Description
Enjoy a moist and flavorful applesauce bread, perfect for breakfast or a snack. This spiced quick bread combines warm cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves with the sweetness of applesauce and sugars, enriched with a hint of vanilla and optional crunchy nuts for added texture.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Optional Ingredients
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and ground cloves until evenly combined.
- Combine Sugars and Oil: In a large bowl, beat the granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vegetable oil until well blended and smooth.
- Add Eggs: Add the eggs one at a time into the sugar and oil mixture, beating well after each addition to incorporate fully.
- Incorporate Applesauce and Vanilla: Stir in the unsweetened applesauce and vanilla extract into the wet ingredient mixture until uniform.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring gently just until combined to avoid overmixing.
- Fold in Nuts: If using, fold in the chopped walnuts or pecans evenly throughout the batter.
- Transfer to Pan and Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top evenly. Bake in the preheated oven for 50 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool Bread: Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Then transfer the loaf to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.
Notes
- For added texture and sweetness, stir in 1/2 cup raisins or chocolate chips before baking.
- This bread freezes well: wrap tightly and freeze for up to 2 months.
- The flavors develop and intensify if allowed to rest overnight.
