Apple Pear Bread with Cinnamon Spice

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If you're looking for a comforting and quick bread recipe, this apple pear bread is a keeper. With warming flavors like cinnamon and nutmeg, it's a cozy and filling treat. Best of all is that you don’t need an electric mixer to whip up a loaf! Enjoy as is or with a bit of cinnamon sugar on top for added texture (a little reminiscent of apple donuts!).

Overhead view of three slices of apple pear bread. The loaf is off to the side, with three cut apples throughout the image.

This apple bread recipe can double as a brunch option or an after-dinner treat. It's adaptable and simple to make for special occasions or as an everyday sort of dessert. Plus, it's a fun way to eat some more fruit!

This loaf is also a great way to use up any apples or pears that are slightly past their prime but still flavorful. The natural sweetness and moisture from the fruits shine in baked goods, minimizing waste while creating a yummy treat. It's a win-win for your pantry and your dessert menu.

If you're looking for other options like this one, peruse my fall recipes, with some favorites highlighted here:

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💚 Reasons to Love this Recipe
📋 Ingredients in this Apple Pear Bread
💭 Top Tip: Properly Prepping your Loaf Pan
Recipe Substitutions and Variations
📖 Step-by-Step Apple Pear Bread Instructions
Best Results: Baking in Grams
🤔 Recipe FAQ and Troubleshooting
Storage Instructions for this Apple Pear Loaf Cake
Serving Suggestions
More Cozy Desserts
Apple Pear Bread Cinnamon Spice

Loaf of apple pear bread, with apples and pears scattered around it on a brown cutting board.

💚 Reasons to Love this Recipe

Simplicity - Your mixer can sit this one out. You'll whip all of these ingredients together using just a whisk and few bowls!
Moist texture - The oil and Greek yogurt make the loaf nice and tender with a moist crumb.
A dessert that's not too sweet - While I have a sweet tooth, I prefer desserts that rely more on the natural sweetness of their ingredients than on tons of added sugar. Although this recipe uses granulated and brown sugars, there are minimal amounts of both to let the spice and fruit flavors shine.
Versatile - Enjoy this easy loaf cake for breakfast or as a dessert with a cup of coffee or tea. 🫖

📋 Ingredients in this Apple Pear Bread

Below are some of the key items you need to make this apple bread with pears. Find the full details in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Apples - Really, the choice is up to you. But my usual go-to apples are Fuji, Pink Lady, and Granny Smith Apples (what I used here). You'll use 1-2 small to medium-sized apples.
Pears - As with the apples, select your personal favorite. In this recipe, I used green Anjou pear. It's got a smooth texture that's still relatively firm, making it great for baking in cakes, muffins, or breads. They also pair well with the spices I used (ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg). Bartlett and Bosc are other pear varities I enjoy using when I bake. Like the apples, you'll use 1-2 small to medium-sized pears.
Canola oil – Canola oil also helps create a moist cake in this recipe. Canola oil also makes these cakes super easy to whip up in a large bowl without ever turning on your stand mixer. You could opt for vegetable oil or coconut oil instead, though note that coconut will change the aroma and taste. It'll be more coconut-y, but try it if you enjoy that flavor.
Cinnamon - Apples and cinnamon are a duo that just belong together. But if you prefer, feel free to explore other warm spices. I also used nutmeg and even a pinch of ginger in this recipe! But the spices are adaptable to your preference and what's available in your pantry. Cardamom is another nice one to consider.
Brown and Granulated Sugars - Brown sugar adds moisture and a rich, caramel-like sweetness, while white sugar helps create a light, tender crumb. Together, they give a subtle sweetness to the loaf that works well alongside the fruits and spices here.

💭 Top Tip: Properly Prepping your Loaf Pan

Your pans need to be properly coated so that it releases your baked goods once they've baked.

I recommend either of the below options:

Baker's Joy or homemade equivalent (my preference) - Coat your pan with a non-stick spray for baking. Baker’s Joy or a homemade equivalent of baker’s release spray works well.
Parchment paper - Line a straight-sided loaf pan with parchment paper for easy removal.

If you’re properly preparing your baking pan but still having issues, it could be that you need a new one. As pans age, they can lose their ability to conduct heat as well as they once did.

Recipe Substitutions and Variations

Greek yogurt swap - Instead of Greek yogurt, try sour cream for similar moisture.
Nuts for added texture - For more texture and a different flavor, you could about ¼ cup of chopped nuts into the loaf batter. Be mindful not to overdue it, as you don't want the batter to be dried.
Add glaze on top - Like I do in my mini apple Bundt cakes, you could add a spiced cream cheese glaze on top.

📖 Step-by-Step Apple Pear Bread Instructions

An hour before beginning your recipe, set out your refrigerated ingredients.

Prepare the Pan and Ingredients. Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Grease and flour your loaf tin. Dice or grate the peeled apples and pears into very small pieces.

Mix dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, optional pinch of ginger, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.

Clear glass mixing bowl of wet ingredients.

Mix wet ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, brown and granulated sugars, sour cream or Greek yogurt, oil, and vanilla extract.

Mixing bowl filled with wet and dry ingredients for apple pear bread.

Combine wet and dry: Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.

Chunks of apples and pears mixed into batter.

Fold in fruit: With a wooden or rubber spatula, gently fold the chopped fruit mixture into the batter until evenly incorporated.

Fill pan and bake loaf: Pour batter into the prepared pan, and bake the loaf for 42-47 minutes. You'll know it's ready when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and the loaf begins pulling away from the pan edges. The top will be a nice golden brown.

Baked apple pear bread, cooling on a wire rack.

Cool: Cool the loaf in the pan for 10 minutes, then invert it onto a cooling rack.

Sliced apple pear bread, dusted with cinnamon sugar on its top.

Optional serving idea: In a small bowl, mix 2-3 tablespoons of granulated sugar with 1-2 teaspoons of your favorite spices in this loaf. Dust it on top of the loaf before cutting and serving slices.

Best Results: Baking in Grams

If you’re not already, use a kitchen scale for accuracy in baking.

While I include cups and grams in my recipe cards, weighing your ingredients and writing or following a recipe using a standard metric like grams ensures consistency.

I highly recommend investing $30 or less in a kitchen scale.

🤔 Recipe FAQ and Troubleshooting

What kind of pears should I use?

I used Anjou pears here. They softened while baking but still maintained some shape. I liked that they weren't mushy and still contributed to the texture in this delicious recipe.

According to this article from Spruce Eats, Bosc and Anjou pears are some of the best for baking. Concorde and French butter pears also work well, but they're less common in my grocery stores. Use the best choice you can find.

How do I prevent my loaf from burning?

If your oven runs hot or you start to notice the top of the loaf browning too much, cover the tin with aluminum foil in the last 5-10 minutes. This steps minimizes the risk of burning your loaf.

Storage Instructions for this Apple Pear Loaf Cake

Room temperature - If you plan to consume this loaf within the next 2-3 days, it'll be safe to eat stored in a container at room temperature.

Refrigerating - If you want to enjoy this cake over a longer period of time, keep the loaf in an airtight container in the refrigerator between serving slices.

Freezing - So long as you keep it in a tightly sealed container, you may also freeze this apple pear bread for up to 3 months.

Landscape view of slices of fruit bread, surrounded by crumbs and pears and apples.

Serving Suggestions

For refrigerated slices - Let the slices or loaf come to room temperature before serving it. Place it on the countertop for at least half an hour prior to serving.

For frozen loaf cake - Let it thaw for a few hours at room temperature before serving.

For frozen or refrigerated slices, you can also gently warm them in the microwave on a low setting for about 15 seconds.

Whatever you decide, feel free to serve this loaf alongside a scoop of vanilla ice cream to take the flavors up a notch. Or keep it simple as is! I also like a dusting of cinnamon sugar on top.