Greek Apple Bread with Cinnamon and Cardamom
Spiced Greek apple bread combining all-purpose and whole wheat flours with warming cinnamon, cardamom, and allspice. Grated and chopped apples folded into an olive oil batter, topped with overlapping apple slices and a sugar glaze. Dense, moist crumb with Mediterranean spice warmth.
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flourbread flour1:1baking
denser texture
- ½ cup whole wheat flour
- 1 ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
- ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
- 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- ⅝ cup extra-virgin olive oilneutral oil1:1vegan
removes richness
- ⅓ cup water
- 2 apple, grated
- 1 apple, chopped
- 1 apple, sliced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, for topping
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, for topping
Instructions
- 1
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (350°F). Line an 8x4-inch or 9x4-inch loaf pan with parchment paper.
- 2
Whisk all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, ground cinnamon, ground cardamom, ground allspice, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a medium bowl.
- 3
Whisk egg with brown sugar, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, extra-virgin olive oil, and water in a large bowl until emulsified and homogenous.
- 4
Stir flour mixture into wet mixture with a spatula. Fold in grated apples, then fold in chopped apples.
- 5
Scrape batter into prepared pan and smooth the top.
- 6
Arrange overlapping apple slices on top. Brush with olive oil and sprinkle with granulated sugar.
- 7
Bake in center of oven until a tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 70 minutes.
- 8
Transfer to a cooling rack and let cool completely, about 1 hour.
Tips
Emulsifying wet ingredients before adding flour helps create a tender crumb in olive oil-based breads.
Cool completely before slicing to allow the crumb structure to set.
Good to Know
Wrapped tightly, keeps 3-4 days at room temperature or up to 1 week refrigerated.
Bake up to 1 day ahead. Cool completely before wrapping to prevent condensation.
Slice and serve at room temperature or lightly warmed. Pairs well with Greek yogurt or morning coffee.
Common Mistakes
Do not overmix batter after adding flour to avoid developing gluten and creating a dense crumb.
Do not skip cooling completely before slicing to avoid breaking apart the delicate apple-studded crumb.