Oh, friend, do you ever get that feeling? That little nudge from your soul telling you it’s time to bake something warm, something that fills your home with the most incredible smell? For me, that feeling often leads straight to this Cinnamon Applesauce Bread. It’s more than just a recipe; it’s a little slice of comfort, a hug wrapped up in a loaf of tender, spiced bread.
Maybe it reminds you of cool autumn days, apple picking, and cozy sweaters. Or maybe it’s just the simple joy of a perfectly moist, slightly sweet slice with your morning coffee. Whatever the reason, this recipe is a winner. It’s ridiculously easy, comes together in a flash, and is guaranteed to become a regular in your baking rotation. Trust me on this one.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Fast: Seriously, you can have this batter in the pan in under 15 minutes. Perfect for a spontaneous baking urge!
- Easy: No fancy techniques here. If you can whisk, you can make this bread.
- Giftable: Wrap up a loaf for a neighbor, teacher, or friend. It’s a gift from the heart (and the kitchen!).
- Crowd-pleasing: Who doesn’t love a slice of warm, spiced quick bread? It disappears fast!
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to bake this deliciousness. Most of these are probably already hanging out in your pantry and fridge!
- ½ cup oil: Any neutral oil works great here, like vegetable or canola. It helps keep the bread super moist.
- ¾ cup granulated sugar: Our main sweetness provider.
- ¼ cup packed brown sugar: That lovely packed brown sugar adds a little extra depth and moisture. Make sure to pack it down in the measuring cup!
- 2 large eggs: Our binders! Helps everything hold together nicely.
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce: The star of the show! Using unsweetened lets the other flavors shine and keeps the sugar in check. It’s key for moisture and that lovely apple flavor.
- ¼ cup Greek yogurt: This is my little secret weapon for extra tenderness and a slightly tangy note that balances the sweetness. Full-fat or low-fat works.
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract: A must for rounding out all those wonderful flavors.
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour: Just your standard flour is perfect here.
- 1 teaspoon baking soda: Our leavening agent, helping the bread rise beautifully.
- ½ teaspoon baking powder: Works with the baking soda to give it that perfect lift and texture.
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon: Don’t be shy with the cinnamon! It pairs perfectly with the applesauce.
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg: Cinnamon’s best friend in baked goods. It adds that warm, cozy spice.
- ¼ teaspoon salt: Just a pinch to enhance all the other flavors. Don’t skip it!
How to Make It
Okay, let’s get baking! It’s truly as easy as mixing a few things together.
Step 1: Get Ready! First things first, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures it’s nice and hot when your batter is ready. Then, grab a 9×5 inch loaf pan. I always recommend lining it with parchment paper first – it makes removing the finished loaf an absolute breeze! Lightly grease the paper (or the pan if you skip the paper) with a little cooking spray or butter.
Step 2: Wet Ingredients Part 1. In a large mixing bowl, pour in your oil, granulated sugar, and packed brown sugar. Grab a whisk and whisk them together until they’re well combined and look smooth. This starts building that moist, tender base.
Step 3: Add the Eggs. Crack in your two large eggs. Keep whisking until they are fully incorporated into the sugar and oil mixture. You want it to look uniform.
Step 4: Add the Applesauce Mix. Now, measure in your unsweetened applesauce, vanilla extract, and that Greek yogurt. Whisk everything again until the mixture is smooth and lump-free. See how easy this is?
Step 5: Bring in the Dry. In a separate bowl (or just carefully measure directly into your wet ingredients if you like living on the edge! 😉), add your all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and salt. Give these dry ingredients a quick whisk together just to distribute them evenly.
Step 6: Combine Gently. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Now, switch to a spatula or a wooden spoon. Stir everything together just until the dry ingredients are just combined. A few small lumps are totally okay! The key is not to overmix, which can make the bread tough.
Step 7: Pan It Up. Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan. Use your spatula to spread the top evenly. It will look like a lovely, thick, spiced batter.
Step 8: Bake! Pop the pan into your preheated oven. Bake for about 50-65 minutes. Baking times can vary depending on your oven, so start checking around 50 minutes. You’ll know it’s done when a toothpick or cake tester inserted near the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs attached. If the top starts getting too brown before it’s done, you can loosely tent it with aluminum foil.
Step 9: Cool Down. Let the bread cool in the pan on a wire rack for about 10-15 minutes. This allows it to set up properly. Then, carefully lift it out of the pan using the parchment paper or invert it onto the wire rack to cool completely. Slicing it while warm is tempting (and delicious!), but letting it cool fully makes for cleaner slices.
Substitutions & Additions
Want to play around with the recipe? Here are some fun ideas!
- Oil: You could use melted butter instead of oil for a richer flavor, though oil tends to keep quick breads moister over time.
- Greek Yogurt: Sour cream is a fantastic substitute for Greek yogurt and will give you a similar moist texture and slight tang.
- Applesauce: While unsweetened is recommended, you could use sweetened applesauce. You might want to slightly reduce the granulated sugar if you do.
- Add-ins: Stir in ½ cup of chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans are great!), raisins, or even chocolate chips with the dry ingredients before mixing them into the wet.
- Spices: Feel free to tweak the spices! A pinch of ground ginger or cloves could be lovely.
Tips for Success
A few little pointers to make sure your bread turns out perfect every time!
- Don’t Overmix: This is the most important tip for quick breads! Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, leading to a tough loaf. Mix just until the dry ingredients disappear.
- Measure Flour Correctly: Spoon the flour into your measuring cup and level it off with a straight edge, don’t scoop directly from the bag, which can compact the flour and result in too much.
- Pan Prep is Key: Don’t skip lining the pan with parchment paper! It makes removal foolproof.
- Check for Doneness: Rely on the toothpick test, not just the clock, as ovens vary.
- Cooling Patience: Letting the bread cool in the pan briefly and then fully on a wire rack is important for structure and texture.
How to Store It
This bread stays wonderfully moist thanks to the applesauce! Once it’s completely cooled, you can store it.
At room temperature: Wrap the loaf tightly in plastic wrap or store it in an airtight container. It will stay fresh for 3-4 days.
In the refrigerator: If you live in a humid climate or want it to last a little longer, you can store it in the fridge for up to a week, wrapped well.
To freeze: This bread freezes beautifully! Let it cool completely. Wrap the entire loaf or individual slices tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe bag or container. It will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature.
FAQs
Q: Can I use chunky applesauce?
A: Yes, you can! Chunky applesauce will just add little soft pieces of apple throughout the bread, which is also delicious.
Q: Why is applesauce used in baking?
A: Applesauce is fantastic in baking because it adds moisture and tenderness, can sometimes reduce the need for as much fat, and adds a subtle sweetness and flavor. It’s a great way to keep baked goods moist without adding a lot of extra oil or butter.
Q: Can I turn this into muffins?
A: Absolutely! Pour the batter into a greased or lined muffin tin, filling cups about two-thirds full. The baking time will be much shorter, usually around 20-25 minutes. Check for doneness with a toothpick.
Q: My bread was a little dry, what went wrong?
A: The most common culprits for dry quick bread are overmixing the batter or overbaking it. Make sure you mix just until combined and start checking for doneness at the earlier end of the baking time range.
Cinnamon Applesauce Bread
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Step 1: Get Ready! Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9x5 inch loaf pan with parchment paper and lightly grease it or the pan.
- Step 2: Wet Ingredients Part 1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together oil, granulated sugar, and packed brown sugar until well combined and smooth.
- Step 3: Add the Eggs. Whisk in the two large eggs until fully incorporated into the sugar and oil mixture.
- Step 4: Add the Applesauce Mix. Measure in the unsweetened applesauce, vanilla extract, and Greek yogurt. Whisk again until the mixture is smooth and lump-free.
- Step 5: Bring in the Dry. In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and salt to distribute them evenly.
- Step 6: Combine Gently. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Switch to a spatula or wooden spoon and stir just until the dry ingredients are combined. Do not overmix; a few small lumps are okay.
- Step 7: Pan It Up. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Use the spatula to spread the top evenly.
- Step 8: Bake! Bake for about 50-65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs. If the top browns too quickly, loosely tent with aluminum foil.
- Step 9: Cool Down. Let the bread cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10-15 minutes. Then, carefully lift it out using the parchment paper or invert it onto the wire rack to cool completely before slicing.
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