Easy Apple Cinnamon Loaf Cake (Cozy Fall Fav!)
This easy apple cinnamon loaf cake is soft, warmly spiced, and filled with little bites of tender apple that stay suspended in the batter thanks to a quick cinnamon-sugar toss. Applesauce and oil keep it extra moist, and everything comes together with no mixer in one-bowl for the coziest fall bake!
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup packed brown sugar (100g)
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup neutral oil, such as avocado or canola (120ml)
- ⅔ cup unsweetened applesauce (160g)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour (160g)
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1½ cups sweet-tart apple (such as Honeycrisp or Pink Lady), peeled and finely chopped (½-inch pieces) (180g)
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, for coating apples (12g)
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, for coating apples
Apple Cider Glaze (Optional)
- ½ cup powdered sugar (60g)
- 1-2 tablespoons apple cider
Instructions
For the Apple Cinnamon Loaf Cake
- Preheat & Prep: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x5-inch heavy duty metal loaf pan and line with parchment paper, leaving a slight overhang for easy removal.
- Make the Batter: In a large bowl, whisk together the brown sugar and eggs until pale and foamy, about 1 minute. Add the oil, applesauce, vanilla, salt, and cinnamon. Whisk until smooth. Sprinkle the flour, baking powder, and baking soda over the top. Stir with a spatula until just combined.
- Prepare the Apples: In a small bowl, toss the chopped apples with the granulated sugar and ½ teaspoon cinnamon until evenly coated. Fold the apple mixture into the batter. Pour into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
- Bake & Cool: Bake for 45-55 minutes, or until puffed, golden, and a tester inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Let cool in the pan for 20 minutes, then use the parchment to lift it out and cool completely before slicing.
For the Apple Cider Glaze
- Make the Glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and 1 tablespoon apple cider. Add more cider a few drops at a time until the glaze is smooth and pourable. Stir in a pinch of cinnamon if you want a little extra cinnamon flavor.
- Glaze: Let the loaf cool completely, then drizzle the top with the apple cider glaze. Allow glaze to set for 10-15 minutes before slicing.
Notes
- In testing, I found that peeling the apples gave the best texture, as the pieces stayed soft and tender without any chewy skin getting in the way.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 (of 10) | Calories: 245kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.05g | Cholesterol: 33mg | Sodium: 309mg | Potassium: 81mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 64IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 58mg | Iron: 1mg
