Whole Wheat Apple Pie Yeast Bread is filled with sweet and spicy cooked apples and covered with streusel or icing.
Although the recipe is written to be mixed and kneaded in a bread machine, you can easily do it by hand or use a stand mixer. Directions here.
If you ask Pinterest, one of the most popular posts on this blog is entitled “Apples in a Bag” as pictured below. It’s super easy with only 4 ingredients and makes a healthy snack or dessert for 1-2 people.
Seeing how as I’m a bread-machine freak and I love these apples, it was high time to create a bread recipe incorporating “Apples in a Bag.”
Since I love to make yogurt, you probably won’t be surprised to hear that Whole Wheat Apple Pie Yeast Bread also includes Greek yogurt (but you can substitute buttermilk if you prefer). Either way, the result will be a tender crumb not unlike my favorite cinnamon rolls.
Top this apple-studded loaf with a streusel topping as seen above, or ice it with powdered sugar frosting as seen below. Frosting will make your loaf taste very similar to a huge cinnamon roll. If you want to be really decadent, pour the frosting on top of a streusel-topped loaf.
Ask me how I know this…
Storing iced bread in a plastic bag can be a messy business. Consequently, I don’t recommend frosting this loaf if you don’t have enough mouths to eat it all in one sitting.
How to Shape the Dough:
Method #1
The first shown below is my favorite, but it’s a bit trickier to accomplish.
- Roll the dough out as you would for cinnamon rolls, and sprinkle the cooled apple filling over the dough.
- Roll into a long cylinder and pinch the dough to seal.
- Use the sealing line as a guide for cutting the cylinder in half the length-wise. Now say a prayer, take a deep breath and proceed.
- Carefully lift up each “half-pipe” one at a time. With cut sides up, place each “half-pipe” into a prepared loaf pan in an S shape as illustrated in the picture below.
- Loosely cover the pan. Allow the shaped loaf to rise until almost double.
- Finally, remove the cover, sprinkle with streusel, then bake as directed.
Method #2:
This method might be easier if you are a novice baker.
- After rolling the dough into a long cylinder and sealing it (as seen in the pictures on the left side above), the same way you would for cinnamon rolls, slice the cylinder crosswise into six large slices and set on end in a loaf pan.
- Cover the pan loosely with a tea towel or freebie shower cap. As soon as the dough is almost double in size, remove the cover.
- Sprinkle with streusel if using, then bake as directed.
“Can I make it ahead of time?”
Certainly! Make it and bake it. This moist bread only gets better the next day or two or three. It also freezes well after it has been baked. It’s perfect to make in the days leading up to Christmas because it only gets better after hanging around for a day or two.
If you make this and enjoy the recipe, it would help me and others if you would return to this post and leave a rating (on the recipe card itself underneath the picture). Although always appreciated, no comment is required. Thank you for visiting! Paula
Whole Wheat Apple Pie Yeast Bread
A sweet yeast bread to mix and knead in a bread machine, then baked in a conventional oven
Ingredients
- 2/3-3/4 cup buttermilk or yogurt thinned with milk to buttermilk consistency
- 1 egg
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1-1/4 cup bread flour
- 1-1/2 teaspoons bread machine yeast
"Apples in a Bag"
- 1/2 cup golden raisins
- 1 medium yellow delicious apple, peeled and finely diced
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon allspice (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon water
Streusel:
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon cold butter
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
Frosting: (if desired)
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons coffee
- 1 tablespoon cream cheese
Instructions
Dough:
- Heat buttermilk or yogurt in microwave on HIGH for 1 minute. Mixture will probably separate but don't worry. Add only 2/3 cup yogurt to bread machine pan along with all other ingredients except raisins.
- Select dough cycle and push start. Check dough about 5 minutes into the dough cycle. If dough is too dry (dough doesn't stick to sides and then pull away), add the remaining yogurt a teaspoon or two at a time until dough looks just right.
- Add raisins after you hear the signal for add-ins.
- When dough cycle completes, push dough back to original size with your hands. Remove pan (with dough still inside) from the bread machine. Cover pan and dough with a towel or shower cap and place in warm place for a SECOND rise. This helps make a lighter loaf since bread contains whole wheat flour.
- Remove dough from pan to a floured surface. (See picture above.) Roll into a rectangle approximately 9 x 13 inches. Distribute apple mixture over the top like you would when making cinnamon rolls.
- Starting with long side, roll dough up tightly and pinch closed at the seam. Use a large, sharp knife to cut the roll in half length-wise at the seam. You should now have two long "half-pipes."
- With cut side up, make a snake or "S" shape going back and forth with one of the half-rolls (see picture above) and place into one end of a non-stick 9 x 5 loaf pan (mine holds 2 quarts of water if you want to compare sizes) sprayed on the inside with an aerosol flour/oil mixture like Baker's Joy.
- Make an "S" shape with the other roll and place into the other end of the pan as pictured. It doesn't have to be perfect but should fill the pan from one end to the other.
- Cover dough with shower cap or tea towel and set in warm place to rise for approximately 45 minutes. Dough should rise somewhat less than double. 10 minutes before bread is ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- If using streusel, sprinkle it over the top. Bake for 35 minutes. About halfway through baking time, cover bread loosely with foil to prevent over-browning.
- Remove from oven and immediately turn out onto cooling rack. Allow to cool before slicing bread.
Apple Pie Filling
- Combine all ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl and cover. Cook on HIGH for 2 minutes. Allow to cool while dough is rising.
Frosting
- Combine powdered sugar, coffee, and cream cheese. Add more sugar if too thin, or add coffee if too thick. Drizzle over cooled loaf.
Streusel
- Combine all ingredients with a fork until crumbly and mixture resembles oatmeal.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 14 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving:Calories: 191 Total Fat: 5g Saturated Fat: 3g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 2g Cholesterol: 25mg Sodium: 241mg Carbohydrates: 33g Fiber: 2g Sugar: 14g Protein: 6g
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Tere
This looks yummy! But I missed the part about the apple filling somehow. Do you add raw apples in the machine and then make apples in a bag to spread over the dough before rolling and slicing/shaping?
Paula
Tere,
I am so thankful you wrote. You see, I have been converting all my recipes to a new format. Sometimes, things get lost in the cracks during the process. I try to check each recipe but occasionally, I miss something. I fixed the recipe so I think it will be more clear for you. The raw apples are part of the “apples in a bag.” Check it out and let me know if you still have a question.
julie
I love the variety of ways you creatively shape yeast doughs and this one I’ve had bookmarked for a long time. Plan to make it this week.
I want to thank you for sharing your method of cooking apples in the microwave. We’ve been enjoying them on top of pancakes a few weekends in a row while Trader Joe’s has been selling the most delicious honeycrisp apples. I use apple cider in place of the water when I have it–delicious.
I somehow thought you stopped blogging and was pleasantly surprised to discover that’s not the case last night. I love your blog, your recipes, and you! Thank you for all the hours you put into this space for others to enjoy! I love it here.
Paula
So nice to hear from you Julie. Love your idea about using apple cider in place of water.
I did slow down on the blogging after my mother died but picked it back up again over the summer when I had it “remodeled.” Your words are very encouraging. Hope the bread turns out delicious for you. Paula
Annemarie
I do want to make this. It looks so yummy!
Do you slice the loaf all the way through to get 2 separate halves then wind them into the pan to bake or are you partially cutting through the loaf then winding it in the pan? I assume it’s to be cut all the way through but just need to check. Thanks.
Paula
You are right Annemarie. Cut it all the way in half. I hope you love it as much as we do.
Tina
I make WW bread and am wondering…do you think it would turn out well if I simply add this filling and the streusel? I know it’s worth trying!
Christina
I tried this bread today. I doubled the filling and added some roughly chopped walnuts. It looks and tastes amazing! I got a bread machine for Christmas and have been wearing it out ever since. I’m so glad I stumbled upon your page. I’m an otherwise decent baker, but I’ve never been able to do bread until now.
Thanks!
Paula
So glad to hear it worked for you Christina. Double the filling sounds totally decadent!
Melanie Hess
absolutley love your recipes. Have not been disappointed yet! Just wondering If You have a recipe for cinnamon swirl raisin bread (Dough made in bread maker)? I’ve been looking all over and can’t seem to find one that looks worthy of trying. Thanks in advance!
cocido de sopa
Already in my pending recipes list. It looks gorgeous, and I guess it tastes delicious.
Thanks for the recipe!
Happy Christmas!
Claudia
This bread was delicious! I made it for out of town guests and it was a big hit. Thank you, Paula. Great recipe and great website!
Paula
Thank you so much for your kind words. Glad to hear the bread was a hit!
Bobbie Bentneedle
Thanks, Paula… I’ll let you know how it turns out, when I get a chance to try it.
Bobbie Bentneedle
Paula, this sounds like a good way to use up some of the home-canned apple pie filling I have languishing in the pantry. Any guess as to how much filling you’d use if using prepared filling (or about how much the recipe makes?)…
Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Paula
Good question, Bobbie. Maybe half a cup? Be sure to chop the apples a bit more finely than they usually are straight from the can. Might want to spice them up a little bit too. I thought about trying that myself just for fun but didn’t quite get to it.
Rhonda
If using regular white bread flour instead of whole wheat – is it necessary to do the second rise in the pan?
Paula
So glad you asked Rhonda. No, the second rise in the bread machine pan is strictly for the benefit of the whole wheat flour. With regular bread flour, allow to rise in the pan as part of the dough cycle, remove from pan and shape, then allow to rise before baking. Hope you enjoy.
Kay
Do you have to use a bread machine and if not how would you suggest making the dough?
Paula
This recipe is based on using a bread machine. I have not tried it any other way so can not advise. So sorry. paula
Betty
This looks heavenly! It would be a lovely bread to have on hand during the holidays. I have company coming, and I know this would make them very happy! 🙂