Amish Apple Fritter Bread: Sweet & Easy Dessert Recipe

Amish Apple Fritter Bread is more than just a breakfast item; it’s a slice of pure comfort that evokes memories of crisp autumn mornings and wholesome, homemade goodness. I am absolutely thrilled to share a recipe that perfectly captures the essence of classic apple fritters, reimagined into an incredibly moist, sweet loaf. Imagine the delightful aroma of cinnamon, sweet apples, and buttery bread filling your kitchen – that’s the promise of this exceptional bake.

A Taste of Amish Tradition, Reimagined

The Amish culinary tradition is celebrated for its simplicity, using quality ingredients to create dishes that are both hearty and profoundly satisfying. This bread beautifully embodies that philosophy, taking the beloved flavors of deep-fried apple fritters – the tender apple chunks, the warm spice, the sweet glaze – and transforming them into a fuss-free, bakeable form. I’ve found that what truly makes Amish Apple Fritter Bread so irresistible is its incredible texture: a soft, moist crumb studded with caramelized apples and crowned with a sweet, crackly streusel and a delicate glaze. It’s the perfect blend of a comforting cake and a hearty quick bread, making it an ideal treat for breakfast, brunch, or even a delightful dessert. You’ll quickly understand why this dish has become a cherished favorite in so many homes.

this Recipe

Ingredients:

• For the Amish Apple Fritter Bread:

  • 2 ½ cups (300g) all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, plus extra for the apple layer
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (240ml) buttermilk (or 1 cup regular milk + 1 tablespoon lemon juice/white vinegar, let sit for 5 minutes)
  • ½ cup (120g) sour cream or plain full-fat Greek yogurt, at room temperature

• For the Apple Filling:

  • 3 medium apples, peeled, cored, and finely diced (about 3 cups diced). I highly recommend using a crisp, flavorful variety like Honeycrisp, Gala, Fuji, or Granny Smith for the best texture and taste in your Amish Apple Fritter Bread.
  • ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• For the Brown Sugar Swirl:

  • ¼ cup (50g) packed light brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• For the Vanilla Glaze:

  • 1 ½ cups (180g) powdered sugar (confectioners’ sugar)
  • 2-3 tablespoons milk (any kind), or heavy cream for a richer glaze
  • ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Preparing the Apple Filling:

1. Before we dive into mixing our wonderful batter, let’s get our apples ready. This small step ensures they’re perfectly seasoned and ready to be layered into our Amish Apple Fritter Bread. Begin by peeling, coring, and finely dicing your three medium apples. The key here is “finely diced”, aiming for pieces no larger than a pea. This helps them soften beautifully during baking and distributes their flavor evenly throughout the bread. If the pieces are too large, they might not cook through properly or could create air pockets.
2. Once diced, transfer the apple pieces to a medium bowl. Sprinkle the ¼ cup of granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon over the apples.
3. Using a spoon or your clean hands, gently toss the apples until they are thoroughly coated with the sugar and cinnamon mixture. You’ll notice a delightful aroma starting to fill your kitchen already! Set these aside while you prepare the main bread batter. The sugar will start to draw out some of the apple’s natural juices, creating a lovely, slightly syrupy coating that will bake into a tender, flavorful surprise within your Amish Apple Fritter Bread.

Making the Amish Apple Fritter Bread Batter:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). This is a crucial first step for any baking project, as it ensures your oven is at the correct temperature when your batter is ready to go in, preventing uneven baking.
2. Prepare a 9×5 inch loaf pan. Grease it generously with butter or baking spray. For extra ease of removal, I often like to line my loaf pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the longer sides. This creates “handles” that make lifting the finished bread out incredibly simple. This small trick is a lifesaver when dealing with moist, tender breads like our Amish Apple Fritter Bread.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together your dry ingredients: the 2 ½ cups of all-purpose flour, 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg. Whisk for at least 30 seconds to a minute to ensure all the leavening agents and spices are evenly distributed. This prevents pockets of plain flour or concentrated baking soda in your final bread. Set this bowl aside for a moment.
4. In a separate large bowl, using an electric mixer (either a stand mixer with the paddle attachment or a hand-held mixer), cream together the ½ cup (113g) softened unsalted butter and 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar. Beat on medium speed for about 2-3 minutes, until the mixture is light, fluffy, and pale yellow. This creaming process is vital as it incorporates air into the butter and sugar, which contributes significantly to the light and tender texture of your Amish Apple Fritter Bread.
5. Add the 2 large eggs to the creamed butter and sugar, one at a time. Beat well after each addition, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Ensure each egg is fully incorporated before adding the next. Then, stir in the 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract. The mixture might look a little curdled at this stage, but don’t worry, it will come together as you add the dry ingredients.
6. Now it’s time to alternate adding your dry ingredients and wet ingredients to the butter mixture. With the mixer on low speed, add about one-third of the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients and mix just until combined.
7. Next, pour in half of the buttermilk and mix until just incorporated.
8. Repeat this process: add another third of the dry ingredients, mix, then add the remaining buttermilk and mix.
9. Finally, add the last third of the dry ingredients along with the ½ cup of sour cream (or Greek yogurt). Mix on low speed until just combined and no streaks of flour remain. Be careful not to overmix the batter, as overmixing can develop the gluten too much, resulting in a tough bread. A few small lumps are perfectly fine. We want our Amish Apple Fritter Bread to be tender and soft.

Assembling and Baking the Amish Apple Fritter Bread:

1. In a small separate bowl, prepare your brown sugar swirl mixture. Combine the ¼ cup of packed light brown sugar and 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, mixing them together thoroughly with a fork until no lumps remain and the color is uniform. This aromatic mixture will create a beautiful, rich ribbon of flavor throughout your Amish Apple Fritter Bread.
2. Spoon about half of the bread batter into your prepared 9×5 inch loaf pan, spreading it evenly across the bottom. The batter will be thick, so a rubber spatula works best for spreading.
3. Evenly sprinkle about half of your prepared apple filling over the first layer of batter. Try to distribute the apple pieces as uniformly as possible to ensure every slice of Amish Apple Fritter Bread gets a taste of those tender, spiced apples.
4. Next, sprinkle about half of the brown sugar swirl mixture over the apples. This is where the “fritter” magic truly begins to form, creating those iconic spiced sugar pockets.
5. Carefully spoon the remaining bread batter over the apple and brown sugar layer, gently spreading it to cover the filling completely. Take your time with this step, ensuring the top layer of batter covers everything without disturbing the layers too much.
6. Now for the grand finale of layering! Sprinkle the remaining apple filling over the top layer of batter.
7. Finally, generously sprinkle the remaining brown sugar swirl mixture over the apples on top.
8. Using a butter knife or a thin skewer, gently swirl through the top layers of the batter. Don’t go too deep; you’re just aiming to create a beautiful marbled pattern and slightly integrate the top apple and brown sugar layers into the batter. This swirl is what gives the Amish Apple Fritter Bread its characteristic fritter-like appearance and helps distribute the flavors.
9. Place the loaf pan in your preheated oven. Bake for 55-70 minutes, or until a wooden skewer or toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean or with only a few moist crumbs attached. Baking times can vary significantly depending on your oven, so it’s always best to keep an eye on it after about 50 minutes. If the top of the bread starts to brown too quickly before the center is cooked through, you can loosely tent it with aluminum foil.
10. Once baked, remove the loaf pan from the oven and place it on a wire rack. Let the Amish Apple Fritter Bread cool in the pan for at least 15-20 minutes. This resting period allows the bread to set and firm up, making it much easier to remove from the pan without breaking.
11. After 15-20 minutes, carefully lift the bread out of the pan using the parchment paper overhangs (if you used them) or invert it onto the wire rack. Remove the parchment paper, if any, and let the bread cool completely on the wire rack before glazing. Allowing it to cool completely is crucial for the glaze; if the bread is warm, the glaze will simply melt and soak in, rather than forming that beautiful, slightly crisp shell we’re aiming for.

Preparing the Vanilla Glaze:

1. While your Amish Apple Fritter Bread is cooling, you can prepare the simple yet essential vanilla glaze. In a small bowl, combine the 1 ½ cups of powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons of milk (or cream), and ½ teaspoon of pure vanilla extract.
2. Whisk these ingredients together thoroughly until the mixture is completely smooth and free of lumps. You’re looking for a thick but pourable consistency.
3. Consistency is key here: If the glaze is too thick, add a tiny bit more milk, about a teaspoon at a time, until you reach the desired consistency. If it’s too thin, whisk in a little more powdered sugar. It should be thick enough to cling to a spoon but thin enough to drizzle beautifully. This glaze adds the perfect touch of sweetness and moisture to the Amish Apple Fritter Bread, elevating its flavor profile.

Finishing and Serving Your Amish Apple Fritter Bread:

1. Once the Amish Apple Fritter Bread has completely cooled (and I truly mean completely, usually an hour or two), generously drizzle the vanilla glaze over the top. You can use a spoon to zig-zag it artistically or simply pour it over and let it cascade down the sides. Don’t be shy; a good amount of glaze is part of the charm of this bread!
2. Allow the glaze to set for about 10-15 minutes before slicing. This will prevent the glaze from running off when you cut into your beautiful Amish Apple Fritter Bread.
3. Slice the bread with a serrated knife into thick, generous slices. Serve immediately and enjoy the incredible aroma and taste! This bread is truly a comforting treat, perfect for breakfast, brunch, or an afternoon snack with a cup of coffee or tea.

Tips for the Perfect Amish Apple Fritter Bread:

• Don’t Overmix the Batter: This is a golden rule in baking, especially for quick breads like our Amish Apple Fritter Bread. Overmixing develops gluten, which can lead to a tough, dense bread instead of the tender, moist crumb we’re aiming for. Mix just until the ingredients are combined and no dry streaks of flour remain. A few small lumps are perfectly acceptable.
• Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensuring your butter, eggs, buttermilk, and sour cream are all at room temperature is more important than you might think. Room temperature ingredients emulsify much better, creating a smoother, more uniform batter. This leads to a better texture and rise in your final Amish Apple Fritter Bread. Take them out of the fridge at least an hour before you plan to bake.
• Choose the Right Apples: The type of apple truly makes a difference in this recipe. Opt for firm, tart-sweet varieties that hold their shape well during baking, such as Honeycrisp, Gala, Fuji, Granny Smith, or Pink Lady. Soft, mealy apples will turn to mush, detracting from the fritter experience. The slight tartness also balances the sweetness of the bread and glaze beautifully.
• Finely Dice the Apples: As mentioned in the preparation steps, finely dicing the apples is key. Smaller pieces ensure they cook through evenly, soften to a pleasant texture, and are distributed throughout each bite of your Amish Apple Fritter Bread, rather than creating large, inconsistent chunks.
• Don’t Skimp on the Glaze: The vanilla glaze is an integral part of the “fritter” experience. It adds a lovely sweetness and a beautiful finish. Make sure the bread is completely cool before glazing, otherwise, the glaze will melt and be absorbed, rather than forming that delightful slightly crusty layer.
• Test for Doneness: Ovens can vary wildly, so rely on the toothpick test rather than just the clock. Insert a wooden skewer or toothpick into the very center of the bread. If it comes out clean or with only a few moist crumbs, your Amish Apple Fritter Bread is done. If there’s wet batter, continue baking in 5-minute increments.
• Parchment Paper Liner: I cannot recommend this enough! Lining your loaf pan with parchment paper, allowing some to overhang, makes removing the fragile, moist Amish Apple Fritter Bread from the pan an absolute breeze. It prevents sticking and breakage, ensuring your beautiful creation stays intact.

Storage and Serving Suggestions:

• Storage at Room Temperature: This Amish Apple Fritter Bread stores wonderfully at room temperature. Once the glaze has fully set, you can store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days. For best results, keep it in a cool, dry place. The flavors tend to meld even more on the second day, making it an even more delightful treat.
• Refrigeration: While not strictly necessary, if you live in a very humid environment or want to extend its shelf life by an extra day, you can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Just be aware that refrigeration can sometimes slightly alter the texture of quick breads, making them a little firmer. Allow it to come to room temperature before serving for the best experience.
• Freezing: Yes, you can absolutely freeze Amish Apple Fritter Bread! To freeze, make sure the bread is completely cooled and unglazed. Wrap the cooled loaf tightly in plastic wrap, then an additional layer of aluminum foil. You can also slice it first and wrap individual slices. It will keep well in the freezer for up to 2-3 months. Thaw at room temperature for several hours or overnight before glazing and serving. This is a fantastic way to enjoy a taste of autumn long after the season has passed.
• Serving Suggestions:
  • Classic Breakfast: Enjoy a thick slice of Amish Apple Fritter Bread with your morning coffee or tea. It’s perfectly satisfying on its own.
  • Brunch Centerpiece: It makes an excellent addition to any brunch spread, alongside eggs, bacon, or fresh fruit.
  • Dessert Indulgence: Warm a slice slightly in the microwave for 10-15 seconds and serve it with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or a dollop of fresh whipped cream for a truly decadent dessert. The warm apples and cinnamon pairing with cold ice cream is divine.
  • Afternoon Treat: It’s the ideal companion for a quiet afternoon break, offering a comforting sweetness.
  • Gift Idea: This beautiful Amish Apple Fritter Bread makes a thoughtful homemade gift for friends, family, or neighbors. Wrap it in cellophane with a nice ribbon, and you have a present that truly comes from the heart.

Conclusion:

Well, my friends, we’ve reached the sweet finale of our culinary journey, and I genuinely hope you’re feeling inspired to roll up your sleeves and bring this incredible recipe to life in your own kitchen. After all we’ve discussed, it’s clear why this particular creation isn’t just another item on your baking list; it’s truly a must-try experience. What makes it so utterly irresistible? It’s the perfect marriage of comfort and indulgence, a symphony of textures and flavors that captivates from the very first bite. Imagine a moist, tender bread, swirled generously with pockets of sweet, tender apples and fragrant cinnamon sugar, all crowned with a delicate, sugary glaze that practically melts in your mouth. It perfectly captures the essence of a warm, crispy apple fritter, but in a convenient, sliceable loaf form that’s just begging to be savored. It truly embodies the spirit of homemade goodness, offering a warmth and charm that store-bought treats simply cannot replicate. This isn’t just a recipe; it’s an invitation to create a moment of pure, unadulterated joy for yourself and your loved ones. The aroma alone as it bakes will fill your home with an irresistible sweetness, hinting at the deliciousness to come.

But the magic doesn’t stop once it’s out of the oven! While a fresh slice of this bread, still warm from cooling, is absolutely divine on its own, there are so many delightful ways to enjoy it and truly make it your own. For a simple yet utterly satisfying breakfast, serve a slice (or two!) alongside your morning coffee or a steaming cup of tea. It’s hearty enough to be a standalone treat but also pairs wonderfully with a side of scrambled eggs or a bowl of fresh fruit for a more complete brunch spread. If you’re looking to elevate it into a decadent dessert, try gently warming a slice and serving it with a generous scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. The cold, creamy ice cream melting into the warm, apple-cinnamon bread is a truly exquisite combination, creating a playful contrast that’s simply heavenly. A dollop of freshly whipped cream would also be a fantastic addition, adding another layer of luxurious texture. And don’t be afraid to experiment with variations! While apples are traditional and truly shine here, you could try substituting them with ripe peaches or a mix of berries for a seasonal twist, adjusting the spices to complement your chosen fruit. A sprinkle of chopped walnuts or pecans folded into the batter would add a delightful crunch and nutty flavor, enhancing the complexity of each bite. Or, if you’re feeling adventurous, consider a different glaze altogether – a maple glaze would add a wonderful depth, or even a simple cream cheese glaze for a tangier finish. This bread is incredibly forgiving and open to your creative touch, allowing you to personalize it to suit any occasion or preference.

Now, I know you’re probably already dreaming of that first bite, and that’s exactly the feeling I wanted to inspire! So please, don’t just read about this wonderful creation; make it your next baking project. Seriously, I encourage you, with all the enthusiasm a fellow food lover can muster, to set aside some time this week and experience the pure delight of baking and tasting your very own Amish Apple Fritter Bread. It’s a rewarding process from start to finish, and the results are truly spectacular. You’ll be amazed at how easily you can create something so impressive and utterly delicious right in your own kitchen. There’s a special kind of satisfaction that comes from pulling a golden-brown loaf from the oven, knowing you crafted every single element with care and love. And once you’ve had a chance to enjoy it, I would absolutely love to hear from you! Your experiences and insights are invaluable. Did you stick to the recipe exactly, or did you put your own unique spin on it? Perhaps you discovered a new favorite serving suggestion, or a brilliant variation that takes it to the next level? Please, share your stories, your photos, and your tips in the comments below or wherever you connect with me. Let’s build a little community around this amazing bread. Your feedback not only brightens my day but also helps inspire other bakers in our community. This recipe isn’t just about following instructions; it’s about making memories, sharing joy, and savoring truly delicious, homemade goodness. I’m genuinely excited for you to try it, and I can’t wait to hear all about your delicious journey!