Caramel Apple Fritter Bread – Sweet, Gooey, and Perfectly Spiced

There’s something magical about apples, cinnamon, and caramel baked into a soft, moist loaf. This Caramel Apple Fritter Bread captures all the flavors of your favorite fall treat in a simple, sliceable bread perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert.

Whether you’re craving a warm, spiced snack or want to impress guests with a homemade sweet bread, this recipe is easy, indulgent, and absolutely irresistible.

Why You’ll Love This Bread

• Soft and Moist Texture: Apples and a touch of oil keep the bread tender.
• Sweet Caramel Swirl: Adds rich, gooey flavor reminiscent of apple fritters.
• Cinnamon-Spiced Goodness: Perfectly balanced warmth and sweetness.
• Versatile Serving: Great warm with coffee, toasted for breakfast, or served as dessert.

Ingredients for Caramel Apple Fritter Bread

Bread Base

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ cup milk

Apple Filling

• 2 cups peeled, diced apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp)
• ½ cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Caramel Glaze

• ½ cup caramel sauce
• Optional: extra cinnamon sugar for sprinkling

Instructions (Step-by-Step)

1. Preheat the Oven

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan and line with parchment paper for easy removal.

2. Prepare the Dry Ingredients

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Set aside.

3. Make the Wet Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk melted butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, and milk until smooth and well combined.

4. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients

Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until a thick batter forms. Do not overmix to keep the bread tender.

5. Layer the Apple Filling

Mix diced apples with brown sugar and cinnamon. Pour half of the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle half of the apple mixture evenly. Add remaining batter, then top with the remaining apple mixture.

6. Bake

Bake for 50–60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow bread to cool in the pan for 10–15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.

7. Add Caramel Glaze

Drizzle caramel sauce over the cooled bread. Optional: sprinkle extra cinnamon sugar for added crunch and flavor.

8. Slice and Serve

Cut into thick slices and enjoy warm or at room temperature. Perfect with coffee, tea, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for dessert.

Caramel Apple Fritter Bread

Moist and spiced bread filled with diced apples, swirled with caramel, and topped with a sweet glaze.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 20 minutes mins

Servings: 8 slices

Course: Breakfast, Dessert

Cuisine: American, Autumn

Calories: 320

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

Bread Base

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 0.5 tsp baking soda
• 0.5 tsp salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 0.5 tsp nutmeg
• 0.5 cup unsalted butter melted
• 0.75 cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs large
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 0.5 cup milk

Apple Filling

• 2 cups apples peeled and diced
• 0.5 cup brown sugar packed
• 1 tsp cinnamon

Caramel Glaze

• 0.5 cup caramel sauce

Equipment

• Loaf pan
• Parchment paper
• Mixing bowls
• Wire rack

Method

 

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a 9×5-inch loaf pan.
2. Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a medium bowl.
3. Whisk melted butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, and milk in a separate bowl.
4. Fold dry ingredients into wet ingredients until just combined.
5. Mix diced apples with brown sugar and cinnamon.
6. Layer half the batter into loaf pan, sprinkle half apple mixture, add remaining batter and apples.
7. Bake 50–60 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool 10–15 minutes on wire rack.
8. Drizzle caramel sauce over cooled bread. Slice and serve.

Notes

Best enjoyed warm. Store in airtight container up to 3 days.

Tips for Perfect Apple Fritter Bread

• Choose Firm Apples: Granny Smith or Honeycrisp hold up well during baking.
• Don’t Overmix: Overmixing can make the bread dense. Fold gently.
• Even Apple Distribution: Layer apples for maximum flavor in every bite.
• Caramel Control: Drizzle caramel lightly to prevent soggy bread.
• Storage: Wrap in foil or store in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat slightly for best flavor.

Variations

• Nutty Twist: Add ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans to the apple filling.
• Spiced Up: Add a pinch of ground cloves or allspice for deeper fall flavor.
• Gluten-Free Version: Substitute all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free blend.
• Mini Loaves: Bake in muffin tins for individual portions.
• Caramel Swirl: Swirl half of the caramel into the batter before adding apples for a more decadent treat.

Serving Suggestions

• Serve warm for breakfast or brunch with coffee or tea.
• Top with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for dessert.
• Slice and pack as a sweet snack for picnics or holiday gatherings.
• Pair with a hot caramel latte for the ultimate autumn treat.

Fun Facts & Cultural Context

• Apple fritters have been a beloved treat for centuries, combining fried dough with sweet spiced apples.
• Transforming fritter flavors into bread is a modern twist that makes it easy to enjoy all the flavor without frying.
• Caramel apple desserts are particularly popular in fall, especially around Halloween and Thanksgiving.
• Cinnamon, nutmeg, and brown sugar create the signature warm, spiced flavor reminiscent of classic American fall desserts.