2 cups Granny Smith apples, peeled and chopped into small chunks
1/2 cup powdered sugar (for glaze)
1 tablespoon milk or cream (for glaze)
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan with butter or non-stick spray, or line it with parchment paper for easy removal. In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar and cinnamon together and set it aside.
Toss your chopped apple chunks with 2 tablespoons of the cinnamon-sugar mixture you just made. This ensures the apples are well-seasoned and creates a syrup-like coating as they bake inside the bread.
In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy. This usually takes about 2 to 3 minutes with an electric mixer. Add the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract, beating well after each addition.
Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a separate bowl. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, alternating with the milk. Stir until just combined, being careful not to overmix the batter.
Pour half of the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Top with half of the apple mixture and half of the remaining cinnamon sugar. Pour the rest of the batter over the apples, then top with the remaining apples and cinnamon sugar. Use a knife to gently swirl the layers together.
Place the pan in the oven and bake for 50 to 60 minutes. The bread is done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. If the top starts to brown too quickly, you can loosely cover it with aluminum foil for the last 15 minutes.
Allow the bread to cool in the pan for about 15 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack. While it cools, whisk together the powdered sugar and milk to create a thick glaze. Drizzle the glaze over the warm bread and let it set before slicing.