Cinnamon Apple Pull-Apart Bread

Recipe by Charlotte Rutledge
43 Reviews 4.1 out of 5 stars

This apple pull-apart bread is the kind of cozy, tear-and-share loaf that rarely makes it to the table in one piece — it's just too tempting to eat warm from the oven. The dough, enriched with milk and eggs, bakes up soft and tender, ready to fall apart at the lightest tug. Tucked between each layer is a sweet, cinnamon-scented apple filling, made even more fragrant with a splash of vanilla and a hint of brown sugar. Bake it in a long tea loaf pan for an elegant presentation (though it'll fit nicely in a 9" x 5" pan too). Out thanks to Joy the Baker for the inspiration behind this beauty.

Prep
20 mins
Bake
45 to 55 mins
Total
2 hrs 55 mins
Yield
1 loaf
A loaf of Cinnamon Apple Pull-Apart Bread with one slice pulled off, on a plate next to a cup of coffee - select to zoom
A loaf of Cinnamon Apple Pull-Apart Bread with one slice pulled off, on a plate next to a cup of coffee - select to zoom
A loaf of Cinnamon Apple Pull-Apart Bread next to a few apples and slice of pull-apart bread on a plate, ready to be eaten. - select to zoom
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Instructions

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  1. To make the filling: In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.

  2. In a small bowl, combine the sugar and Clearjel, then add it to the saucepan along with the remaining ingredients.

  3. Cook for 5 minutes and set aside to cool.

  4. To make the dough: Whisk together the butter, milk, water, eggs, and vanilla extract.

  5. Weigh your flour; or measure it by gently spooning it into a cup, then sweeping off any excess. Combine the flour, sugar, salt, and yeast, then add the wet ingredients. Mix and knead, adding more flour or water if necessary to make a smooth, soft dough.

  6. Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover, and allow to rest until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

  7. To assemble the pull-apart bread: Grease a 12" x 4" x 2 1/2" tea loaf pan or a 9" x 5" loaf pan.

  8. Gently deflate the dough and turn it out onto a lightly greased surface. Roll the dough into a 12" x 20" rectangle.

  9. Spread the filling mixture all over the surface.

  10. Cut the dough crosswise into six 3 1/2" x 12" strips. Stack the strips on top of one another.

  11. Cut the stack into six pieces, about 2" x 3 1/2" each.

  12. Turn the pieces on edge, and place them in the loaf pan one in front of the other from one end of the pan to the other, squeezing them in tight.

  13. Cover the pan and allow the loaf to rise for 30 to 60 minutes, until it's almost doubled in size. While the loaf is rising, preheat the oven to 350°F.

  14. Bake the apple pull-apart bread for 45 to 55 minutes in the center of the oven, tenting it with foil after 30 minutes. Remove the bread from the oven, and transfer it to a rack to cool for 15 to 20 minutes before turning it out of the pan to cool completely.

  15. Storage information: Store any leftover apple pull-apart bread in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Individual portions can be reheated in the microwave before enjoying. 

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