Applesauce Bread
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Imagine the aroma of warm, freshly baked, moist applesauce bread wafting through your home. This delightful treat, filled with the subtle flavors of cinnamon and nutmeg, is the perfect Fall breakfast, snack, or dessert. Its versatility and ease make it a great recipe for both beginners and seasoned bakers alike.
Growing up we had an apple tree in our horse pasture. An apple tree in your backyard means you get the luxury of picking fresh apples and turning that into homemade applesauce.
I still remember the first time my mom and I mixed up a big batch of applesauce on the stovetop. I thought I knew what applesauce tasted like, but then I took one bite of that applesauce and I fell in love.
And what makes that applesauce better? Stirring some into a homemade loaf of bread!
Creating the Perfect Applesauce Bread
The key to a moist and flavorful applesauce bread lies in the quality of its ingredients. Using unsweetened applesauce, for instance, not only adds a delicate flavor, but also substitutes some of the fat in the recipe, ensuring your bread is moist and fluffy.
This applesauce bread recipe is an ideal choice for those who are new to baking or anyone desiring a sweet treat in the oven in a short amount of time. With the right ingredients and simple steps, you’ll be on your way to creating a scrumptious loaf that rivals even the most popular quick bread recipes, like banana bread and pumpkin chocolate chip bread.
When it comes to putting the recipe together, you’ll be combining wet and dry ingredients in separate bowls before gently mixing them together, ensuring a tender crumb.
Feel free to customize this applesauce bread by stirring in some nuts and fruits to the batter which introduces an extra layer of texture and flavor, making the final product even more delectable!
See Also:
- Oil vs butter in your quick breads..what’s better? Find out the difference and what I prefer!
- Confused on what the difference is between quick breads and coffeecakes – give this post a read!
- Want to know more about quick breads? Then read this article “What’s quick bread“? and learn more!
Why You Will Love This Applesauce Bread
- No mixer needed
- Quick to mix up
- Perfect fall treat!
- Great to freeze
Ingredients
To create a mouthwatering loaf of applesauce bread, you’ll need a few key ingredients:
- All purpose flour – Be sure to measure your flour correctly so your bread doesn’t come out dry and heavy.
- Granulated sugar – I used half white sugar and brown sugar but you can use all white sugar.
- Packed light brown sugar – Or you can use dark brown sugar. I loved the moisture and flavor that brown sugar brings to the bread. If you don’t have any, you can make your own brown sugar in your food processor.
- Baking Powder – To help make the bread rise.
- Baking soda – To help the bread rise.
- Salt – I prefer sea salt, but table sale or kosher salt also works.
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Eggs – Be sure to use room temperature eggs.
- Buttermilk – Buttermilk makes for a tender, moist bread! If you don’t have any, you can make your own homemade buttermilk.
- Vegetable Oil – I preferred oil vs butter in this bread to keep it moist, but you can substitute with melted butter. I like to use vegetable oil or canola oil, but a melted coconut oil also works.
- Unsweetened Applesauce – This is the star of this quick bread recipe! So choose a quality applesauce, or make homemade applesauce!
Baking Your Applesauce Bread
Now that you’ve gathered your ingredients it’s time to bake your applesauce bread. The process involves preparing the loaf pan, mixing the dry and wet ingredients separately, combining them together, and finally baking the bread to perfection.
Preparing Your Loaf Pan And Oven
To bake your applesauce bread to perfection, position a rack in the center of your oven and preheat your oven to 350ยฐF (180ยฐC)
Before you begin mixing your ingredients, it’s essential to properly prepare your loaf pan. You can grease the pan with butter or oil or line it with parchment paper to ensure easy removal of the bread after baking. To grease the pan, use your fingers or a folded paper towel to spread butter, oil, or shortening evenly on the bottom and all sides of the pan.
Alternatively, you can line your pan with parchment paper, which not only prevents your bread from sticking, but also makes it easy to lift the loaf out of the pan after baking. No matter which method you choose, properly preparing your loaf pan is crucial for a successful baking experience!
Mixing dry ingredients
Once your loaf pan is ready, it’s time to mix the dry ingredients. Put the flour, baking powder, baking soda, white sugar, brown sugar, salt and spices in a large bowl. Stir them together to combine. This flour mixture will provide the foundation for your applesauce bread, ensuring a perfect balance of flavors and a tender crumb.
By combining the dry ingredients first, you’ll be able to evenly distribute the baking powder and baking soda throughout the mixture, promoting even rising and browning of the bread. Once your dry ingredients are mixed, set the bowl aside and move on to the wet ingredients.
Mixing wet ingredients
Next, you’ll need to combine the wet ingredients in a separate bowl. Whisk together the oil, applesauce, milk, eggs. These ingredients not only contribute to the moistness of the bread, but also provide a subtle sweetness and richness.
It’s essential to mix the wet ingredients separately from the dry ingredients to ensure proper blending and prevent overmixing, which can result in a tough or dense bread. Once your wet ingredients are well combined, it’s time to bring the two mixtures together.
Mixing Wet and Dry Ingredients
With your wet and dry ingredients mixed separately, it’s time to gently combine them. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until just blended. Be cautious not to overmix, as this can develop gluten and result in a less tender crumb. If you’re adding nuts or fruits to your batter, now is the time to fold them in.
Remember that the goal is to achieve a homogenous consistency without overworking the batter. With your wet and dry ingredients combined and any additional mix-ins incorporated, it’s time to pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan and bake your applesauce bread.
Baking Time and Temperature
Bake the bread for approximately 50-60 minutes. The exact baking time may vary depending on your oven and the size of your loaf pan, so it’s essential to keep an eye on the bread as it bakes.
Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean. If it comes out clean, your applesauce bread is ready.
Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Then turn it out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
Once your bread has cooled, it’s time to enjoy your delicious creation and explore the best ways to store and serve it.
Serving Suggestions
To elevate your applesauce bread experience, consider some creative serving suggestions.
- Honey Butter – Try adding a dollop of honey butter
- Cinnamon Honey Butter – Or try this cinnamon honey butter version for a sweet topping. For a savory twist, top your bread with a layer of bacon.
- Spread on jams, honey, or maple syrup!
Customizing Your Applesauce Bread
One of the best aspects of this applesauce bread recipe is its adaptability. With a few simple tweaks, you can create a unique loaf that caters to your personal preferences. From adding nuts and raisins to experimenting with alternative flours and sweeteners, the possibilities are endless.
- Add in some chopped nuts – Try stirring in some chopped walnuts or chopped pecans. I recommend toasting the nuts first for the best flavor.
- Add some raisins – If you’re using raisins, it’s a good idea to soak them in boiling water for approximately 15 minutes before draining them thoroughly and adding them to the batter.
- Chocolate chips – Alternatively, you can add some chocolate chips for an indulgent twist. Combine 1 cup chocolate chips with 1 Tablespoon flour so the chips don’t sink to the bottom of your bread.
- Use alternative flours – Whole wheat flour and gluten-free flour blends work well in this recipe. I like to use 1/2 whole wheat flour and 1/2 all purpose flour. To make the recipe gluten-free, simply use a gluten-free flour blend with added xanthan gum, such as Bob’s Red Mill 1:1 baking flour blend.
- Use a different sugar – I used 1/2 granulated sugar and 1/2 brown sugar but you can use all granulated sugar or all brown sugar. Or try using coconut sugar instead for a healthier sugar alternative.
- Add a crumb topping – Stir together 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1/2 cup flour, 1 teaspoon cinnamon and a pinch of salt. Stir in 4 tablespoons melted unsalted butter and sprinkle the brown sugar topping on top of the applesauce bread before baking.
Storage Instructions
Whether you’re savoring your applesauce bread fresh from the oven or saving it for later, proper storage is essential to maintain its moistness and flavor.
To store your applesauce bread at room temperature, first ensure that it has cooled completely. Then wrap it tightly in aluminum foil or cling wrap and store it in a cool, dry area of your kitchen. Properly stored applesauce bread should maintain its freshness for 2-4 days.
If you prefer to store your bread in the refrigerator, it can last up to 3-5 days. Just be sure to wrap it well to prevent it from drying out or absorbing any unwanted flavors from other items in the fridge.
For longer storage, you can freeze your applesauce bread for up to 3 months. To freeze your bread, first, allow it to cool completely. Then wrap it in plastic wrap and store it in a freezer-safe bag. If you would like to save individual slices, you can wrap each one securely in either foil or plastic wrap. Place the slices into freezer bags or containers for storage.
When you’re ready to enjoy your frozen applesauce bread, allow the loaf or slices to thaw at room temperature. Thawing your bread properly will ensure that it retains its moistness and delicious flavor.
More Recipes To Enjoy
Applesauce Bread
Ingredients
- 2 cups (240 g) all-purpose flour *spooned and leveled
- ยฝ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- ยฝ cup (107 g) packed light brown sugar or dark brown sugar
- ยฝ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ยฝ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ยฝ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- ยผ cup (60 ml) buttermilk
- ยผ cup (60 ml) neutral-flavored oil (vegetable, canola, grapeseed, or safflower)
- 1 cup (255 g) applesauce
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare pan. Position a rack in the center of your oven and preheat the oven to 350ยฐF (177ยฐC). Spray a 9×5 loaf pan with cooking spray, or line with parchment paper and then spray with cooking spray.
- Combine dry ingredients. In a mixing bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, sugars, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Set aside. 2 cups (240 g) all-purpose flour ยฝ cup (100 g) granulated sugar ยฝ cup (107 g) packed light brown sugar ยฝ teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda ยฝ teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon ยฝ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- Combine wet ingredients. In a second mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, applesauce, buttermilk, and oil. 2 large eggs ยผ cup (60 ml) buttermilk ยผ cup (60 ml) neutral-flavored oil 1 cup (255 g) applesauce
- Combine wet and dry ingredients. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix together with a spatula or wooden spoon just until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Bake. Bake in a preheated 350ยฐF (177ยฐC) oven for 50-60 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the middle of bread comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs clinging to it (no wet batter) and top springs back to the touch when lightly touched. Remove from the oven and cool completely in the pan on a wire cooling rack.
Notes
- Storage: To store your applesauce bread at room temperature, first ensure that it has cooled completely. Then wrap it tightly in aluminum foil or cling wrap and store it in a cool, dry area of your kitchen. Properly stored applesauce bread should maintain its freshness for 2-4 days. If you prefer to store your bread in the refrigerator, it can last up to 3-5 days. Just be sure to wrap it well to prevent it from drying out or absorbing any unwanted flavors from other items in the fridge.
- Freezing: For longer storage, you can freeze your applesauce bread for up to 3 months. To freeze your bread, first, allow it to cool completely. Then wrap it in plastic wrap and store it in a freezer-safe bag. If you would like to save individual slices, you can wrap each one securely in either foil or plastic wrap. Place the slices into freezer bags or containers for storage. When you’re ready to enjoy your frozen applesauce bread, allow the loaf or slices to thaw at room temperature. Thawing your bread properly will ensure that it retains its moistness and delicious flavor.
- Vegetable Oil – I preferred oil vs butter in this bread to keep it moist, but you can substitute with melted butter. I like to use vegetable oil or canola oil, but a melted coconut oil also works.
- Applesauce – I prefer unsweetened applesauce so it doesn’t add extra sweetness.