This isn’t the first time that I have shared a recipe for Greek apple bread. Also known as milópita, this apple-filled baked good is something that I have enjoyed for many years when apple season comes into full swing. Milopita is a classic Greek baked good that epitomizes the best of fall baking.
This isn’t the first time that I have shared a recipe for Greek apple bread. As I wrote in my original milópita post, this was initially one of my least favorite Greek baked goods. The recipe itself is not horrible. But the execution, specifically the preparation of the apples, requires care to yield a desirable end result. But once I started this Greek apple bread on my own, and tasted my re-imagined recipe I was converted to a milópita lover!
KEYS TO THE PERFECT GREEK APPLE BREAD:
- APPLES THREE WAYS: This is the most crucial element of Greek apple bread – milópita. In order to achieve the maximum apple flavor and the most intriguing blend of textures, the recipe must include finely chopped, grated, and sliced apples.
- SPICE IS NICE: There are a ton of recipes for apple bread or cake on the internet. One of the keys that sets Greek apple bread apart is the spices. A good amount of cinnamon, a touch of allspice & a smidge of cardamom makes for a beautifully aromatic result. *Added bonus: your house will smell incredible while this bakes.
- MILD GREEK OLIVE OIL in baked goods is truly SO delicious. You don’t want to use olive oil that is peppery or acidic. Use a nice buttery extra virgin olive oil, which is most common in Greece. It will yield a super moist crumb with a lovely aroma that compliments the apples perfectly.
A GREEK APPLE BREAD WORTH POSTING ABOUT AGAIN…
You may be wondering why I would share a second recipe for Greek apple bread here on Ful-filled. The simple reason is that I wanted to experiment with adapting my original milópita recipe into a loaf pan, similar to how sweet cake-like breads are typically prepared in America. And I could not be happier with the result. It’s interesting how you can experience the same ingredients differently solely based on the shape of the pan. Do I prefer one more than the other? I wouldn’t say so, I think it just depends on your mood as to which shape you choose for your Greek apple bread – milópita. One thing I love about the loaf pan version is that the topping gets a bit crisper due to the longer baking time.
This Greek apple bread – milópita is incredibly moist thanks to all of the apple and olive oil. It is full of warm spices that are synonymous with this time of year. It’s a truly special recipe, if not for its flavor & texture, but for the fact that it was redeemed from being the once outcast of Greek desserts to me. Another added bonus: it is dairy-free and easily made vegan by using ground flaxseed in place of an egg. I truly hope you add this Greek apple bread to your baking roster this fall 🖤
GREEK APPLE BREAD – MILÓPITA
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour + 1/2 cup whole-wheat flour (or 1 1/2 cups gluten free flour blend)
- 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground cardamom
- 1/4 tsp ground all spice (or use ground cloves)
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 egg (or substitute with 1 tbsp flax mixed with 3 tbsp water)
- 2/3 cup Greek extra virgin olive oil
- 1/3 cup water or apple cider (whichever you have on hand)
- 1 cup grated apple (about one small apple)
- 1 cup finely chopped apple (about one small apple)
- 1 apple, skin-on & thinly sliced
- 1 tbsp olive oil + 1 tbsp sugar for topping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Line your loaf pan (8×4 standard loaf pan or 9×4 pullman pan with a sheet of parchment. Set aside.
- Whisk flour with cinnamon, cardamom, clove, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl.
- Whisk egg (or flax egg) with sugars, 2/3 cup oil and water or cider in a large bowl. The mixture will emulsify and look homogenous.
- With a spatula, stir flour mixture into wet mixture. Fold in grated apples and then fold in chopped apples. Scrape batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Arrange overlapping apple slices on the top of the bread. Brush apple slices with a bit of olive oil and then sprinkle the top with sugar.
- Bake in center of oven until a tester inserted into cake comes out clean, about 70 min.
- Transfer to a rack to cool. Let cool completely, about 1 hour.
- Keeps well at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Notes
**When it comes to the spices, you can adjust them based on your personal preference. Greek baked goods tend to be pretty generously spiced, so feel free to take the liberty of leaving out the all spice and cardamom if you prefer your desserts less spiced. But we absolutely love the cardamom & all spice in this cake ;)
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Cuisine: Greek
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
Oh Bella this Greek apple bread sounds like pure heaven. I will definitely be trying it soon. Thank you for sharing this magic with the loaf pan idea & I am envisioning making it to share with others.
It makes my heart so happy that your MIL is finally getting the care she deserves.
Love to you ❤️
Oh Lori, your love and support mean the world to me! I cannot wait for you to try it! I bet you could do it with your baking pears since you have so many! Just make sure they are on the firmer side :) And thank you for sharing in our relief about my mother-in-law. Love you!
This sounds like it encapsulates everything I love about Fall. I love the idea of the loaf pan and I can see myself gifting these to neighbors and friends. Thank you so much for sharing this, plus so happy to hear that your MIL is getting the care she needs. ❤️
YAY! You are so right about the loaf pan bread being easier to gift to friends and neighbors! Thank you for commenting, we are SO grateful that she is finally safe, sound & cared for.
Yum!!!!!!!!! I just added this to my apple baking list for the weekend!!!!!!
I am SO honored Brian! I cannot wait to hear what you think :)
I can’t wait to make this Bella! I’m on a looooong road trip, returning home mid-October. I’m afraid I’m headed down the same road with my MIL. Glad you found good care for her.
Oh wow! I hope you have a great trip! And I am so sorry about your MIL, I am always here for you if you need someone to talk to…dementia is a devastating disease, but it really is so helpful to connect with people who have walked the road before you. And yes, we are so relieved that she is finally in the right people’s hands <3
Hello Bella, I had to try this! Unfortunately I have many intolerances but I wanted to try it so badly so I did ‘veganize’ it with your flax egg and made it Gluten-free otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to eat it. It is SUBLIME. Absolutely perfect. Thank you so much for yet another treasure. (I can’t imagine how good this must be just as is. Maybe one day I can)
On a personal note: so happy things are working for your dear mother in law and yourselves!
There’s nothing unfortunate about your substitutions whatsoever! I actually make it with flax egg more than I do with regular egg! And I have tested it with gluten free flour more than once, so I know the cake turns out just fine! I am SO honored that you made my recipe Monique and I am just over the monn that you loved it so much. And thank you so so much for being happy for us…it feels so good to have the heavy weight of that burden to have lifted.