Make this easy apple yeast bread filled with brown sugar and lots of cinnamon. Soft, sweet-scented pull-apart bread is perfect for a cozy autumn afternoon.
If you ask me, the best smell in a kitchen is freshly baked bread. Regular bread smells amazing, but the aroma of sweet apple yeast bread beats everything. Itโs warm, comforting, inviting, and oh-so tempting.
This apple yeast bread is incredibly soft and tender, with a crunchy top, just the right amount of sweetness, and a delicious cinnamon flavor.
I have a real soft spot for this kind of yeast bake, and this apple pull-apart bread is one of my absolute favorites. I never miss a chance to bake another batch of these fluffy, delicious cushions. If you like them too, have a look at this amazing Yeast Cake or this Plum Bread. You will love them both!
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Recipe ingredients
Apples: You will need a crisp sort of apple; it is best to bake this pull-apart loaf. Try Golden Delicious, Pink Lady, or Gala. Don't use soft apples; they will disintegrate in the bread, and you will not have the nice pieces anymore. Check out this Vegan Apple Bread.
Walnuts: They add a very nice crunch; I would not want to miss them. If you have more walnuts, try this incredible Romanian Walnut Buttercream Cake, too.
Yeast: I used active dry yeast. You can replace it with the same amount of active dry yeast or 15 g/ 0.5 oz fresh yeast.
Other ingredients: All-purpose flour, sugar, milk, butter, eggs, lemon, brown sugar and cinnamon.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to make an apple yeast bread?
- Step #1: Make the yeast dough and let it rise.
- Step #2: Roll it into a rectangle about ยฝ cm/ 0.5 inch thick, as long as the loaf pan and 3 times as broad as the loaf pan.
- Step #3: Generously spread the melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon mixture over the rectangle. Save about ยผ of the mixture to finish the loaf later. Sprinkle about ยพ of the walnuts on top. (Image 1).
- Step 4:ย Cut the rectangle into 3 long strips. Each strip should be cut into 4 squares, for a total of 12.
- Step #5: Tilt the loaf pan against a wall or sturdy object so it stands upright. Begin stacking the dough squares in the pan (Image 2), adding a few apple cubes to each square except for the last one.
- Step #6: Set the loaf pan back on your work surface and gently shake it to help the squares spread evenly (Image 3).
- Step #7: Let the dough rise again and preheat the oven in the meantime.
- Step #8: Sprinkle the remaining butter-sugar-cinnamon mixture and walnuts over the top, along with a few extra butter cubes, more brown sugar, and cinnamon for added crunch and flavor.
- Step #9: Bake for about 30 minutes until the bread is cooked through but still soft. If the top starts browning too quickly, cover it with a piece of aluminum foil.
Good to know!
Measurements: When baking, use aย digital kitchen scaleย (the Amazon affiliate link opens in a new tab); it is more reliable.
Equipment: You can make the dough with a stand mixer or a handheld mixer with kneading attachments.
Use fresh or instant yeast: You can use fresh yeast (about 15 g/ 0.5 oz) or instant dry yeast as well. Proof the fresh yeast like you would proof the active dry yeast. Instant dry yeast can be mixed directly with the dry ingredients.
The milk should be lukewarm (body temperature) and not too hot, or it will destroy the yeast.
How to store?
The bread is best served the day it is baked. However, it can be stored for several days.
This soft apple yeast bread can be stored at room temperature, wrapped in a clean kitchen towel, for up to 2 days. In the fridge, keep it in an airtight container for 4-5 days.
To freeze, place it in an airtight container for up to 3 months and defrost in the fridge.
For a quick refresh, warm it in a preheated oven at 160ยฐC (320ยฐF) for 5-10 minutes, until slightly warm before serving again.
Apple Yeast Bread
Equipment
- Loaf pan about 23 cm/ 9 inch
Ingredients
Dough (Note 1):
- 150 ml lukewarm milk โ cup
- 1 ยฝ tablespoon active dry yeast Note 2
- 3 ยฝ tablespoons unsalted butter
- 375 g all-purpose flour 3 cups + 2 tablespoons
- 50 g granulated sugar ยผ cup
- a pinch of salt
- 2 large eggs
Filling:
- 2 small apples
- juice of ยฝ lemon
- 75 g unsalted butter โ cup
- 100 g brown sugar ยฝ cup
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 50 g walnuts โ cup, chopped
- Sprinkle:
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ยฝ tablespoon brown sugar
- ยฝ teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
Dough:
- Lightly butter the loaf pan.
- Proof yeast: Heat the milk until lukewarm (body temperature). Mix with the yeast and let stand for about 5 minutes until the mixture is foamy. Melt the butter and let cool slightly until needed.150 ml lukewarm milk/ โ cup + 1 ยฝ tablespoon active dry yeast; 3 ยฝ tablespoons unsalted butter
- Mix: In the food processor, mix the flour, sugar, and salt. Add the melted butter, eggs, and milk-yeast mixture. 375 g all-purpose flour/ 3 cups + 2 tablespoons + 50 g granulated sugar/ ยผ cup + a pinch of salt + 2 large eggs + butter + yeast mix
- Knead with the kneading attachments until the dough is smooth and it doesn't stick anymore. Add 1 or 2 teaspoons extra flour if the dough is too sticky, but not too much; the dough should still be soft.
- Let rise: Transfer the dough to a bowl, cover it with a clean kitchen towel and let rise in a warm spot for about ยฝ to 1 hour or until doubled in size.
Filling:
- Peel the apples, remove the core, and chop the apples into small cubes. Turn them into the lemon juice to avoid them browning. Melt the butter and mix it with brown sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon.2 small apples + juice of ยฝ lemon 75 g unsalted butter/ โ cup + 100 g brown sugar/ ยฝ cup + 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Assemble:
- Knead the dough very briefly and roll it into a rectangle on the lightly floured surface. The rectangle should be about ยฝ cm/ 0.5 inch thick, as long as the loaf pan, and 3 times as broad as the loaf pan.
- Fill: Spread about ยพ of the butter-sugar mixture on the rectangle and sprinkle about ยพ of the chopped walnuts on top.ยพ of 50 g walnuts/ โ cup
- Cut the rectangle into 3 long strips. Cut each of these strips into 4 squares; you should have 12 of them. Prop the loaf pan against the wall or another larger object; it should stand.
- Start to staple the dough squares in the pan, placing a few apple cubes on each square except the very last one. Place the loaf pan on the working surface again and shake gently to help the squares spread evenly in the pan.
- Let rise: Cover the loaf pan with the kitchen towel again and let rise for about 20 minutes. In the meantime, preheat the oven to 180ยฐC/ 360ยฐF.
Bake:
- Top: Spread the rest of the butter-sugar-cinnamon mixture on top of the bread. Sprinkle with the remaining chopped walnuts and top with the remaining cubed butter. Sprinkle with the rest of the cinnamon and brown sugar.2 tablespoons unsalted butter + ยฝ tablespoon brown sugar + ยฝ teaspoon cinnamon
- Bake for about 30 minutes until the bread is cooked through but still soft. If the top of the bread gets too dark too soon, place a piece of aluminum foil on top. The bread tastes best when very fresh and still a bit warm.
Notes
- Measurements: Always use a digital kitchen scale in baking; it ensures the best results (the Amazon affiliate link opens in a new tab).
- Yeast: You can use fresh yeast (about 15 g/ 0.5 oz) or instant dry yeast as well. Proof the fresh yeast like you would proof the active dry yeast. Instant dry yeast can be mixed directly with the dry ingredients.
mjskitchen says
I bet you whole house did smell wonderful while this was baking. I can almost smell by looking at these pictures. SO GOOD!
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop says
This is a bread I need to make! It looks simply amazing!
Anu - My Ginger Garlic Kitchen says
Apples and cinnamon are one the best combos ever. This apple cinnamon pull-apart bread looks so yummy, Adina. Perfect Fall brunch. ๐
grace says
this might be the best pull-apart bread i've ever seen--LOVE that apple-cinnamon combination! great texture too. ๐
Evi @ greenevi says
Just by looking at your pictures, I can almost smell the baked apples, cinnamon and walnut...such an awesome autumn treat recipe!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
I'm obsessed with apples and cinnamon, and one can never eat enough carbs!! So this bread is calling my name! I can almost smell it from here! Cheers!
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
I have absolutely zero control when it comes to homemade bread, sweet or savoury...this looks amazing with apples.
Anne|Craving Something Healthy says
YES to the smell of baking bread and apples! Pinned this and can't wait to try it!
Monica says
I'm rarely disappointed when I make something with yeast. It's total magic, and your pull apart bread looks amazing! The cinnamon and apples is so perfect for this time of year and I love added texture with nuts. Wish I could pull a slice for myself this morning! : )
Dawn @ Girl Heart Food says
This looks delicious and love the walnuts in there! I agree....the smell of bread baking is SOOOO good! Nothing beats it! How nice that you picked your own apple too! !We have an itsy bitsy apple tree and I look out into the garden and see this little red apple on there. It's not as perfect as store bought ones, but can't wait to pick it....just hope I get to it before any critter does ๐