Cinnamon Swirl Apple Bread — a quick, stir-and-bake loaf for autumn

# Why this loaf works This is a quick bread built for ease and flavor. It uses a stirred batter rather than a yeast rise or a stand mixer, so you can make it with basic bowls and a spatula. Fresh, finely diced apples are folded into a tender batter, and a simple cinnamon-sugar mixture is layered through the middle and on top to create a pronounced swirl and crunchy-sweet top.

# Ingredients at a glance

• Cinnamon swirl: 1/3 cup granulated sugar + 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon.

# Step-by-step method

1. 1Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a standard 9×5-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment.

1. 1Whisk dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, salt) in a medium bowl.
2. 2In a large bowl, whisk melted butter with 1 cup sugar. Add eggs one at a time, whisking after each. Stir in sour cream and vanilla until smooth.
3. 3Pour dry ingredients into wet and fold gently with a spatula until just combined — do not overmix.
4. 4Fold in the finely diced apples.
5. 5Pour half the batter into the prepared pan, sprinkle half the cinnamon sugar evenly, add remaining batter, then sprinkle the rest of the cinnamon sugar on top. Drag a butter knife through the batter in a zig-zag to marble the swirl.
6. 6Bake 55–65 minutes. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean when the loaf is done.
7. 7Cool in the pan 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. Slice and serve.

# Practical tips and small adjustments

• Apples: finely dicing helps distribute fruit throughout the loaf so it stays tender and slices evenly. Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Granny Smith are listed as good choices for texture and flavor.

• Mixing: fold until just combined to avoid a dense loaf. Visible streaks of flour should disappear without excessive stirring.
• Swirl technique: sprinkle cinnamon sugar between batter layers and marble with a knife to create a clear center swirl and a crunchy top.

# How to serve

# Final note This is a straightforward, stir-and-bake quick bread that highlights fresh apples and cinnamon without specialized equipment or a yeast rise. The layered cinnamon sugar gives a noticeable swirl and sweet crust while the sour cream (or Greek yogurt) keeps the crumb moist.