Light and fluffy Oatmeal Applesauce Bread is the perfect option for those who enjoy a slice of sweetness that isn’t overly sugary. Lower in added sugar and fat, this healthy applesauce quick bread recipe is a mindful treat to enjoy on a daily basis.
You may have noticed a theme emerging with my Applesauce Oatmeal Cookies, Healthy Oatmeal Applesauce Muffins and now this light and fluffy applesauce oatmeal bread.
I find these applesauce treats to be so appealing for a number of reasons. They are a great source of whole grains for those of us who keep carbohydrates in our diet and they are lower in both sugar and fat than most standard baked treats.
Does this equate to the most luscious, decadent bread on the planet? No. I designed this bread recipe for folks like me in mind, who enjoy a sweet treat but also keep a minimal intake of processed sugar.
So if you love homemade baked goods and you have some applesauce to spare, this easy recipe might just be a terrific new tool for your cooking satchel.
Why Make Bread with Applesauce:
There are several reasons why I love baking with applesauce.
First and foremost, applesauce adds moisture to a recipe without the need for excess fat in the form of oil or butter.
Secondly, it brings a natural sweetness so that less sweetener is required.
And lastly, you can taste a hit of apple, which I find to be so lovely.
To give the bread a bigger apple flavor, finely chop or grate one fresh apple and mix it into the batter. If you go this route, I recommend using a sweeter apple like gala apples or Fuji apples rather than tart apples like Granny smith.
Let’s discuss the healthy ingredients for this oatmeal applesauce bread recipe!
Ingredients for Applesauce Bread:
Oats: Taking the place of all-purpose flour, we use whole grain oats to make this healthy quick bread recipe.
You can use rolled oats, old fashioned oats, quick oats or instant oats.
If you need the recipe to be gluten-free, use certified gluten-free oats. I use gluten-free sprouted oats.
Unsweetened Applesauce: One of the stars of the show here, we need applesauce to make our delicious applesauce bread.
As mentioned above, applesauce bring moisture, natural sweetness and a slight apple flavor to the bread, making a delicious healthy bread recipe that can be enjoyed on a daily basis.
I use unsweetened applesauce but any kind of applesauce works, including homemade applesauce.
Eggs: Large eggs help the bread rise and help generate that delectable moist crumb we all love so dearly in quick bread recipes.
I don’t recommend using an egg replacer like flax eggs for the best results unless you’re okay with a very dense bread without much rise or fluff.
Avocado Oil: A little avocado oil goes a long way in adding some richness and moisture to the bread for a tender crumb. I like using avocado oil because it has neutral flavor and is a good source of omega-3 fats.
Melted coconut oil or butter work as a replacement. I don’t recommend using vegetable oil due to its high concentration of omega-6 fatty acids.
Pure Maple Syrup: A touch of pure maple syrup increases the sweetness of this healthy treat. If you prefer sweeter treats, add 3 to 4 tablespoons of brown sugar to the recipe.
Pure Vanilla Extract: A splash of vanilla brings delightful warm flavor.
Baking Powder: The leavening agent here. We need baking powder to help the bread rise, bake evenly, and ensure the slices hold together well when sliced.
Sea Salt and Ground Cinnamon: Salt is a big flavor enhancer and makes a baked good taste sweeter without the need for more sweetener.
Cinnamon gives that delightful warmly spiced addition for apple cinnamon deliciousness.
Want to customize the recipe to fit your personal tastes? You can add any combination of the following.
Optional Additions:
- ⅔ to 1 cup of chocolate chips
- ⅔ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
- 3 Tbsp brown sugar for sweeter bread
- ½ cup raisins or dried cranberries
- ½ cup shredded coconut
- 2/3 cup finely chopped fresh apples or grated apples
If you’re looking for a richer, sweeter, more decadent apple bread, make my Gluten-Free Apple Bread recipe, which includes a cinnamon swirl running throughout the delicious bread. Fall flavors come together in the most heavenly way in this bread!
Now that we’ve covered the basic ingredients, let’s bake a loaf of apple sauce bread!
How to Make Applesauce Bread:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a 9” x 5” loaf pan with parchment paper.
Transfer the oats to a high-powered blender and blend for 1 minute or until flour forms.
Add the rest of the dry ingredients to the blender (baking powder, salt, and cinnamon) and blend for another 10 seconds, or until all of the dry ingredients are well incorporated. Set the flour mixture aside until ready to use.
Add the eggs, applesauce, pure maple syrup, avocado oil, and vanilla extract to a large bowl and mix until all of the wet ingredients are well combined.
Transfer the dry ingredients to the bowl with the wet ingredients and mix until a smooth batter forms.
Pour batter into the prepared pan and spread it into an even layer. If you’d like, sprinkle the top of the batter with extra oats for looks and texture.
Cover the loaf pan with aluminum foil and bake for 45 to 60 minutes, or until the loaf tests clean. Quick breads are considered fully cooked when they reach an internal temperature of 190 degrees or higher.
Insert a digital thermometer into the center of the bread to check for doneness. The optimal temperature for quick bread is anywhere between 190 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit.
Remove the applesauce oatmeal bread from the oven and allow it to cool to room temperature. If you try slicing the bread while it is still warm, it will crumble quite a bit. In this sense, allowing it to set up will benefit you in the end.
Pull on the sides of the parchment paper to release the bread from the baking dish. Transfer the loaf to a cutting board and use a sharp knife to slice the bread into slices.
Serve and enjoy! I like eating it with a pat of butter, apple butter, or peanut butter on top, warmed up.
This delicious quick bread is even tastier the next day and the 2-3 days following preparation.
How to Store Applesauce Bread:
Cover the loaf pan with plastic wrap and store at room temperature for up to 2 days. Beyond two days, transfer the bread to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
You can also freeze the bread in a large zip lock bag for up to three months.
If you do so, I recommend cutting the remaining loaf into individual slices so that you can just snag one and heat it up.
Place a slice on a plate and microwave for 20 to 40 seconds or until the bread is warm.
Nutrient Information:
The full nutrition information breakdown can be found in the recipe card below, but for now, here are some macro facts. When sliced into 8 slices, each slice contains 233 calories, 10 grams of fat, 30 grams of total carbohydrates, 4 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein.
For me, this is a great macro breakdown for something I would consume just before or after a workout, alongside a protein source. It is a good recipe to keep on hand for those of us who keep carbohydrates in our diet and prefer to keep them complex.
It’s the perfect addition to a great breakfast for those who have a fairly active lifestyle.
There you have it, my friend!
Healthy applesauce oatmeal bread to enjoy alongside your morning coffee or afternoon mug of tea.
This homemade applesauce bread is a great way to enjoy a sweet bread without loads of refined carbohydrates and fats.
If you enjoy healthy quick bread recipes similar to this one, try out these reader favorites as well.
More Healthy Quick Bread Recipes:
- Almond Flour Blueberry Bread
- Healthy Oatmeal Carrot Cake Bread
- Double Chocolate Pumpkin Bread
- Double Chocolate Oatmeal Zucchini Bread
- Paleo Morning Glory Quickbread
Bake a loaf of this cinnamon applesauce bread the next time you find yourself craving a thick slice of goodness.
Applesauce Bread
Ingredients
- 2 cups quick oats
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
- 4 Tbsp avocado oil
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a 9” x 5” loaf pan with parchment paper.
- Transfer the oats to a high-powered blender and blend for 1 minute or until flour forms. Add the rest of the dry ingredients to the blender (baking powder, salt, and cinnamon) and blend for another 10 seconds, or until all of the dry ingredients are well incorporated. Set the flour mixture aside until ready to use.
- Add the eggs, applesauce, pure maple syrup, avocado oil, and vanilla extract to a large bowl and mix until all of the wet ingredients are well combined.
- Transfer the dry ingredients to the bowl with the wet ingredients and mix until a smooth batter forms.
- Pour batter into the prepared pan and spread it into an even layer. If you’d like, sprinkle the top of the batter with extra oats for looks and texture.
- Cover the loaf pan with aluminum foil and bake for 45 to 60 minutes, or until the loaf tests clean. Quick breads are considered fully cooked when they reach an internal temperature of 190 degrees or higher. Insert a digital thermometer into the center of the bread to check for doneness. The optimal temperature for quickbread is anywhere between 190 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Remove the applesauce oatmeal bread from the oven and allow it to cool to room temperature. If you try slicing the bread while it is still warm, it will crumble quite a bit. In this sense, allowing it to set up will benefit you in the end.
- Pull on the sides of the parchment paper to release the bread from the baking dish. Transfer the loaf to a cutting board and use a sharp knife to slice the bread into slices.
- Serve and enjoy! I like eating it with a pat of butter, apple butter, or peanut butter on top, warmed up.
Nutrition
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Would olive oil work in place of the avocado oil?
Hi Caitlin! Olive oil works great, although you’ll be able to taste it. Some people love this flavor (I’m totally fine with it), and some people don’t, so just keep this in mind. I’d recommend using olive oil that isn’t extra virgin olive oil if you don’t want the olive flavor to shine through, because EVOO has a very pronounced rich flavor. Happy baking!
Just made this bread and it’s absolutely delicious! On a path to feel better and lower my bad cholesterol when I found your amazing website! Thank you for sharing your journey and fantastic recipes!
I’m happy to hear you enjoy it, Pam! And my pleasure – I really enjoy making (and eating) recipes like this 🙂
how many calories and carbs in 1 piece
Hi Allan! The nutrition facts are at the bottom of the recipe card 🙂 One slice is 234 calories and 30 grams of carbs if you slice the loaf into 8 slices. xo