If you love fall baking, you’re going to love this Cinnamon-Apple Twist Bread. My husband and I have a slight obsession with King Arthur Flour. He’s constantly forwarding me recipes from their newsletters with enthusiastic “Let’s make this!!” comments, and how can I not make things like Cinnamon-Apple Twist Bread??
This was one of their recent bake-along recipes (where you can join in and everyone tries the same recipe each month) and it was soooo good. It’s like autumn in one soft, carby bite. And one of the best things is that it makes 2 loaves, #score. I ended up veering from the path a bit and made one sweet and one savory. Keep reading to see what I ended up with (spoiler alert: you’ll want both).
Ingredients Needed
This is just a preview of ingredients and method, keep scrolling for full printable recipe.
Dough
- All-purpose flour
- Potato flour – One of the secret ingredients in this bread is potato! You can use potato flour, or did what we did and use unflavored potato flakes. This gives the bread a super soft texture. Gotta go with those Idaho potatoes, obviously.
- Granulated sugar
- Instant yeast – Also called quick-rise or rapid-rise yeast.
- Salt
- Butter – Use real butter.
- Vanilla extract
- Egg
- Water
Filling
- Apple – Granny Smith works great, but you can use whatever you have on hand.
- Lemon juice
- Granulated sugar
- Cornstarch – You can also use ClearJel, a stabilized thickener you can buy online or at specialty baking stores.
- Salt
- Cinnamon
- Chopped walnuts or pecans – Optional.
Glaze
- Powdered sugar
- Vanilla extract
- Salt
- Water, apple juice, or heavy cream – Use your liquid of choice here to reach your desired glaze consistency.
How to Make Cinnamon-Apple Twist Bread
- You’ll form a “shaggy” dough and let it rest for a little bit. What’s a shaggy dough? Well look at the texture in the above photos and compare the first and second picture. See how this is all bumpy? That’s a shaggy dough. After kneading and mixing it will become smooth and elastic like the second dough picture. Oh, dough. It’s so beautiful!
- The filling of this dough is basically apple pie filling, made super quick in a sauté pan. It becomes thickened and sweet and delicious. This recipe makes two loaves and I decided to use all of the apple filling in one and try something different with the other one, so yours may look a little different than these photos and that’s ok!
- Next you’re basically going to roll this up like you would for cinnamon rolls and then cut it right down the center like in the photo below. Then you’ll gently turn your big long pieces so the open cuts are on the top.
- Next you’ll carefully take those 2 pieces, keeping the cut sides up, and twist them, tucking in the ends. You get this gorgeous braided look! You’re so fancy!
- Let your braids rise and then bake them up.
- It gets a drizzle of icing and then oh my gosh. Eat some warm, for sure. It has those rolling ribbons of apple cinnamon filling and that sweet glaze that just melts in your mouth. The bread is so soft it’s just perfect.
Storing and Other Tips
- Store leftover Cinnamon-Apple Twist Bread in an airtight container at room temperature and enjoy within 3-4 days for best results.
- Now, here’s the one change I made change from the recipe. This amount of apple filling is for 2 loaves and I thought that didn’t seem like enough so I put it ALL in one loaf. You could leave it as written, or go nuts like I did. In the end I thought the apple flavor and texture was amazing. I liked it doubled like this but I think it would be totally fine as written as well. I do think going extra heavy on the filling like I did might hinder the rise a bit, but it tasted sooo good that I’d probably do it again. To be clear- the recipe as written is the original. If you want extra filling like I did, you’ll need to double the filling in the recipe!
- Since I used up all my filling in one loaf, I decided to fill my other loaf with something different. I had some left over Roasted Tomato Sauce in my fridge so I spread that on and sprinkled on some cheese and drizzled with Garlic Olive Oil before baking. When it came out of the oven I drizzled it with pesto. SO many possibilities with this great dough recipe and fun braiding method.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this bread best served warm or at room temperature?
It’s delicious either way! It’s best to let it cool completely before glazing so the glaze will dry nicely on top. But a few seconds in the microwave before serving is also delightful.
Can I use fresh mashed potatoes in the dough?
Yes. If you don’t have potato flour or flakes, substitute 3/4 cup (about 6 ounces) unseasoned mashed potatoes, adding them to the dry ingredients along with the milk. Reduce the milk to 2/3 cup, adding additional flour or milk as needed to create a smooth, soft dough.
Can I make this ahead of time?
Want to prepare this loaf ahead, then bake it the next day? Make the bread up to the point where it’s shaped and on a pan. Cover the loaves with lightly greased plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight (about 12 hours). Next morning, remove the loaves from the fridge, and let them come to room temperature and rise a bit (still covered); this will take 1 to 2 hours, depending on the warmth of your kitchen. Bake and finish as directed.
Can I make this bread as rolls?
To make apple swirl rolls: Follow the directions above to the point where you’ve rolled the dough into a log. Repeat with the remaining piece of dough, then cut each log into 1″ slices. Place the slices cut side up in well-greased or parchment-lined pans, placing them close together (though not touching) for soft-sided rolls, or about 2″ apart for crustier rolls. Allow the rolls to rise until they’re puffy. Bake as directed, reducing the baking time to 18 to 20 minutes. Drizzle with glaze.
Cinnamon-Apple Twist Bread
A delicious sweet bread with ribbons of fresh apple-cinnamon filling and a sweet drizzle!
Servings
Ingredients
For the Dough:
- 3 ¼ cups All-Purpose Flour
- ¼ cup potato flour OR 1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon dry instant mashed potatoes unflavored*
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons instant yeast
- 1 ¼ teaspoons salt
- 3 tablespoons soft butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup + 2 tablespoons room-temperature or lukewarm milk
For the Filling:
- 1 cup peeled grated apple (about 1 large apple, or 1 to 2 smaller apples)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch or 2 tablespoons Instant ClearJel
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans optional
For the Glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 1 to 2 tablespoons water or apple juice OR 2 to 4 tablespoons heavy cream
Instructions
- To make the dough: Whisk together all of the dry ingredients, then add the butter, vanilla, egg, and milk, mixing until a shaggy dough forms. If your schedule permits, let the dough rest for 30 minutes; this resting period allows the flour to absorb the liquid fully, making it easier to knead.
- Knead the dough — by hand, using a mixer, or in a bread machine set on the dough cycle — until it’s smooth and soft, though still slightly sticky. Place the dough in a greased bowl, turning to coat. Cover the bowl, and let the dough rise until it’s almost doubled in bulk, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. The amount of time this takes will depend on the temperature of your kitchen; yeast works the fastest at about 85°F, but we prefer the flavor the bread gets from a longer, cooler (about 70°F) rise. If you’re using a bread machine set on the dough cycle, simply allow it to complete its cycle.
- While the dough is rising, make the filling.
- To make the filling using cornstarch: Toss the grated apple with the lemon juice in a saucepan. Whisk together the sugar, cornstarch, salt, and cinnamon, and add to the pan, stirring to combine. Cook over low heat, stirring frequently, until the apple starts to release its juice. Increase the heat to medium, and bring to a simmer. Simmer, stirring, until the mixture thickens, 1 to 2 minutes; drawing a spatula across the bottom of the pan should leave a track that doesn’t readily fill in. Remove from the heat, and set aside to cool to room temperature; if you want to hasten the process, place in the refrigerator.
- To make the filling using Instant ClearJel: Whisk together the sugar, ClearJel, salt, and cinnamon. Toss the grated apple with the lemon juice, then add that to the sugar mixture. Mix well, and set aside.
- To assemble the loaf: Gently deflate the risen dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured or greased work surface. Divide the dough in half. Roll the first half into a 10″ x 12″ rectangle. Spread half the filling over the rolled-out dough, leaving a 1/2″ margin clear of filling along all sides. If adding chopped nuts, sprinkle them evenly over the filling.
- Starting with a long side, roll the dough into a log, sealing the edge. Use a bench knife, pizza cutter, or sharp knife to cut the log in half lengthwise. Place the half-logs, filled side up, side by side on a well-greased or parchment-lined baking sheet. Keeping the filling side up, twist or “braid” the two logs together, working from the center to each end. Pinch the ends together. Repeat with the second piece of dough. Cover the twists lightly, and set them aside to rise for 1 to 2 hours; they should be puffy but not doubled in bulk. Want to make the bread ahead, then refrigerate overnight and bake the next morning? See “tips,” below.
- To bake the bread: Bake the loaves in a preheated 350°F oven for 30 to 40 minutes, until they’re lightly browned. Check the loaves after 20 minutes and tent with aluminum foil if they’re browning too quickly. When the loaves are fully baked, a digital thermometer inserted into a loaf (be sure to position the thermometer in the bread, not the filling) should register about 190°F. Remove the bread from the oven and allow it to cool for about 1 hour before glazing and serving.
- To make the glaze: Mix together all of the glaze ingredients. Drizzle over the loaves once they’re cool.
- Store leftover bread, loosely covered, at room temperature for several days; freeze for longer storage. If you know ahead of time you’re going to freeze one or both of the loaves, don’t glaze; wrap completely cooled, unglazed bread tightly in plastic, and freeze for up to a month. When ready to serve, remove from the freezer, unwrap, cover loosely with plastic, and let thaw at room temperature. Glaze and serve.
Notes
- If you don’t have potato flour or flakes, substitute 3/4 cup (about 6 ounces) unseasoned mashed potatoes, adding them to the dry ingredients along with the milk. Reduce the milk to 2/3 cup, adding additional flour or milk as needed to create a smooth, soft dough.
- For a slightly softer loaf, replace the all-purpose flour in the dough with our Pastry Flour Blend. Reduce the milk in the dough to 1 cup. Want to increase the loaf’s shelf life? Add 1 tablespoon granular lecithin to the dough.
- Want to prepare this loaf ahead, then bake it the next day? Make the bread up to the point where it’s shaped and on a pan. Cover the loaves with lightly greased plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight (about 12 hours). Next morning, remove the loaves from the fridge, and let them come to room temperature and rise a bit (still covered); this will take 1 to 2 hours, depending on the warmth of your kitchen. Bake and finish as directed.
- To make apple swirl rolls: Follow the directions above to the point where you’ve rolled the dough into a log. Repeat with the remaining piece of dough, then cut each log into 1″ slices. Place the slices cut side up in well-greased or parchment-lined pans, placing them close together (though not touching) for soft-sided rolls, or about 2″ apart for crustier rolls. Allow the rolls to rise until they’re puffy. Bake as directed, reducing the baking time to 18 to 20 minutes. Drizzle with glaze.
Nutrition
Calories: 279kcal, Carbohydrates: 54g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 0.1g, Cholesterol: 24mg, Sodium: 359mg, Potassium: 161mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 23g, Vitamin A: 164IU, Vitamin C: 2mg, Calcium: 44mg, Iron: 2mg
Calories: 279kcal
Cost: $8
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Questions & Reviews
So, I’m making this right now and my dough was never “shaggy”. It was pretty dry and not sticky at all. I’m not sure why! I’m thinking I should toss the dough and start over, do you think so?
Sounds like you may have mis-measured something!
You probably did not mix enough. use your hands if you have to.
Sounds delicious! Can’t wait to try it.
I fell in love with King Arthur flour decades ago. I learned to bake bread with my mother back in the Dark Ages (1940s) and still enjoy trying new recipes — you are now a mainstay in my on-line recipe file. This recipe is definitely going to be a “saver” in that file. I attended one of the King Arthur traveling demos a few years ago and when I asked the question on how to get a denser and more chewy loaf, the King Arthur flour baker said to knead the dough double the kneading time (I love to knead my hand, not in my Kitchen Aid food processor). I did it and finally got a REALLY chewy bread — so, after 70 years of baking, I am still learning new tricks! Keep these great recipes flowing my way –my neighbors love my “experiments” of your recipes! (Oh, an aside, your bacon oil is my favorite of all the oils, but the lemon comes in a very close second!)
Oh my goodness, how awesome! I love your kneading tip, I will have to try that! I’d love to attend a KAF demo one day, they are the best! And SO happy you are loving those oils!!
Did you use KING A flour or a brand you trust?
You can use any brand of all purpose flour!
I made my kids come and look at the pictures, and they agreed it would not be a bad thing to see on the table sometime this weekend! :O)
Haha Smart kiddos!
Smart kiddos! haha!
This looks crazy good! I need this in my life!
This looks great. I think I’ll try it with your cranberry-orange roll filling.
It’s like you’re reading my mind 🙂
I was just sitting down to decide between this recipe, which I saved as well from King Arthur, or your apple crisp. I think you just made up my mind for me. Your savory version will go perfect with my dinner. Can’t wait to try both versions out tonight!
Perfect!
Did you leave out the vanilla from the dough of the savory version?
Nope, it’s just one big batch of dough that you divide into 2 pieces.
Is this recipe your version (doubled filling) or the original? Just wondering if I need to double to get your same results
The written recipe is the original, so if you want to stuff it like I did, you’ll need to double the filling.