Ingredients
Method
Baking Instructions
- Prep & Preheat: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a standard 9x5-inch loaf pan and line with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for effortless removal.
- Toss Apple Cinnamon Filling: In a medium bowl, toss the diced apples, dark brown sugar, 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon, and 1 tablespoon granulated sugar until the apples are glossy and completely coated in spiced syrup.
- Whisk Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and fine sea salt until evenly distributed.
- Cream Butter & Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat softened butter and granulated sugar together with an electric mixer on medium-high speed for 2 to 3 minutes until pale, light, and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by pure vanilla extract.
- Combine Batter: Alternately add the dry flour mixture and buttermilk in two additions, mixing on low speed just until combined (do not overmix). The batter will be wonderfully thick and velvety.
- Layer & Swirl: Spread half of the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Scatter half of the cinnamon-coated apples over the batter. Top with the remaining batter and remaining apples. Use a butter knife to gently swirl in a figure-eight pattern twice. Sprinkle the coarse cinnamon sugar crust over the top.
- Bake to Golden Perfection: Bake for 55 to 65 minutes at 350°F (175°C), or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs (tent loosely with foil after 35 minutes if top browns too quickly).
- Cool & Slice: Cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then lift out using the parchment overhang onto a wire cooling rack to cool completely before slicing into thick bakery-style slices.