Description
Moist, tender, and naturally sweet, Applesauce Bread is a simple and wholesome quick bread ideal for breakfast, snacks, or dessert. Using applesauce as a key ingredient keeps it moist and subtly fruity without added fat, making it a delicious and kid-friendly treat that can be customized to suit any taste or dietary need.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (or gluten-free blend for gluten-free option)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Optional: 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg or cloves for extra spice
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 3/4 cup sugar (or reduce slightly or substitute with maple syrup)
- 1/3 cup oil (vegetable, canola) or melted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Optional Add-ins
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
- 1/2 cup raisins, dried cranberries, or chocolate chips
Instructions
- Prepare Your Ingredients: Gather all ingredients and preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a loaf pan or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and any additional spices until evenly combined.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, lightly beat the eggs. Add the applesauce, sugar, oil or melted butter, and vanilla extract. Whisk until the mixture is smooth and the sugar begins to dissolve.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Gently fold together with a spatula until just combined, being careful not to overmix to maintain a tender texture.
- Optional Add-ins: Carefully fold in any optional ingredients such as nuts, dried fruit, or chocolate chips, ensuring they are evenly distributed without overworking the batter.
- Bake the Bread: Transfer the batter to the prepared loaf pan, smoothing the top. Bake for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool and Serve: Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing to help it set and achieve clean slices.
Notes
- Use unsweetened applesauce to control sweetness and avoid overly sugary bread.
- Bring eggs to room temperature for better consistency in the batter.
- Do not overmix the batter to keep the bread light and fluffy.
- Check oven temperature with an oven thermometer for accurate baking results.
- Allow the bread to cool fully before slicing for optimal texture and flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50-60 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snack, Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/10 of loaf)
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 35mg