Cinnamon Spice Applesauce Bread with Honey Butter

Cinnamon Applesauce Bread with Cinnamon Honey Butter — This applesauce bread is packed with fall flavors and comes together quickly. I serve mine with homemade honey butter, because why not? 

Spiced Applesauce Quick Bread Recipe

You won’t need scented candles ever again. Just make this applesauce bread. The scent of apples, cinnamon, coconut oil, and bread baking makes your house smell absolutely heavenly.

The bread is supremely moist and soft, with just enough cinnamon to complement the applesauce, without being overpowering. 

It’s actually more like an apple spice cake that happens to baked in a loaf pan, so we’ll call it bread. You know, because bread is healthier than cake so you can have extra.

I used every softening and moistening trick in the book to keep this applesauce quick bread supple and tender. Applesauce, coconut oil, and sour cream all lend moisture to the bread. I loathe dry bread and cake, and this is anything but.

The crust is slightly firmer and chewier, while the interior soft, fluffy, and springy. 

It’s great zapped in the microwave for a few seconds to warm it with a big dollop of honey butter, or toast it.

What’s in Applesauce Bread? 

To make the apple bread with applesauce, you’ll need: 

• Eggs
• Cinnamon applesauce
• Granulated sugar
• Melted coconut oil
• Light brown sugar
• Sour cream
• Vanilla extract
• Ground cinnamon and nutmeg
• Salt
• All-purpose flour
• Baking soda and baking powder

And for the cinnamon honey butter, you’ll need: 

• Unsalted butter
• Honey
• Cinnamon

Can the Coconut Oil Be Substituted? 

I love baking with coconut oil in place of other cooking oils especially for quick breads, muffins, cookies, and far prefer it to melted butter. Oil in general keeps things softer, springier and bouncier than butter.

I didn’t notice any overt coconut flavor, but if you’re concerned you can use another oil (such as vegetable or canola). Between the applesauce, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla, any coconut flavor is masked though. 

Can I Use a Sour Cream Substitute? 

Yes, plain Greek yogurt can be used in place of the sour cream. You don’t want to use regular yogurt here though, as it’s much runnier than Greek yogurt. 

Can I Make This with Homemade Applesauce? 

I don’t see why not! You’ll want to use smooth applesauce for this recipe though, not chunky. 

Can I Add Fresh Apples to the Batter? 

Theoretically, yes. However, fresh apple chunks will release moisture into the batter and will likely increase the bake time.

I’ve only made this recipe as written, so I can’t say for sure whether adding apples to the the batter will work. 

However, you could definitely add a dry mix-ins, like chopped pecans or walnuts! 

If you’re looking for a more chunky apple bread recipe, make my Apple Fritter Bread.

How to Make Applesauce Bread 

This applesauce spice bread recipe is so quick and easy to prepare! Here are the basic steps for this fall quick bread recipe: 

1. Applesauce bread: Whisk together everything but the flour, baking powder, and baking soda.
2. Once the mixture is well combined, stir in the remaining ingredients.
3. Turn the batter into a greased 9×5-inch loaf pan.
4. This quick bread will need to bake for roughly an hour, or until the top is set and firm and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
5. In the last 15 minutes of cooking, tent your bread with a sheet of foil if it’s looking a bit darker before you anticipate the center to cook through fully.
6. Let the applesauce quick bread cool for 30 minutes in its pan before slicing and serving it. It needs that extra bit of time to set up.
7. Cinnamon honey butter: Stir together the softened butter, honey, and cinnamon. You can add as much or as little cinnamon as you’d like, it’s up to you! 

Can I Make Applesauce Muffins Instead?  

Probably, but you’d need to drastically shorten the cook time to about 20 minutes. Baking this as a loaf is easier though than making individual muffins, in my opinion, so definitely try this recipe as written first! 

Can I Bake This in a Smaller Loaf Pan? 

No, you need to use a 9×5-inch loaf pan for this recipe. The batter will overflow if you use a smaller pan such as an 8×4-inch loaf pan and you’ll wind up making a huge mess. 

Can I Use Mini Loaf Pans? 

This is the one exception to a smaller loaf pan: 5x3x2-inch loaf pans will work! 

You’ll need to adjust the bake time according to the size of your mini loaf pans. But I’d say about 25 to 30 minutes but again, check for doneness with the toothpick test to know for sure.

How to Store Applesauce Quick Bread

Store leftover applesauce spice bread in an airtight container at room temperature. It will last up to 5 days. 

The cinnamon honey butter will last up to 1 month in the fridge and can also be frozen. 

Can I Freeze Applesauce Bread? 

Yes, you can freeze this loaf for up to 6 months.

Simply wrap the cinnamon applesauce bread in a few layers of plastic wrap or store in a freezer-safe bag. When you’re ready to eat it, set it out on the counter to thaw. 

Tips for Making Applesauce Bread 

Applesauce: I used store-bought cinnamon applesauce. If you use plain applesauce, you may want to bump up the cinnamon in the batter. I haven’t tried using reduced sugar applesauce, and while I’m sure the recipe works, it won’t be as sweet. I love the bread as is and wouldn’t make the sacrifice.

Spices: I didn’t add ginger and allspice so it’s not quite as spicy as spice cake, but you can always add them if you want.

Serving the bread: I served this applesauce bread with cinnamon honey butter, but you could also try a simple butter and confectioners’ sugar glaze, a vanilla cream cheese glaze, or just eat it plain. It’s soft, moist, and flavorful enough that it doesn’t ‘need’ anything. But you know.

Leftovers: I’m sure this apple bread with applesauce would make great French toast, but this loaf never made it long enough to turn into French toast. It was gone in just over a day. That drippy, glistening honey butter gets me every time.

More Apple Quick Bread Recipes: 

Apple Pie Bread with Streusel Topping — If you like apple crumble pie, you’re going to love this EASY no-mixer apple pie bread!! Soft, tender, moist bread with the contrast of the slightly crunchy crumble topping is PERFECT!

Apple Zucchini Bread with Brown Sugar Frosting — Super soft, moist, and topped with the BEST frosting ever!!  One bowl, no mixer, EASY recipe for the best apple zucchini bread that everyone LOVES!!

Carrot Apple Bread — This apple carrot bread tastes like carrot cake that’s been infused with apples. It’s a no mixer recipe that goes from bowl to oven in minutes! 

Apple Fritter Bread — The bread tastes as decadent as the apple fritters of my childhood, no deep frying required and it’s more like cake disguised as bread.

Peanut Butter Apple Banana Bread — Jazz up regular banana bread with peanut butter and apples! A perfect combo that tastes amazing together!! Fast, easy, no mixer required, and a hit with everyone!

Originally published August 23, 2019 and republished September 16, 2022 with updated text.

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