Ricotta Apple Cinnamon Bread (Printable)

Moist bread with ricotta, apples, and cinnamon. Ideal for breakfast or a cozy snack.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dairy

01 - 1 cup whole milk ricotta cheese
02 - 1/2 cup whole milk
03 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
04 - 2 large eggs

→ Dry Ingredients

05 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
06 - 1 cup granulated sugar
07 - 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
08 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
09 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
10 - 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
11 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

→ Fruit

12 - 2 medium apples, peeled, cored, and diced (about 1 1/2 cups; Granny Smith or Honeycrisp recommended)

→ Flavorings

13 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
14 - Zest of 1 lemon (optional)

→ Topping (optional)

15 - 2 tablespoons turbinado sugar
16 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line a 9x5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper.
02 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a medium bowl.
03 - In a large bowl, beat softened butter and sugar with an electric mixer or whisk until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
04 - Beat eggs in one at a time. Mix in ricotta, milk, vanilla extract, and lemon zest (if using) until fully combined.
05 - Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, gently mixing until just incorporated. Avoid overmixing.
06 - Gently fold diced apples into batter until evenly distributed.
07 - Scrape batter into prepared loaf pan. Mix turbinado sugar and cinnamon for the topping, sprinkle evenly over the batter.
08 - Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center emerges clean.
09 - Allow bread to cool in pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • uses affordable ingredients that are easy to find
  • extra tender and moist from the addition of ricotta cheese
  • perfect for breakfast, dessert, or a snack
  • no special equipment needed
  • keeps fresh for days and makes the kitchen smell incredible
02 -
  • high in protein and calcium from ricotta
  • excellent for meal prep or gifting
  • a slice is only about 245 calories making it perfect for breakfast or snack
03 -
  • Bring all your dairy and eggs to room temperature before baking for the fluffiest crumb
  • Always use apples that are firm and slightly tart They hold their shape and offset the bread’s sweetness
  • Let the loaf cool before slicing for the neatest cleanest slices and best flavor

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