Cinnamon Swirl Apple Oat Bread

Cinnamon Swirl Apple Oat Bread made with whole grain oats instead of flour. This wholesome bread recipe is slightly lower in sugar and fat and is positively packed with warmly-spiced apple cinnamon flavor.

If you’re like me and you can’t get enough of apple treats during the fall harvest season, you’re going to get an absolute kick out of this healthy apple oatmeal bread.

It’s moist and fluffy, features a generous vein of cinnamon sugar deliciousness, and is made even better with the lovely presence of chopped apples.

I may have eaten a substantial amount of the loaf alongside beef stew, treating it as though it was some sort of dinner roll, but I see this as the perfect breakfast or snack as well. 

The only thing that stopped me from eating the whole loaf was I wanted my husband to enjoy some. He calls it cake, for what it’s worth. 

If you’ve made my Healthy Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread or my Cinnamon Swirl Oatmeal Pumpkin Bread, you already know what we’re getting into here!

A tender, lovely texture with a thread of cinnamon and sugar running through the center and this time hunks of fresh apples studded throughout. 

I don’t add much sweetener to the apple bread batter, because the cinnamon sugar swirl takes care of the majority of the sweetness. With lower added sugar, this great recipe is a healthier treat and a good source of whole grains.

That said, if you prefer sweeter treats, you may consider using up to ½ cup of granulated sweetener in the bread mixture in addition to the cinnamon swirl.

Let’s discuss the simple ingredients for cinnamon swirl apple oatmeal bread.

Cinnamon Swirl Apple Oat Bread:

Quick Oats: Rather than using all-purpose flour for this delicious apple bread recipe, we use whole grain oats.

I like using oatmeal rather than white flour because the fiber produces a lower impact on blood sugar.

Rolled oats, quick cooking oats, instant oats, and old-fashioned oats all work. 

To make the bread gluten-free, be sure to use certified gluten-free oats. I use gluten-free sprouted oats. 

Apple: One large apple gets peeled and chopped up and added to the bread batter so that the bread is studded with apple deliciousness.

I like using a honey crisp apple, but pink lady or Granny Smith apples or any kind of apples you enjoy work just as well. Tart apples will yield a bigger apple flavor. 

Eggs: We need a couple of eggs to make the bread nice and fluffy. I haven’t tested the bread with an egg replacer yet, but if you try it, be sure to comment below letting us know which one you used and what the result was.

Bring the eggs out of the refrigerator 15 minutes prior to baking to bring them closer to room temperature.

Coconut Sugar (or granulated sweetener of choice): Used to sweeten the bread, we need some form of granulated sugar. I like using coconut sugar, but brown sugar or regular white sugar works too. 

I use only a few tablespoons of sweetener in the bread batter itself because the cinnamon sugar swirl adds the majority of the sweetness. Nevertheless, you can add more sweetener for a sweeter treat.

Avocado Oil: We need a little fat to generate richness and that moist crumb we all love so much in sweet quick bread recipes.

I like using avocado oil because it has a decent amount of omega-3 fatty acids and a neutral flavor. You can also use melted butter or melted coconut oil. 

Applesauce: Adding to both the apple flavor and the moisture content of the bread, we add some apple sauce.

You can use store-bought applesauce or homemade applesauce. I use unsweetened applesauce but it still contains a little natural sweetness. 

Baking Powder: The leavening agent here. We need baking powder to give rise to the bread and ensure it holds together nicely when sliced.

Ground Cinnamon and Pumpkin Pie Spice: The cinnamon swirl contains a combination of ground cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice in order to obtain an array of warmly-spiced flavors.

Looking for ways you can customize this healthy oatmeal apple bread? Here are some options.

Recipe Adaptations:

• Replace the oats with 2 cups of almond flour or 1 ⅔ cup gluten-free all-purpose flour.
• You can replace the applesauce with 2 large ripe mashed bananas if you’d like for a sweeter bread that has a hint of banana flavor. 
• Add ⅔ to 1 cup of chopped pecans or chopped walnuts for a nutty crunch.
• Use 10 tablespoons of melted butter (1 stick + 2 tablespoons) instead of the avocado oil. While you can use 1/2 cup (1 stick) of butter to replace the 1/2 cup of oil, I recommend going with slightly more for the best results because oil is greasier than butter.
• Add 2/3 cup of chocolate chips if you love pockets of chocolate goo in this apple oatmeal bread recipe.

Now that we’ve covered the basic ingredients for this delicious apple cinnamon oatmeal bread, let’s bake a loaf!

How to Make Cinnamon Swirl Apple Oat Bread:

Preheat the oven to 350 and line a 9” x 5” loaf pan with parchment paper. If you don’t have parchment paper on hand, you can liberally spray the loaf pan with cooking spray or grease it up with butter or coconut oil.

Peel the apple and chop it into small pieces. As an alternative to chopping small apple pieces, you can use shredded apples by grating the apple with a box grater. I personally prefer nice chunks of apples.

Transfer the oats to a high-powered blender and blend on low speed for 60 seconds, or until oat flour forms.

Add in the remaining dry ingredients: sugar, baking powder, sea salt and cinnamon, and blend some more until the dry mixture is well combined.

Mix the eggs, avocado oil, and vanilla extract together in a large bowl until the wet ingredients are well-combined.

Pour the oat flour mixture into the large mixing bowl with the wet ingredients and stir well.

Add in the fresh apple chunks (or grated apple) and mix well until it is thoroughly distributed throughout the batter.

Pour half of the apple bread batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread it into an even layer.

In a small bowl, stir together the ground cinnamon, pumpkin spice, and coconut sugar (or granulated sweetener of choice) until well combined.

Sprinkle all of the cinnamon sugar mixture over the bread batter. It will seem like a thick layer – this is normal.

Spread the rest of the apple bread batter over the cinnamon sugar layer and use a rubber spatula to smooth it into an even layer.

Draw a large “S” shape into the batter using a bread knife (be sure to press the knife all the way down to the bottom of the bread pan). This will create the swirl effect.

Cover the bread pan with aluminum foil and bake on the center rack of the preheated oven for 40 minutes. Remove the foil and bake uncovered for another 20-30 minutes or until the top of the bread is slightly golden brown and the bread is baked through.

To verify whether or not the bread is ready, insert a digital thermometer into the center of the bread. Quick bread is best once it has reached an internal temperature of 190 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Allow the apple cinnamon bread to cool completely before slicing and serving. I like transferring the pan to a wire rack to get airflow underneath it.

I like heating a slice up in the microwave with some butter for the tastiest treat. Enjoy it with a mug of warm apple cider to take full advantage of the fall season.

How to Store Quick Bread:

Wrap the loaf pan in plastic wrap, or use the same aluminum foil you used to cover the bread during the baking process. It can remain on the counter for up to 2 days.

You can also transfer leftovers to an airtight container and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

For longer term storage, slice the remainder of the loaf into individual slices and store in a large zip lock bag or freezer bag for up to 3 months.

When you’d like to enjoy a slice, place one on a plate and microwave it for 20-35 seconds, or until it has warmed up. I enjoy adding butter or peanut butter to this process too.

The next time you’re craving that apple cinnamon flavor combination, bake up a loaf of this addictive bread!

Make the most of your juicy apples during apple season with this healthy apple bread.

If you enjoy quick bread recipes, also try these reader favorites.

More Healthy Quick Bread Recipes:

• Paleo Morning Glory Quick Bread
• Double Chocolate Pumpkin Bread
• Almond Flour Blueberry Bread
• Double Chocolate Oatmeal Zucchini Bread  
• Keto Cinnamon Swirl Bread  

The cinnamon swirl is everything here!

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission off items you purchase at no additional cost to you.