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Pull-Apart Apple Bread Recipe

This Apple Bread Recipe is filled with all the cozy Autumn flavors. The soft pull-apart bread has a butter spread, apples, cinnamon, and an amazing glaze. If you love the warm rich taste of Baked Apples, this apple bread is sure to become a new favorite.

Sliced apple bread loaf.

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Hey, hey! Valentina with Valentina’s Corner sharing a wonderful homemade Apple Bread Recipe.

Apple Bread Recipe

Pull-apart apple bread is everything you can ask for in a sweet bread recipe. A soft and fluffy bread loaf that’s rolled out like cinnamon buns and topped with a generous portion of a vanilla butter spread, chunks or grated fresh apple and finished off with cinnamon sugar. The dough is cut and stacked like a pull-apart bread and topped with the best glaze.

Your house is going to smell wonderful as the aromas of the apple bread fill the home. This smells just like Homemade Apple Pie!

Apple bread loaf on a platter with a few fresh apples on the side.

The Best Apples for Apple Bread?

Most crisp-tart apples will work in this recipe. Granny Smith apples are our favorite for baking. Gala and Golden Delicious are also great choices. Avoid apples that soften easily, like McIntosh apples or Red Delicious.

Tips for How to Make Apple Bread:

  • Be sure the flour is measured out correctly.
  • The milk should be warm for the yeast to activate and become foamy. Milk should be just warm to the touch.
  • The dough should feel soft and not stick to your hands or mixing bowl. If your dough sticks to the bowl, add a few more tablespoons of flour, mixing well after the added flour.
  • Mix the dough using a Kitchen Aid mixer with a dough hook or by hand.
  • Butter MUST be room temp for easy spreading.
  • When stacking the bread, stack loosely (it doesn’t have to look pretty)! The dough will rise again and fill in the extra space.
  • Glaze Tip: For a glaze that penetrates into the bread, add glaze while the loaf is still warm. For a thicker glaze that will spread, add glaze once the loaf is completely cool.

Step-by-step images how to make a sweet apple bread loaf.

How to Form Pull-Apart Bread:

Once the dough is made, forming the apple bread is as simple as making Cinnamon Rolls.

  • Roll out dough into a rectangle
  • Generously spread the vanilla butter over the dough
  • Add the apples (cubed or grated) over the butter and sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar
  • Cut dough into 5 long uniform strips
  • Cut the strips into equal squares for easy stacking
  • Stack dough and transfer to pan and bake bread

Step-by-step photo instructions how to make an apple bread loaf.

2 Ways to Layer Pull-Apart Bread:

  1. When adding the stacked dough to the pan, for a pull-apart bread loaf, stack the bread loosely in a single layer.
  2. For a bread loaf that you will cut into slices, stack the pieces unevenly and intertwined so you can cut the bread with a knife and it won’t fall apart.

The Best Pan for Apple Bread:

Your bread pans should be at least a 1 lb pan with dimensions of 9″x5″ and deep so the dough doesn’t overflow.

How to stack bread loaf.

More Sweet Bread Recipes:

There’s nothing like pulling a warm sweet bread from the oven on a cool morning. The aroma of sweet bread recipes will fill your kitchen better than any scented candle.

What is your favorite way to enjoy apples? Let me know in a comment below! We are always looking for new ways to incorporate apples into recipes. 🙂

Pull-Apart Apple Bread Recipe

4.76 from 135 votes
Author: Valentina Ablaev
Apple bread sliced and glazed
An amazing Apple Bread Recipe. Soft pull-apart bread loaded with a butter spread, apples, cinnamon and a tasty glaze that you'll want to bake over and over again. 
Prep Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 12 servings

Bread Dough Ingredients:

  • 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour, sifted
  • 3/4 cup whole milk
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 5 Tbsp unsalted butter, cubed
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 Tbsp active dry yeast

Apple Filling Ingredients:

  • 8 Tbsp unsalted butter, 1/2 cup
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • 4 cups apples, peeled and grated
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar

Glaze Ingredients:

Instructions

To Make the Apple Bread:

  • Cover two bread pans with parchment paper, butter sides or spray with baking spray. Preheat oven to 350°F at step 6. In a small saucepan, add butter, milk, water and sugar. Stirring frequently, cook until milk becomes warm and butter melts. (If milk gets too hot, let it cool until just warm to the touch.)
  • Sprinkle yeast over the warm milk and stir. Cover the bowl and allow yeast to activate and become foamy, about 5 minutes. Stir in 2 beaten eggs.
  • Add flour to a large mixing bowl, form a well in the center, and add the warm milk mixture. Fold until the flour until the dough is soft, pliable and no longer sticks to your hands or the bowl. (Tip: Add additional flour 1 Tbsp at a time as needed until dough no longer sticks to the bowl.) Cover the dough with plastic wrap and let rise 1 hour at room temperature.
  • Transfer dough to a generously floured work surface. Lightly sprinkle top with flour and use a rolling pin to roll it into an 18”x20” rectangle.
  • In a small bowl, use a fork to combine butter and vanilla. Spread the butter evenly over the rolled dough. Spread grated or diced apples evenly over the top. Combine the cinnamon and sugar, sprinkle evenly over the dough.
  • Cut the dough into 5 long uniform strips. Cut the strips into squares. Stack dough and transfer to bread pans dividing dough between the two pans, loosely stacking the squares on their sides. Cover pans with a towel or plastic wrap, rise 30 minutes. Bake uncovered at 350˚F for 25-30 minutes until bread is golden in color. Allow bread to cool completely before applying glaze.

How to Make the Sweet Bread Glaze:

  • In a saucepan, on med/high heat, combine butter, sugar and vanilla. Bring to a light boil. Add heavy whipping cream, stir to combine and remove from heat. Set aside to cool.
  • Once the glaze is cooled, add the powdered sugar. Set glaze aside to thicken then drizzle or spread over the cooled apple bread. 

Notes

This recipe makes 2 apple bread loaves.

Nutrition Per Serving

10g Serving390kcal Calories53g Carbs6g Protein18g Fat11g Saturated Fat72mg Cholesterol23mg Sodium129mg Potassium2g Fiber23g Sugar590IU Vitamin A2mg Vitamin C44mg Calcium2mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Pull-Apart Apple Bread Recipe
Serving Size
 
10 g
Amount per Serving
Calories
390
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
18
g
28
%
Saturated Fat
 
11
g
69
%
Cholesterol
 
72
mg
24
%
Sodium
 
23
mg
1
%
Potassium
 
129
mg
4
%
Carbohydrates
 
53
g
18
%
Fiber
 
2
g
8
%
Sugar
 
23
g
26
%
Protein
 
6
g
12
%
Vitamin A
 
590
IU
12
%
Vitamin C
 
2
mg
2
%
Calcium
 
44
mg
4
%
Iron
 
2
mg
11
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Bread, Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Apple Bread, pull apart bread
Skill Level: Medium
Cost to Make: $
Calories: 390
Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook

If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen

Valentina Ablaev

I am Valentina, the creator behind the food blog Valentina’s Corner where I share our family’s favorite recipes. When I am not in the kitchen, I enjoy spending quality time with my husband and 5 children. We invite you to join us on our blogging journey!

Read more posts by Valentina

4.76 from 135 votes (91 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Beth Stanford
    January 21, 2024

    Once again, Natasha did not let me down. It is light with the right amount of sweet. The two loaves were perfect as I took one to my neighbor! This was meant as an afternoon treat but can’t wait to bake for breakfast as well.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 21, 2024

      Thank you so much, Beth!

      Reply

  • Estelita Monteverde
    August 10, 2023

    Thanks for your beautiful and easy recipes… You’re Amazing.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      August 10, 2023

      You’re welcome! I’m so happy you’re enjoying my recipes, Estelita!

      Reply

  • Donna
    February 10, 2023

    Hi Natasha, is it ok to use instant yeast? How much should be added? Thanks.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      February 10, 2023

      Hi Donna! I haven’t experimented with instant yeast in this recipe therefore, it’s difficult to make that recommendation but if you test it out, please let us know how you liked it. Enjoy!

      Reply

  • Sharon
    November 15, 2022

    I made this recipe. It was difficult and not as “pretty” as it could be. I think the dough was a little chewy. I thought it appeared undercooked. I baked it for 30 minutes at 350. Tasted ok. What did I do wrong?

    Reply

    • Natasha
      November 16, 2022

      Hi Sharon, a couple of things that can make the dough tough are – adding too much flour. See our post on how to measure ingredients. Also, overloading with apple or over or under proofing can cause the dough to be tough.

      Reply

  • cookingchihuhua
    November 14, 2022

    Really delicious!!! Some others noted having to bake 35 to 40 minutes, they are correct. I had to pull mine at 35 because I was in a hurry, it was slightly under. Other than that, I did not need any modifications. Apple flavor was delicious and plentiful.

    Reply

  • Leisa
    November 14, 2022

    I loved this recipe. I did lay out my grated apples on a towel because there would be too much moisture and I will add the 1/2 tsp of salt the next time but other than that it was perfect.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      November 14, 2022

      Glad you love this recipe, Leisa and sounds good! Feel free to make some changes next time according to your personal preference.

      Reply

  • Jason
    October 8, 2022

    I cut the ingredients in half and made just one loaf. No modifications or substitutions. This apple bread is fantastic! Great texture and perfect amount of sweetness. It took 45 minutes to bake.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      October 8, 2022

      Thank you for sharing, Jason! So glad you loved this apple bread. 🙂

      Reply

  • Gyorgyi Balint
    October 7, 2022

    Love this recipe! I used 2% milk, had to add a bit more to be able to work with the dough! NO extra flour! Other than that I followed the recipe! Baked for 35-40 min, PERFECT! Thank you Natasha!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      October 8, 2022

      So glad you loved it! Thank you for the review.

      Reply

  • Tulsi
    May 14, 2022

    Natasha, this recipe really doesn’t work as written. I usually follow a recipe exactly on the first try. The bread just doesn’t get done in 30 min at 350deg. It has a “biscuity” texture instead of bread-like. Also, I agree with other comments about the flavor being “flat.” All the ingredients sound good, the end result is not that good. Please work your magic and modify this recipe to make it worthwhile.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      May 16, 2022

      Hi Tulsi, I’m sorry to hear it didn’t work well for you. Did you change anything or make any substitutions? I’m not sure why it would be biscuit-like unless maybe a fresh leavening was needed? Sometimes expired leavening can cause issues like that.

      Reply

    • hikeforlife
      December 4, 2022

      I agree. It was bland. One thing is there should be salt in the mixture for the warm milk/yeast. I bake sweet rolls all the time and you always need some salt in the base dough. Also needs longer to cook. Too much work for a poor outcome.

      Reply

  • Evelina doroshenko
    January 21, 2022

    Like the recipe states continue adding flour until it doesn’t stick to bowl and I needed to add 3 more TBSP. Other than that the recipe was spot on. My husband actually really liked it because he doesn’t like super sweet desserts. If you do like super sweet than double cinnamon sugar. My dough rose perfectly. I followed the recipe to a T except didn’t have enough apples so I had about 2.5 cups. On one of the pans I added pecans and that was good.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 21, 2022

      Thank you so much for sharing your great review with us, Evelina! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply

  • Laurie Bimeal
    November 17, 2021

    I followed reciepe on the dough but my dough never raised. yeast was just bought expires in 22. dough was nice and soft not sticky at all. just chucked it. will start all over tomarrow. was so disapointed.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      November 19, 2021

      Hi Laurie, I wonder if maybe you used the liquid that was too hot or proofed in an oven that was too hot (which would deactivate the yeast) or tried proofing where it’s too cold which would hinder yeast

      Reply

  • Mel
    November 13, 2021

    This was so good.. I thin sliced my apples and coated them with a little lemon and white sugar.. also used brown sugar, chopped walnuts with a pinch of salt on the bread.. I put the whole recipe in a deep lasagna pan. Used vanilla bean in the the glaze. Turned out really well.. almost like apple turnovers. Would have posted a pic but not much left lol 😂

    Reply

  • Colleen
    November 2, 2021

    I made this as written and it is seriously missing salt. Has potential but the lack so salt makes it very bland. May try again with the 1/2 tsp people recommend in the comments. Wish I had read those first….and probably also more cinnamon and sugar.

    Reply

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