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Apple Bread

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This easy Apple Bread is made with apples, applesauce, brown sugar, and warm spices. A flavorful breakfast or snack for chilly fall days. Two slices of apple bread stacked on top of each other. How are you, friends? I’m over here living my typical early-September life. And by that, I mean the outside temps are still in the triple digits, but I am baking with apples, adding pumpkin spice to everything, and turning down the thermostat in an effort to trick my myself into thinking it is actually fall. There is zero shame in my game. I say, “Do what makes you happy,” and today that is making APPLE BREAD!

This recipe was way back in the archives and it was time for a refresh. I made a few tweaks, took some new pictures, and now we have the perfect Apple Bread recipe ready and waiting for that first chilly fall day.

MORE FALL RECIPES: APPLE CRUMB CAKE – PUMPKIN MUFFINS – APPLE CRISP – APPLE DUMPLINGS – CINNAMON BREAD

 Loaf of Apple Bread topped with icing.

How To Make Apple Bread

This quick-bread recipe produces a moist and dense apple bread that is topped with a brown sugar-pecan streusel. Here’s what makes this recipe the best:

Apples: This recipe uses grated apples instead of chopped apples. The grated apples seemingly melt into the bread, adding apple flavor to every bite. Use your favorite baking apples (sweet or tart). I like Honeycrisp or Pink Lady apples for this recipe.

Applesauce: This recipe gets a double dose of apple flavor from fresh apples and applesauce. Unsweetened applesauce adds just the right amount of moisture, sweetness and apple flavor to this recipe.

Spices: Cinnamon or apple pie spice are in the bread itself and the streusel topping. These warm spices are a delicious compliment to the apples and they give this bread its classic flavor.

Brown sugar: Brown sugar is the only sugar used in this recipe. It adds moisture and a nice depth of flavor along with its sweetness. Make sure your brown sugar is fresh and soft.

Streusel topping: A sweet and buttery brown sugar-pecan streusel adorns the top of the apple bread. This crunchy topping is the perfect compliment to soft and tender bread.

Ingredients in a bowl for making apple bread

Tips for Making Apple Bread:

  1. Let this bread cool completely before cutting slices. If you try to cut it while it is still warm the slices will fall apart.
  2. This bread is actually best the day after it is made. The flavors have a chance to meld and the bread cuts much more neatly on day two.
  3. Store the bread tightly covered at room temperature for up to 2 days, or freeze tightly covered for up to 2 months.
  4. To take this Apple Bread over the top, serve thick, warm slices topped with salted butter, apple butter, honey butter or maple butter.

Three slices of apple bread stacked on top of each other.

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Two slices of apple bread stacked on top of each other.

Apple Spice Bread

Moist and dense apple bread, filled with warm spices and topped with a buttery pecan streusel.
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin
Course: Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 10
Calories: 356kcal
Author: Allison - Celebrating Sweets

Ingredients

Streusel topping:

  • 1/4 cup brown sugar packed
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon or apple pie spice
  • 1/4 cup all purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped pecans
  • pinch of salt
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Bread:

  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon or apple pie spice
  • 1/3 cup vegetable or canola oil
  • 1 cup light brown sugar packed
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 2 cups peeled grated apple (about 2 medium apples) - see note

Icing (optional):

  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 teaspoons half and half or cream
  • drop vanilla extract

Instructions

For the topping:

  • Combine brown sugar, cinnamon, flour, pecans and salt. Add melted butter and stir until combined. Place the topping in the refrigerator while you prepare the bread.

For the bread:

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 10x5 loaf pan.
  • In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, whisk oil, brown sugar, applesauce, eggs and vanilla until well combined. Add the flour to the wet ingredients, and stir with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula until the flour is almost completely mixed in. Stir in the grated apples until fully combined, being careful not to overmix. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle the streusel topping over the top.
  • Bake for 50-60 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean (mine was done right around 53 minutes).
  • Cool pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes, then carefully remove the bread from the pan and place on a wire rack to cool completely.

Icing:

  • Whisk all ingredients until well combined. If necessary, add more powdered sugar to thicken or more cream to thin. Drizzle over the bread.

Notes

You can make this recipe with sweet or tart apples. My favorites are Honeycrisp or Pink Lady.
I grate the apples on the medium holes of a box grater.
If your apples are super juicy, you can pat they dry with a paper towel, don't squeeze them, just remove the excess liquid.
This bread should cool completely before you cut it. Note: It cuts even cleaner the day after it was baked. 
Recipe adapted from Better Homes & Gardens

Nutrition

Calories: 356kcal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 51mg | Sodium: 142mg | Potassium: 207mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 31g | Vitamin A: 180IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 72mg | Iron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @CelebratingSweets or tag #CelebratingSweets!

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Comments

  4. Jodi says

    Made this recipe last night. Enjoyed a slice this morning with my coffee. Very delicious! This recipe will become a permanent page in my favorite recipes book! Thanks for sharing! 5 Stars!!

    Reply

  5. Melissa says

    5 stars
    We have a nut allergy in our house. What would you recommend to replace the pecans? This recipe looks delicious! I have made your recipes before, and they have turned out beautifully! Thank you for sharing! 😊

    Reply

    • Celebrating Sweets says

      Hi, Melissa! You can just leave out the nuts, no need to replace them with anything. Thanks for stopping by! Happy holidays.

      Reply

  6. Doreen says

    Would I be able to make in advance and freeze for company visiting. Would freezing cause the apple bread to lose its integrity as far as freshness and taste? Looks so yummy and would be perfect for autumn. Thank you for sharing!

    Reply

    • Celebrating Sweets says

      Hi, Doreen. I don’t think the flavor will be negatively affected at all, in fact I think the taste of this bread actually improves in the days following baking. The bread itself should freeze just fine, I’ve frozen other quick breads with no problem.

      My main concern would be the crumb/streusel topping. I find that when I freeze baked goods with a crumb topping, the topping softens and is less crisp than when it is fresh. If you’re hesitant about freezing it you can always make it the day before your guests are arriving. This bread actually cuts best the day after it is made.

      Best of luck! Enjoy!

      -Allison

      Reply

  7. katie says

    5 stars
    i used homemade apple sauce instead of the apple juice (& in fact put in a little extra than the recipe called for). and added some powdered ginger, LOTS of cinnamon, and used a high protein flour. they were insanely good!! a bit on the dense side (perhaps because of the apple sauce verses the apple juice), but REALLY addictive!!! 🙂

    Reply

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