Apple Walnut Cinnamon Loaf Cake with Glaze

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A moist, tender loaf packed with juicy apples and crunchy walnuts, finished with a sweet cinnamon glaze. The recipe below is designed to closely match the loaf shown in your photo. Apple-walnut loaf recipes commonly use cinnamon, walnuts, chopped apples, and a simple powdered-sugar glaze. (Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking)

Ingredients

For the loaf

  • 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup (115 g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 3/4 cup (150 g) granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup (100 g) light brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) buttermilk or milk
  • 2 medium apples, peeled, cored and diced
  • 3/4 cup (85 g) chopped walnuts

For the cinnamon-walnut topping

  • 1/3 cup chopped walnuts
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

For the glaze

  • 1 cup (120 g) powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons milk or apple juice
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon melted butter

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a 9 × 5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper.
  2. In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
  3. In another large bowl, whisk the melted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until smooth.
  4. Add the eggs one at a time, then mix in the vanilla.
  5. Add the dry ingredients alternately with the buttermilk. Mix only until combined; do not overmix.
  6. Gently fold in the diced apples and chopped walnuts.
  7. Pour half of the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle with part of the cinnamon-walnut mixture, then add the remaining batter.
  8. Sprinkle the remaining walnuts, brown sugar, and cinnamon over the top.
  9. Bake for 50–60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Similar apple-walnut loaf recipes use this approximate baking range. (Le Rituel des Recettes)
  10. Let the loaf cool in the pan for about 15–20 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack and cool completely before glazing. (Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking)

Cinnamon Glaze

Whisk together the powdered sugar, milk or apple juice, cinnamon, and melted butter until smooth and thick but pourable.

Drizzle generously over the cooled loaf. For the look in your photo, let some glaze run naturally down the sides and sprinkle a few extra chopped walnuts over the top.

Serving

Slice into thick pieces and serve with coffee or tea. The loaf is especially good slightly warm, when the apple pieces and cinnamon-walnut filling are soft and fragrant.

Yield: 8–10 slices
Prep time: 20 minutes
Bake time: 50–60 minutes
Total time: about 1 hour 20 minutes

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