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5 from 6 reviews

This apple cake loaf is soft, fluffy, and filled with delicious apple chunks. It’s easy to make, and can be topped with a cinnamon cream cheese icing or enjoyed as it! It’s filled with Fall spices and you won’t even need a mixer!

apple cake loaf sliced with half an apple beside it

This apple cake loaf is just the perfect way to welcome Fall. It’s a cozy recipe and I love making it to enjoy at home or even give as a gift (baked goods make the best gifts!).

This recipe can be made with dairy ingredients or it can be made dairy free, and the optional cinnamon cream cheese icing pairs perfectly with the cinnamon apple bread!

apple cake loaf sliced with cinnamon cream cheese glaze in a bowl and sliced apples scattered around it

Why You’ll Love This Apple Cake Loaf

  • It’s easy to make and there is no mixer required!
  • The unglazed loaf on it’s own isn’t too sweet, so it’s perfect for serving at brunch!
  • It uses oil instead of butter, which gives the loaf a light, fluffy texture.
  • It’s filled with little bits of apple, and you can use any kind of apples you’d like!
  • The apple loaf can be topped with a cinnamon cream cheese icing for a sweeter treat, or enjoyed plain. You can also top it with a streusel topping before baking (like this one, used in these Blueberry Muffins)
  • Both the loaf and the cinnamon cream cheese glaze can be made using dairy ingredients, or you can make this loaf completely dairy free!
apple cake loaf sliced with half an apple beside it and another slice of apple cake on a plate

Ingredients Needed

  • Oil: any neutral oil will work great – sunflower oil, canola oil, vegetable oil are best. You can also substitute for unsweetened apple sauce or melted butter.
  • Flour: this recipe works best with all-purpose flour. Be sure to properly measure your flour using a kitchen scale or the scoop and level method!
  • Milk: You can use regular milk, or if you follow a dairy free diet, you can use any unsweetened dairy free milk you’d like.
  • Cream Cheese: If you plan to make the cinnamon cream cheese glaze, you can use regular cream cheese or vegan cream cheese. Adjust the milk and icing sugar quantities to reach desired consistency.
  • Apples: My favorite apples to use in this recipe are Gala apples or Honey Crisp, but you can use Fuji, Pink Lady, Granny Smith, or any other varieties. If you want to avoid mushy apple pieces, I recommend staying away from Red Delicious.
ingredients to make apple cake loaf in bowls with labels

Step By Step Instructions

Note: Full ingredient measurements and instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this page.

STEP ONE: Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare a 9×5 loaf pan with parchment paper. Leave some hanging over the sides to make it easier to lift the loaf out of the pan later. Chop the apple into small cubes, roughly 0.5”, measure out 1 ½ cups, and set aside.

STEP TWO: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, baking powder, and baking soda and set aside. 

step by step process showing how to make apple cake loaf

STEP THREE: In a large bowl, mix oil, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together. Add the eggs, vanilla extract, and milk and mix until combined. Slowly add in the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.

STEP FOUR:  Stir in chopped apples, then pour the batter in the pan and bake for 37-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the centre of the loaf comes out clean. 

STEP FIVE: Let the loaf cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely. If making the cinnamon cream cheese icing, combine all ingredients in a bowl and whisk until there are no clumps. Store in the fridge and drizzle onto the loaf before serving. The icing will stay soft, especially in warmer temperatures.

apple cake load sliced with an apple in the background

Expert Tips

  • Properly measure your flour: Over-measuring your flour will lead to a dry, crumbly apple cake loaf. I strongly recommend using a kitchen scale, but you can also use the scoop and level method if you don’t have a scale. 
  • Keep an eye on the bake time: Leaving the loaf in the oven for too long can also lead to a dry, over-baked loaf. You can begin checking at around 35 minutes to be safe, as all ovens are different. 
  • Don’t over-mix the batter: Stop stirring in the dry ingredients as soon as the last specks of flour disappear.
  • Play around with add-in’s: If you’d like to add nuts to the loaf, chop up some walnuts or pecans and fold them into the batter, or sprinkle them on top of the loaf before baking.
apple cake loaf sliced with cinnamon cream cheese frosting on top and a slice on a plate beside it

Storage Instructions

The un-glazed loaf should be kept covered at room temperature for up to 4 days. I recommend storing the cream cheese glaze separately in an airtight container in the refrigerator, then glazing the loaf before serving. If the loaf has already been topped with the cinnamon cream cheese glaze, it should be stored in the refrigerator. 

You can also freeze the unglazed loaf for up to two months. After it has cooled completely, wrap it tightly in ceran wrap, then wrap in tinfoil and place in a large ziploc bag. You can also freeze individual unglazed slices the same way.

MORE FALL RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE

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Apple Almond Cake
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Easy Vegan Apple Cake
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Apple Blueberry Crisp
Close-up of sliced pumpkin loaf with cream cheese frosting on top and a bowl of pumpkin puree and cinnamon sticks sit nearby on a parchment-lined surface.

Pumpkin Loaf with Cream Cheese Frosting

If you make this recipe, let me know how it went in the comments below, I’d love to hear from you! You can also tag me on Instagram or Facebook so I can check it out!

apple cake loaf sliced with cinnamon cream cheese icing and a sliced apple beside it
5 from 6 reviews

Apple Cake Loaf

Gabby Kislanko
This apple loaf is soft, moist, and filled with delicious apple pieces. It’s topped with a cinnamon cream cheese glaze and so easy to make!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 10 slices
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Ingredients
 

Apple Cake Loaf

  • ⅓ cup canola oil (or other neutral oil)
  • ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar
  • ½ cup (105 g) light brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • 1½ cups apple* chopped into small pieces (roughly 1 1/2 apples)
  • ⅓ cup milk, (regular or vegan)
  • 1¾ cups (218.75 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Icing (optional)

  • 4 tbsp cream cheese, softened, (regular or vegan)
  • ¼ cup (30 g) powdered sugar (icing sugar/confectioner's sugar)
  • ½ tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1-2 tbsp milk , (regular or dairy free)

Instructions
 

Apple Cake Loaf

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9×5 loaf pan with parchment paper, letting it hang out over the sides. This will make it easier to remove the loaf from the pan later. Set aside.
  • Chop apples into small cubes (roughly 0.5″) and set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg and set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, mix oil, granulated sugar, brown sugar together. Whisk in the eggs, milk, and vanilla extract.
  • Slowly pour the dry ingredients into the bowl of the wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Fold in the chopped apples. Pour batter into the loaf pan and bake for 37-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the centre of the loaf comes out clean. Let cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack.

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Icing (optional)

  • Add powdered sugar, cinnamon, cream cheese, and 1 tablespoon of milk to a bowl and whisk until fully combined, adding more milk if needed to adjust consistency.
  • Pour the glaze over the cooled loaf right before serving. Slice and enjoy!

Equipment

9×5 Loaf Pan
Mixing Bowl

Video

Notes

PLEASE NOTE: I highly recommend using a kitchen scale to weigh your dry ingredients. Metric measurements are found above under the “Metric” tab.
APPLES: You can use any kind of apples! The best are Gala, Honey Crisp, Granny Smith. You can also use Fuji or Pink Lady. You can leave the peel on, as the pieces are small enough that you don’t notice it.
MEASURING FLOUR: Properly measure your flour using the scoop and level method or a kitchen scale. This is crucial as too much flour will lead to a dry loaf.
OIL: Any neutral oil will work here, like sunflower, canola, or vegetable oil. Oil helps with the fluffy texture of the loaf. You can also use melted butter or unsweetened apple sauce, though the texture may be affected slightly.
CINNAMON CREAM CHEESE GLAZE: If the glaze is too thick, add a little more milk. If it’s too thin, you can add 1/2 tbsp more cream cheese or more powdered sugar until desired consistency is reached.
STREUSEL: If you’d rather top the loaf with streusel, you can use this delicious cinnamon streusel recipe. Sprinkle over top of the batter before baking. 
It is important to note that any substitutions to the original recipe will slightly change the texture of the muffins. This includes different sweeteners and flours.
Storage and Freezing:
Store the loaf at room temperature for up to 4 days. I don’t recommend refrigerating as this can dry out the loaf. If topping with the cinnamon cream cheese glaze, note that it may not set as well if the temperature is too warm. I recommend leaving the loaf unglazed until just before serving.
The apple loaf can also be frozen (without the cinnamon cream cheese icing): After it has cooled completely, wrap the loaf tightly in ceran wrap, then wrap in tinfoil and place in a large ziploc bag. You can also freeze individual unglazed slices the same way. Freeze for up to two months.
Note: Calorie information provided above includes cinnamon cream cheese glaze.
Calories: 268kcal, Carbohydrates: 39g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 6g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 40mg, Sodium: 309mg, Potassium: 91mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 21g, Vitamin A: 150IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 62mg, Iron: 1mg
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The calorie information provided for this recipe is an estimate. The accuracy of the calories listed is not guaranteed.