Cinnamon Applesauce Bread — This applesauce bread is packed with fall flavors and comes together quickly. I serve mine with homemade honey butter, because why not?
Table of Contents
Spiced Applesauce Quick Bread Recipe
You won’t need scented candles ever again. Just make this applesauce bread! The scent of apples, cinnamon, 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.
Applesauce Bread Ingredients
To make the applesauce quick bread, 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
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
How to Make Applesauce Bread
This homemade applesauce bread recipe is so quick and easy to prepare! Here are the basic steps for this fall quick bread recipe:
- Applesauce bread: Whisk together everything but the flour, baking powder, and baking soda.
- Once the mixture is well combined, stir in the remaining ingredients.
- Turn the batter into a greased 9×5-inch loaf pan.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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!
Recipe FAQs
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.
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.
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.
I don’t see why not! You’ll want to use smooth applesauce for this recipe though, not chunky.
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.
If you’re looking for a more chunky apple bread recipe, make my Apple Fritter Bread.
You could definitely add a dry mix-ins, like chopped pecans or walnuts!
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!
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.
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.
Tips for Making Applesauce Bread
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.
Storage Instructions
Store leftover applesauce quick 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.
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Applesauce Bread with Honey Butter
Ingredients
Bread
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup cinnamon applesauce, plain may be substituted, consider adding more cinnamon
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup melted coconut oil, canola or vegetable oil or melted butter may be substituted
- ¼ cup light brown sugar, packed
- ¼ cup sour cream, lite okay; Greek yogurt may be substituted
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon, not teaspoon
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- pinch salt, optional and to taste
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
Honey Butter
- ½ cup unsalted butter, extremely soft
- ¼ cup honey, or to taste
- pinch cinnamon, optional and to taste
Instructions
- Make the Bread
- Preheat oven to 350F. Spray a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with floured cooking spray, or grease and flour the pan; set aside (don’t use an 8-by-4-inch pan; it’s too small)
- In a large bowl, whisk together the first 7 ingredients, through optional salt.
- Add the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and stir until just combined; don’t overmix. Batter will be thick and with a few lumps. Don’t try to stir the lumps smooth.
- Turn batter out into prepared pan, smoothing the surface lightly with a spatula.
- Bake for about 56 to 63 minutes (I baked exactly 60), or until top is set and firm, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, or with a few moist crumbs, but no batter. In the last 15 minutes of cooking, tent bread with a sheet of foil (lay it loosely over top of pan) if your bread is looking a bit darker before you anticipate the center to cook through fully; I tented mine.
- Allow bread to cool in pan on top a wire rack for at least 30 minutes before turning out onto rack to cool completely.
- Honey Butter
- Combine the butter (make sure it’s extremely soft and squishy), honey, and optional cinnamon in a small bowl and whisk vigorously until smooth and fluffy.
- Extra portion will keep airtight in the fridge for at least 1 month.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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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.
That crack on the top of the bread – the stuff surrounding that is my FAVORITE part. I am usually all about the soft and gooey in baked goods, but with bread, I go for the crusty caramelized sugar bits. YUM.
Right by that crack, that’s where heaven is :) YES I know. If I could just duplicate the taste/texture around the cracks of quickbreads, I’d die happy!
Okay 1. This bread is probably the most gorgeous thing ever. 2. I’m with you – the smell would make my house smell amazing! And 3. I NEED to bake with coconut oil. Like, why haven’t I????????
LOVE this, pinned of course, all over town. :)
Thanks for all the compliments my sweet friend! Sent you a board invite, too, this morning :) And thanks for pinning!
Apples and cinnamon are a match made in heaven! And this recipe looks like it would take me exactly there. :)
I love apple cake and this bread gives me the perfect excuse to have it for breakfast! Your bread looks unbelievably moist and soft and I love that honey butter smeared on top! pinned.
Thanks for pinning and the compliments!
Now THAT is a beautiful loaf of bread!
Thanks Karly & I sent you a board invite, too, this morning :)
This is a gorgeous loaf of bread! I love the idea of replacing scented candles with delicious cinnamon spice bread :) Also thanks for the iherb discount code! Heading there now :) Beautiful photos Averie!
iherb is my FAVE!! Love it! It’s hard to restrain myself from just one more thing…LOL :) Hope you have fun shopping!
I love the smell of anything cinnamon baking in my oven. And I LOVE that you used cinnamon applesauce in this recipe :)
I am looking forward to spring, but warming spices and apples/applesauce are still perfect right now–the wind is just howling away. I can imagine how wonderful this smells and tastes! I haven’t baked anything with applesauce since…(I can’t remember) so I may give this a try over the weekend because it looks like a good way to deal with single digit temperatures.
I didn’t realize the country was THAT cold until a few ppl have said what you’ve said. It’s been like 68F in San Diego but 58F and night and that’s cold to me :) I bet you will love this one, Paula!
Beautiful. I adore me some honey butter. I haven’t had applesauce bread in the longest time, but I just know it would taste fantastic with honey butter. Craving every bite of this!
I want to dive head first into this loaf!
Thanks, Rachel! Sent you a board invite, too, this morning :)
I seriously love any cake or bread that involves apple sauce. They are always so moist–and not too sweet. Seriously, one of my favorite kind of baked goods ever. Love the coconut oil too!! Making this SOON.
For real? Well if you do make it, LMK! :)
I can only imagine how good this makes your house smell!! This bread looks SO moist and delicious, Averie!
My favorite Averie Cooks recipe is your Sweet Potato Spice Bread…I love ALL of your loafs/breads (and everything else). Cannot wait to try this one out!
Of all my recipes, that one is your fave? Okay good to know!!! I would guess chocolate, PB, etc…never that one! That’s amazing and wonderful it’s such a hit with you & this bread is really reminiscent of that one!
Beautiful photos, as always! I would LOVE to have this baking in my house during these cold winter days we’re having!
It’s total chilly weather comfort food! Stay warm!
Beautiful loaf, Averie! I love coffee cakes made with applesauce and this spiced loaf looks perfect. Thanks for sharing. Pinned!
Thanks for pinning! :)
This bread is BEAUTIFUL Averie! I LOVE that swervy crack down the center of it – GORGEOUS! I really need to try this honey butter thing. Honey butter and cinnamon spice? YES
Thank you, Taylor! We seriously loved this bread. It was gone all too quickly!