Description
This Vegan Apple Fritter Bread is a delectable, plant-based sweet bread featuring a soft cinnamon-infused dough layered with spiced apple chunks and apple butter. Finished with a simple apple cider glaze, it combines the comforting flavors of classic apple fritters in an easy-to-bake bread format, perfect for breakfast or a cozy snack.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Dough
- 3/4 cup warm water
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dried yeast
- 1/4 cup melted vegan butter
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
- 2 1/2 to 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (or apple pie spice)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
For the Cinnamon Sugar Apples
- 2 small red apples (peeled and diced)
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (or apple pie spice)
Additional Ingredients
- 1/3 cup apple butter
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 tablespoon apple cider
Instructions
- Activate Yeast: Add lukewarm water and yeast to a mixing bowl and let it sit for 5-10 minutes until the yeast activates and becomes foamy.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: Stir in melted vegan butter, sugar, and vanilla bean paste into the activated yeast mixture until well combined.
- Make Dough: Gradually add in the all-purpose flour, ground cinnamon, and salt. Mix until a thick yet shaggy dough forms.
- Knead Dough: Knead the dough either using a stand mixer with a bread hook for 5-6 minutes or by hand on a floured surface for 8-10 minutes until elastic, tacky but not sticky, and smooth.
- First Rise: Form the dough into a ball, place it in a well-oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap or a towel, and let it rise for about 1 hour until it doubles in size.
- Prepare Cinnamon Sugar Apples: While the dough rises, peel, core, and dice the apples. Toss them in a bowl with sugar and cinnamon until evenly coated. Set aside.
- Prepare Pan: Line a 1-pound loaf pan with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
- Shape Dough Balls: Punch down the risen dough to remove excess air. On a floured surface, divide dough into 8-9 equal pieces and roll each into a ball.
- Flatten Dough: Using hands or a rolling pin, flatten each dough ball into a circular disc. The circle shape doesn’t have to be perfect.
- Fill and Fold: Spread about 2 teaspoons of apple butter on each disc, add several scoops of the cinnamon sugar apples on top, then fold the disc in half.
- Layer in Pan: Arrange the folded dough pieces in the loaf pan with the round side up. Add extra apple chunks between layers and spread any leftover apple butter over the top.
- Second Rise: Cover the loaf pan with a towel and let rise for another 30 minutes while preheating the oven to 350°F (177°C).
- Bake: Bake the bread for 45-50 minutes until the top is golden brown, the apple filling bubbles, and the bread is fully cooked. If not fully cooked, cover with foil and bake an additional 5-10 minutes to avoid burning.
- Cool: Let the bread cool in the pan for at least 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before glazing.
- Make Glaze: Whisk together powdered sugar and apple cider in a small bowl until smooth and thick.
- Glaze and Serve: Drizzle the glaze over the cooled bread and serve immediately for best flavor.
Notes
- Ensure the water used for activating yeast is warm, not hot, to prevent killing the yeast.
- Kneading time is important to develop gluten for good dough texture but avoid making it too stiff.
- You can substitute the apple butter with a vegan fruit spread if unavailable.
- For extra flavor, try adding chopped walnuts or pecans between the layers.
- Store leftover bread wrapped tightly at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for longer storage.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: vegan apple fritter bread, vegan bread recipe, apple cinnamon bread, vegan sweet bread, apple bread with glaze
