilk Pancakes with Strawberry Compote  |  Royal Baloo

Tex-Mex Migas | The Gifted Gabber

Pear and banana breakfast oat and almond muffins | Kidgredients

No Bake Energy Bites | Mess for Less

Cheesy Chive Scrambled Eggs | Kitchen Counter Chronicles

Easy Omelet Recipe | Sugar Aunts

Original Image from 2016:

This apple breakfast loaf recipe is the perfect recipe for kids to help with in the kitchen! Tender, cake-like bread with cinnamon-brown sugar and real chunks of apple mixed in - the perfect way to start your day.

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