This Layered Apple and Cinnamon Loaf is such a delicious loaf that features the quintessential fall flavor combos- apples, cinnamon, and brown sugar.
If you love apples as much as I do in the fall, let me recommend a few of my other apple recipes. Classic apple pie is a staple in our house in the fall. It is filled with lightly sweetened apples and a flaky pie crust. Apple cider coffee cake in another sweet apple cake.

What Makes This Loaf So Good?
Let me just tell you about this loaf, there is so much to love! Not only is the cake part of it delicious, but it is also similar to a classic vanilla pound cake.
Then the loaf is layered with cinnamon brown sugar and fresh apples. This is all baked-together tastes and feels like fall should be. Think cooler temps, sweaters, and pumpkin patches. This cake goes so well with all of this.
Ingredients
- All-purpose flour- I like to use unbleached flour in my baking recipes.
- Whole wheat pastry flour- if you have never used this flour before, whole wheat pastry flour is a low protein flour and is perfect for baking cakes like this as it keeps them tender.
- Baking Powder- Used for leavening.
- Cinnamon- Cinnamon, and apple are flavors that were meant to be together!
- Brown sugar- this is used in the filling.
- Fresh apples- I will discuss more about choosing apples below.
- Oil- canola oil is what I used, but you can use any neutral-flavored oil you prefer.
- Granulated Sugar- This is used in the cake batter. Again, you can use any granular sugar you like here.
- Eggs- this recipe is made for large eggs.
- Greek Yogurt- I started adding Greek yogurt to my baked goods quite a while ago and love the effect. It makes them so tender! You can also use sour cream if you have it on hand.
Step-By-Step For Making The Apple Cinnamon Layered Loaf
- Mix together the brown sugar and cinnamon.
- Chop your apples to about ½ inch.
- In a small bowl, mix together both flour, baking powder, nutmeg, and salt.
- In a medium-sized bowl add your oil and granulated sugar. Mix.
- Add in your eggs, vanilla, and Greek yogurt.
- Last, mix in your dry ingredients.
- Now, add half your batter to the loaf pan.
- On top of the batter sprinkle half your apples and half the cinnamon brown sugar mix.
- Pour in the last half of the batter, then top again with the remaining apples and brown sugar mix.
- Bake until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Allow it to cool slightly before removing it from the pan.
- Then, you can eat it warm, or wait until it has cooled. I promise it is really good either way.
- Now, sit back and enjoy. You deserve it!
Notes For The Apple Cinnamon Layered Loaf
- I love the mix of all-purpose flour and whole wheat flour. If you are new to using whole wheat flour in your baked goods, I recommend using this balanced approach. Not only will your friends and family appreciate a moderated, but your body will as well. Also, I love to use whole wheat pastry flour. This is a lower protein flour, and perfect for cakes, cookies, etc. When you use a higher protein flour, your baked goods will always be a little tougher. So, if you have not used whole wheat pastry flour, I recommend it!
- Do not overmix. One of the biggest mistakes I see in baked goods is overmixing. When you overmix, your loaf will not be as soft and tender as it could be. When I say this, what I mean is you only need to mix until the ingredients are combined, no need to overdo it.
- I love using brown sugar in this recipe for layering. You can use granulated sugar and it is good, but the brown sugar really adds a depth of flavor to this loaf.
What Apples Work Best For This Recipe?
You really can use any apples you love, but let me make a suggestion on which apples I would avoid. Softer apples like red and golden delicious are ones I always avoid.
My favorite is Granny Smith or Gala. I always have them on hand in the fridge too, so that makes it easier. Fuji apples are another great one to use. Honeycrisp is also really good.
Important Things To Know About Baking This Loaf
- The most important thing about baking this loaf is not to overbake. All baked goods will continue to cook even after they are removed from the heat source. This is called carry-over cooking/baking.
- This is so important as this can happen with your loaf easily if you aren't mindful of it.
- As whole wheat flours will absorb more moisture, this is extra important in whole wheat baked goods like this one. Let me tell you how I have the best success cooking with whole wheat.
- I underbake just SLIGHTLY. What does this do? Well, when our carry-over cooking happens, this loaf comes out perfectly slightly underbaked. If you pull the loaf out when it is perfectly baked, by the time the carry-over cooking happens, it winds up being a little dry. I hear this complaint about whole wheat baked goods all the time.
- Also, I used this awesome Calphalon 8x4 inch loaf pan. It has been a favorite for a long time!
Layered Apple and Cinnamon Loaf
Equipment
- 1 loaf pan
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup brown sugar I love to use a dark brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- ½ cup canola oil
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla
- ¾ cup all purpose flour remember anytime you measure flour to fluff the flour first, then measure by adding it to your measuring cup with a fork.
- ¾ cup whole wheat pastry flour remember anytime you measure flour to fluff the flour first, then measure by adding it to your measuring cup with a fork.
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt you can also use regular yogurt or sour cream if you prefer
- 1-2 cup apples- peeled and cubed
Instructions
- Be sure and read instructions all the way through before starting.Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter or spray your 8x4 loaf pan. Set aside.
- Mix your brown sugar and cinnamon together in a small bowl and set aside. IN another small bowl, mix together your flours, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg together and sets aside.
- Add your oil and granulated sugar to the bowl. Mix well. Add eggs and vanilla and mix again. Next is the flour mixture. This time only mix to barely combine. Last is the greek yogurt or sour cream. Again, only mix to combine.
- Add half your batter to the prepared pan. Add half your chopped apples to the bottom layer of batter, press in, then sprinkle with half your brown sugar/cinnamon mix. Use the remaining batter, the last half of the apples (make sure to press into the batter), then the last of the brown sugar and cinnamon.
- Place in the oven and bake for about 30-45 minutes. The time will depend on the actual temp of your oven and the thickness of your pan. The loaf will be a deep golden brown. I like to check with a toothpick, but keep in mind you have chunks of apples in this bread, so make sure it isn't baked apple sticking to the toothpick!
- Once it is baked, remove and place on a cooling rack in a pan for at least 5 minutes. This will give the bread time to pull away from the edges of the pan. Then carefully flip it upside down to remove the loaf.
- This is perfect while it is still hot. It is great to cool. It is awesome the day after as well. Honestly, it is just really good. If you are storing overnight, make sure and wrap tightly with saran wrap or store in an airtight container. It is also really good with a cold glass of milk!
Notes
- I love the mix of all-purpose flour and whole wheat flour. If you are new to using whole wheat flour in your baked goods, I recommend using this balanced approach. Not only will your friends and family appreciate a moderated, but your body will as well. Also, I love to use whole wheat pastry flour. This is a lower protein flour, and perfect for cakes, cookies, etc. When you use a higher protein flour, your baked goods will always be a little tougher. So, if you have not used whole wheat pastry flour, I recommend it!
- Do not overmix. One of the biggest mistakes I see in baked goods is overmixing. When you overmix, your loaf will not be as soft and tender as it could be. When I say this, what I mean is you only need to mix until the ingredients are combined, no need to overdo it.
- I love using brown sugar in this recipe for layering. You can use granulated sugar and it is good, but the brown sugar really adds a depth of flavor to this loaf.
Did you make this recipe? Let me know!