There is no scent that captures the essence of a cozy autumn morning quite like the warm, aromatic blend of chai spices. This recipe for Chai Spiced Apple Butter Muffin Bread is my absolute favorite way to bottle that feeling. It’s a wonderfully moist, tender loaf that is a perfect cross between a muffin and a quick bread, layered with the most incredible flavors of spiced apple, tangy cream cheese, and rich brown sugar.
You will be completely captivated by this bread. The batter itself is enriched with apple butter and Greek yogurt, which gives it an unbelievably moist crumb. It’s then loaded with chai-spiced apples, swirled with pockets of creamy cheesecake filling, and topped with a crunchy, buttery chai streusel. It’s an impressive, all-in-one treat that is perfect for a weekend brunch or an afternoon snack with a cup of tea.
The Ingredients for Your Muffin Bread
Chai Spice
- 4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon all-spice
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
Muffin Bread Batter
- 1 stick (1/2 cup) salted butter, melted
- 3/4 cup + 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1/3 cup apple butter
- 3 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups whole wheat or all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 Honeycrisp apple, very thinly sliced or chopped
- 4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature or melted
Chai Swirl
- 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons salted butter, melted
How to Create Your Chai Spiced Muffin Bread
Step 1: Make the Chai Spice and Prepare the Batter
First, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper. In a small bowl, mix together all the chai spice ingredients. In a separate large bowl, whisk together the melted butter, ¾ cup of brown sugar, Greek yogurt, apple butter, eggs, and vanilla. Stir in the flour, 1 tablespoon of your chai spice blend, the baking powder, and salt until just combined.
Step 2: Add the Apples and Cream Cheese
In a separate small bowl, toss the chopped apple with the remaining 1 tablespoon of brown sugar and 2 teaspoons of the chai spice. Fold these spiced apples into the batter. Next, add dollops of the room temperature cream cheese into the batter and give it just a couple of gentle stirs to create ribbons of cheesecake filling throughout. Be careful not to overmix.
Step 3: Make the Chai Swirl and Assemble
Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan. To make the chai swirl topping, mix together the dark brown sugar, 1 tablespoon of flour, melted butter, and 1-2 teaspoons of the chai spice until clumps form. Sprinkle this streusel-like mixture evenly over the top of the batter in the pan.
Step 4: Bake to Perfection
Bake the muffin bread for 60-70 minutes. The top should be a deep golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean. If you notice the top is browning too quickly, you can loosely cover it with foil for the last half of the baking time. Let the bread cool in the pan for about 15 minutes before lifting it out to cool completely. Serve warm, perhaps with a little extra butter and a sprinkle of sea salt.
My Best Tips for This Muffin Bread
My Secret for the Moistest Bread
The combination of apple butter and plain Greek yogurt is the secret to an incredibly moist and tender crumb. The apple butter provides a deep, concentrated apple flavor and moisture, while the Greek yogurt adds a pleasant tang and richness that keeps the bread from being too sweet.
The Gentle Swirl
When you add the cream cheese to the batter, the goal is to create distinct pockets and ribbons of cheesecake-like filling, not to mix it in completely. Just a few gentle folds with a spatula is all you need to create that beautiful marbled effect inside the finished loaf.
Don’t Skip the Homemade Chai Spice
While you can use a store-bought chai spice blend, taking a few extra minutes to mix your own gives you complete control over the flavor and freshness. The hint of black pepper in this homemade blend adds a subtle, warm kick that really makes the other spices pop. You can save any leftover spice mix to sprinkle in your coffee or on your oatmeal.
Delicious Variations to Try
This Chai Spiced Apple Butter Muffin Bread is a fantastic base for your own creative touches. For a bit of extra texture, you can add a handful of chopped walnuts or pecans to the chai swirl topping. Instead of a Honeycrisp apple, you could use a different firm, crisp apple like a Gala or a Granny Smith. If you don’t have apple butter, you can substitute it with an equal amount of unsweetened applesauce for a similar result.
FAQs
Can I make this as muffins instead of a loaf?
Yes, absolutely! You can divide the batter into a greased and lined muffin tin. The baking time will be much shorter, likely around 20-25 minutes. Just keep an eye on them and use the toothpick test to check for doneness.
Why did my bread sink in the middle?
A sunken center in a quick bread is usually a sign that it was underbaked. The edges may look done, but the center needs more time to set. This is a very moist, dense bread, so be sure to bake it for the full time and check that a toothpick comes out clean from the very center before you remove it from the oven.
Can I use a different type of flour?
Yes, this recipe works well with either whole wheat flour for a heartier, nuttier loaf, or standard all-purpose flour for a lighter texture. You could even use a combination of both.
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Chai Spiced Apple Butter Muffin Bread
- Total Time: 90
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
Description
This Chai Spiced Apple Butter Muffin Bread is the essence of a cozy autumn morning. This wonderfully moist, tender loaf is a perfect cross between a muffin and a quick bread, layered with the incredible flavors of spiced apple, tangy cream cheese, and a rich brown sugar streusel. It’s an impressive, all-in-one treat perfect for brunch or an afternoon snack.
Ingredients
Chai Spice
4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon all-spice
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
Muffin Bread Batter
1 stick (1/2 cup) salted butter, melted
3/4 cup + 1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
1/3 cup apple butter
3 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups whole wheat or all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 Honeycrisp apple, very thinly sliced or chopped
4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature or melted
Chai Swirl
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons salted butter, melted
Instructions
Make the Chai Spice and Prepare the Batter:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper. In a small bowl, mix together all the chai spice ingredients. In a large bowl, whisk together the melted butter, ¾ cup of brown sugar, Greek yogurt, apple butter, eggs, and vanilla. Stir in the flour, 1 tablespoon of your chai spice blend, the baking powder, and salt until just combined.
Add the Apples and Cream Cheese:
In a small bowl, toss the chopped apple with the remaining 1 tablespoon of brown sugar and 2 teaspoons of the chai spice. Fold the spiced apples into the batter. Add dollops of the room temperature cream cheese into the batter and give it a couple of gentle stirs to create ribbons of cheesecake filling. Do not overmix.
Make the Chai Swirl and Assemble:
Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. To make the chai swirl topping, mix together the dark brown sugar, flour, melted butter, and 1-2 teaspoons of the chai spice until clumps form. Sprinkle this streusel mixture evenly over the batter.
Bake to Perfection:
Bake for 60-70 minutes, until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. If the top browns too quickly, loosely cover it with foil. Let the bread cool in the pan for 15 minutes before serving.
Notes
Moisture is Key:
The combination of apple butter and Greek yogurt is the secret to an incredibly moist and tender crumb that keeps the bread from being too sweet.
Muffin Variation:
To make muffins instead of a loaf, divide the batter into a greased and lined muffin tin. The baking time will be much shorter, around 20-25 minutes. Use a toothpick to check for doneness.
Homemade Chai Spice:
Taking a few extra minutes to mix your own chai spice blend gives you control over the flavor and freshness. The hint of black pepper adds a subtle, warm kick that makes the other spices pop.
- Prep Time: 25
- Cook Time: 65
- Category: Breakfast, Dessert, Quick Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/8 of loaf)
- Calories: 373
- Sugar: 30g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 100mg
Keywords: chai spice bread, apple butter bread, quick bread, fall baking, muffin bread, cream cheese swirl
