Applesauce Bread: Sweet, moist, and flavorful, this bread gets its delicious texture from a cup of applesauce. For a crunchy top, sprinkle sugar on before baking.
Love quick bread recipes? Try Apple Bread (with shredded apples), Lemon Bread (a Starbucks copycat), or Pumpkin Bread next.
Moist Applesauce Bread
My sister has a few apple trees that produce massive amounts of apples. After making an Apple Pie, my favorite Apple Crumble, and loads of Apple Nachos, I still had plenty of apples left. So, I decided to use the rest to make and can the best homemade Applesauce.
Naturally, I had to bake the applesauce into some treats too—like this healthy Applesauce Cake and now this amazing old-fashioned applesauce bread! It’s moist, well-spiced, and has the best crunchy topping.
Ingredients
- Wet Ingredients: Adds moisture and sweetness; includes applesauce, eggs, oil, sugar, and vanilla. Use room-temperature ingredients.
- Dry Ingredients: Gives structure and flavor; includes flour, salt, spices, baking soda, and baking powder. Mix well for even distribution.
- Optional Topping: Adds extra sweetness and crunch; includes brown sugar, sugar, and cinnamon. Mix just before adding to keep it crisp.
How To Make Applesauce Bread
- Preheat Oven: Heat the oven. Grease and flour a 9×5-inch pan.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: Whisk applesauce, eggs, oil, sugar, and vanilla until smooth.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: Whisk flour, salt, spices, baking soda, and baking powder.
- Combine: Stir wet and dry ingredients together until just mixed.
- Add Topping (Optional): Sprinkle sugars, and cinnamon on top.
- Bake: Pour batter into the pan and bake until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool: Let cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
Variations
For a chunky applesauce bread, mix one cup of chopped nuts or dried cranberries/raisins into the batter.
Tips For Success
- Avoid Hand Mixers: Use a whisk; mixers add too much air, which can make the bread sink.
- Check Freshness: Make sure baking soda and powder are fresh. Test if needed.
- Measure Carefully: Measure ingredients heaping and level with a knife for accuracy.
- Use Room-Temperature Ingredients: Ensure wet ingredients are the same temperature for smooth mixing.
- Use A 9×5-Inch Pan: (1-pound) pan; other sizes won’t work. Grease the pan well with spray and flour, or line with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
Storage
How Long Does Applesauce Bread Last?
The bread stays fresh at room temperature for up to three days. After that, wrap slices in plastic and refrigerate for up to a week.
Freezing
Cool the bread on a rack, slice it, wrap each slice in plastic, and freeze in a bag. Thaw and enjoy within three months.
Use Leftover Applesauce In:
Here are some of my favorite ways to use applesauce:
- Eat it as is! Enjoy it right out of the fridge for a snack or part of a balanced meal.
- Mix into plain or vanilla yogurt and top with cereal, nuts, or fresh fruit.
- Try one of these recipes: Bircher Muesli, Applesauce Brownies, Applesauce Muffins, Healthy Apple Cake, or Applesauce Pancakes.
Applesauce Bread
Equipment
- Bread pan 9 x 5-inch, see note 1
Ingredients
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 2 large eggs
- 2/3 cup vegetable oil or canola oil
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon allspice
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
Optional Topping
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Prepare all wet ingredients at room temperature by removing them from fridge 45–60 minutes before use. Grease and flour a 9x5-inch bread pan and preheat oven to 350℉.
- Combine wet ingredients in a large bowl and whisk until completely smooth (avoid using a hand or stand mixer to prevent excess air).
- Add all dry ingredients to a large bowl and whisk together. Make a well in the center.
- Pour wet ingredients into the well of dry ingredients and mix until a batter forms.
- Separate from the batter, mix all topping ingredients together (optional).
- Pour batter into the prepared pan, smooth the top, and sprinkle with topping (do not press in). Bake for 60–75 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with moist crumbs.
- Remove from oven and let cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then invert onto a wire cooling rack. Allow to cool for 1 hour before slicing to avoid affecting texture.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Just baked this bread and my house smells divine. The bread is beautifully moist and looks just like yours. Love the crust! Thank you for this amazing recipe 🙂
You are so welcome! I hope you loved the bread 🙂
What could one use instead of coconut oil?
You can use a different oil 🙂
Made this today. I didn’t have an apple but it was still very good. I think I will add nuts and raisens next time . Good for a fast easy treat and no mixer needed.
I’m so happy you enjoyed it! Thanks for the comment 🙂
Lovely recipe. Thanks for sharing. Simon
I made this bread today…..it is sooo good….I switched out the flour to all white all purpose because that is what I had on hand….and I used turbanado sugar and cinnamon on the top……all in all it is a great moist bread. I would make it again.
This was very yummy. I modified it as suggested by using 1/2 c whole wheat flour, and I replaced the brown sugar with 1/4 c honey 1/4 real maple syrup, added 2 chopped apples and juice of 1/2 small lemon … It was moist and amazing.
So thrilled to hear this bread was a hit! Thanks for sharing your changes Val! 🙂
Thank you for the great suggestion, Val! I was trying to decide what to sub for the brown sugar!
Excellent recipe love all the healthy ingredients, just a side note, I made this the other day with a cup of 10 grain flour, and 1/2 cup white flour and it was excellent….I have also made it with dried cranberries in place of the apples and lemon juice and it is also delicious, thanks for sharing the recipe!! nuts.com has a great variety of flours to choose from that is where i get my 10 grain flour and I love it in almost all recipes….
Thank you so much Barbara! I’m so happy you’ve been enjoying this bread 🙂 Love to hear your substitutions and that flour sounds amazing! 🙂
My loaf didn’t rise very high but the flavour and texture were outstanding. Big hit with my kids as well. I’ll definitely make this again. Thanks!
Yeah!! So great to hear! Thanks for the comment! 🙂 And if you are hoping to get it to rise a little higher, you may just want to refresh your baking agents and that should do the trick! 🙂
I tried this bread today after having great success with some of your other apple recipes and…one word: yum! This recipe is so easy and delicious, and I like that’s it’s not too sweet. Plus it even works if you halve the recipe! Thanks for another great recipe, Chelsea! It’s a keeper for sure ?
Yay!! So, so great to hear!! Thank you Kirsti! 🙂 I appreciate your kind comment and you trying out some of my recipes! 🙂
Looks delish, Chelsea! I will be making this bread this weekend for sure! Thanks for sharing 🙂