This incredible apple bread is filled with brown sugar, cinnamon & plenty of apples. Fill your kitchen with delicious apple cinnamon goodness by making this applesauce bread!
Apple bread is a moist, tender quick bread bursting with cinnamon, brown sugar, and apple flavor. This recipe uses both applesauce and fresh apple chunks for an extra-appley loaf that stays soft and flavorful.
Late summer and early fall are perfect for baking with apples. If you love warm apple spice desserts, this applesauce bread is an easy recipe to add to your seasonal baking list.
Apple Bread Recipe
This loaf is the apple-loving cousin of banana bread: moist, slightly springy, and flavored with brown sugar, cinnamon and a touch of nutmeg. The batter comes together quickly, though it needs about 45–55 minutes to bake.
Start by whisking together the dry ingredients: all-purpose flour, cinnamon, ground nutmeg, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. The warm spices pair beautifully with the apples.
In a separate bowl, combine the melted unsalted butter with brown sugar, then whisk in eggs and vanilla. Stir in the applesauce and sour cream to add sweetness and moisture to the batter.
Fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture gently, and then fold in the chopped apple. Use a firm, crisp apple—tart varieties work especially well, though sweeter apples are fine if you prefer.
Bake the batter in a prepared 9×5 inch loaf pan until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the loaf feels firm to the touch. A small crack down the center is normal and expected.
Once the bread has cooled, you can drizzle a simple cream cheese glaze over the top. The glaze is optional but adds a pleasant, subtle sweetness that complements the spices.
This applesauce bread is an ideal fall bake: apples, cinnamon, and a hint of cream cheese glaze make a comforting treat for breakfast, brunch, or an afternoon snack.
For more apple-cinnamon treats, try apple cupcakes, cinnamon brown sugar apple pancakes, or apple spice cake. For other quick breads, consider classic banana bread, zucchini banana bread, or pumpkin bread with cream cheese glaze.
Apple Bread
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Ingredients
Apple Bread
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 3/4 cup applesauce, unsweetened
- 1 large apple, peeled & chopped
Cream Cheese Glaze
- 2 oz cream cheese
- 2-3 tablespoons milk or cream
- 1/2 – 1 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
Apple Bread
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Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
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Grease and flour a 9×5 inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper.
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In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
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In a large bowl, whisk the melted butter and brown sugar until combined. Whisk in the eggs and vanilla.
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Stir in the applesauce and sour cream until smooth.
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Gently fold the flour mixture into the wet ingredients, then fold in the chopped apple.
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Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake 45–55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the loaf feels firm to the touch. If the top browns too quickly, tent with foil and continue baking.
Cream Cheese Glaze
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Whisk the cream cheese with 1/2 cup powdered sugar until smooth.
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Add milk or cream a tablespoon at a time, and more powdered sugar as needed, until the glaze reaches a drizzling consistency.
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Drizzle the glaze over the cooled loaf using a spoon or fork tines.
Notes
Store cooled bread in an airtight container at room temperature up to 4 days. Unglazed bread freezes well for up to 2 months in an airtight container or wrapped tightly; thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
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