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Pull-Apart Apple Bread Recipe

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  • Author: clara
  • Prep Time: 25 minutes
  • Cook Time: 40 minutes
  • Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings
  • Category: Breakfast, Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Description

This soft and fluffy pull-apart apple bread is filled with layers of cinnamon-spiced apples and drizzled with a sweet glaze. It’s like a cross between apple pie and cinnamon rolls—perfect for brunch, dessert, or a holiday treat. Each slice pulls apart easily for a fun and delicious shareable loaf!


Ingredients

For the Dough:

  • 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar

  • 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast (1 packet)

  • 1/2 tsp salt

  • 1/2 cup whole milk

  • 1/4 cup water

  • 3 tbsp unsalted butter

  • 1 large egg

For the Apple Filling:

  • 2 medium apples, peeled and finely diced (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp work great)

  • 1/2 cup brown sugar

  • 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

  • 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted

For the Glaze:

 

  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar

  • 1-2 tbsp milk

  • 1/4 tsp vanilla extract


Instructions

  1. Make the dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine 2 cups of flour, sugar, yeast, and salt.

  2. In a small saucepan, heat the milk, water, and butter until the butter is melted and the mixture is warm (about 110°F). Pour into the dry ingredients. Add the egg and mix until combined.

  3. Stir in the remaining 3/4 cup flour until a soft dough forms. Knead the dough for 5–6 minutes on a lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic.

  4. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.

  5. Prepare the filling: Mix the diced apples with brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and melted butter.

  6. Roll out the dough on a floured surface into a large rectangle (about 12×20 inches). Spread the apple filling evenly over the dough.

  7. Cut the dough into 5 strips, stack them on top of each other, then cut into 5 equal squares. Stack the squares and place them upright in a greased 9×5-inch loaf pan.

  8. Cover the pan and let the dough rise for 30–40 minutes.

  9. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake for 35–40 minutes, covering with foil halfway through if browning too quickly.

  10. Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.

  11. Make the glaze: Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Drizzle over warm bread.


Notes

  • Best served warm or at room temperature.

  • Use firm apples so they don’t turn mushy while baking.

 

  • You can prep the dough and filling ahead, assemble, and refrigerate overnight before baking.