Cinnamon Applesauce Bread with Streusel Topping

Cinnamon applesauce bread is your new go-to quick bread recipe for fall! Applesauce and grated apples give the bread its fresh apple flavor, and warming spices cinnamon and nutmeg (plus a cinnamon streusel topping!) lend serious fall vibes. The batter comes together in one bowl, and it takes less than 30 minutes of hands on time to whip up a loaf of this easy, moist, and delicious bread.

this Recipe

Move over banana bread! There's a new quick bread recipe in town that's just as quick, easy, and flavorful as everyone's favorite quick bread.

This spiced applesauce loaf is adapted from my favorite banana bread recipe, so you know it's seriously moist and full of flavor! I simply swapped the bananas for applesauce and grated apples, browned the butter, added brown sugar and warming spices, topped with cinnamon streusel and voilà: a quick bread recipe that's absolutely perfect for fall!

I love quick breads because they're easy to make, they store and freeze well, they're great for gifting because they travel well, and - of course - they're quick! There's no waiting for yeast dough to rise, since these breads are leavened with baking soda or baking powder. The batter for this bread comes together in one bowl (though you'll need to dirty a few more dishes for browning the butter and making the streusel), and it takes less than 30 minutes of hands on time to bake a loaf!

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

Unsweetened Applesauce - Unsweetened applesauce is the key to this bread recipe, adding both apple flavor and just the right amount of moisture to the batter.

Grated Apple - Grated apple adds extra apple flavor and a bit more moisture to the batter. You'll only need about half of one apple to get enough grated apple for this recipe. Be sure to peel your apple before grating.

White & Brown Sugars - In addition to white granulated sugar, brown sugar adds extra flavor and moisture to the batter and complements the warming spices perfectly.

Ground Cinnamon & Nutmeg - Ground cinnamon and nutmeg add delicious spiced flavor to this recipe. I tested different combinations of warming spices... some were lacking while others were overpowering. I found 1 ½ teaspoons of cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon of nutmeg to be just right.

See recipe card at the bottom of this post for full ingredient list and measurements.

Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 325°F. Spray a standard loaf pan (8.5 inches x 4.5 inches) with cooking spray and set it aside.

Step 2: Brown the butter. Place butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat to melt the butter. Once melted, reduce heat to low. Continue to cook the butter, occasionally stirring or gently swirling the pan to ensure it doesn't burn, until the milk solids at the bottom of the pan become a nice golden brown and the butter emits a toasty aroma. Immediately transfer the browned butter to a heat safe bowl and set aside to cool slightly.

Step 3: Make the batter by first combining applesauce and grated apple in a large bowl.

Step 4: Add both sugars and stir to combine.

Step 5: Add flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and nutmeg and stir to combine.

Step 6: Carefully add egg and browned butter and stir gently just until combined.

Step 7: Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan. Set aside.

Step 8: Make the streusel. In a small bowl, add flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt and whisk to combine. Add melted butter and whisk until a crumbly mixture forms. Sprinkle the streusel over the batter in the loaf pan.

Step 9: Bake the bread for 1 hour to 1 hour and 10 minutes or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into center of loaf comes out clean.

Step 10: Place the pan on a wire rack and let the bread cool in the pan for about 20 minutes before carefully turning the loaf out onto the wire rack to cool completely. (Tip: I recommend running a cake tester or butter knife carefully around the edges of the pan immediately after removing it from the oven and again before turning out the bread to ensure the bread doesn't stick to the pan.)

Recipe Tips

Use a box grater to easily shred the peeled apple before adding to the batter.

Be careful not to over mix the batter after the flour is added to avoid a dense or gummy texture in your bread.

Recipe FAQs

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Recipe

Cinnamon Applesauce Bread with Streusel Topping

This easy, moist cinnamon applesauce bread is your new go-to quick bread recipe for fall! Applesauce and grated apples give the bread its fresh apple flavor, and warming spices cinnamon and nutmeg (plus a cinnamon streusel topping!) lend serious fall vibes.

4.58 from 7 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Breakfast, Dessert

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 25 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 10

Yield: 1 loaf

Calories: 307kcal

Author: Allison Ferraro

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Ingredients

Bread Batter:

• ½ cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
• ¼ cup peeled and grated apple
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup light brown sugar
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 large egg

Streusel Topping:

• 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
• ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 pinch fine sea salt
• 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 325°F. Spray a standard loaf pan (8.5 inches x 4.5 inches) with cooking spray and set it aside.

Brown the butter.

• Place butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat to melt the butter. Once melted, reduce heat to low. Continue to cook the butter, occasionally stirring or gently swirling the pan to ensure it doesn't burn, until the milk solids at the bottom of the pan become a nice golden brown and the butter emits a toasty aroma. Immediately transfer the browned butter to a heat safe bowl and set aside to cool slightly.

Make the batter.

• In a large bowl, combine applesauce and grated apple.
• Add both sugars and stir to combine.
• Add flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and nutmeg and stir to combine.
• Carefully add egg and browned butter and stir gently just until combined.
• Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan. Set aside.

Make the streusel topping.

• In a small bowl, add flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt and whisk to combine. Add melted butter and whisk until a crumbly mixture forms. Sprinkle the streusel over the batter in the loaf pan.

Bake the bread.

• Bake the bread for 1 hour to 1 hour and 10 minutes or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into center of loaf comes out clean.
• Place the pan on a wire rack and let the bread cool in the pan for about 20 minutes before carefully turning the loaf out onto the wire rack to cool completely. (Tip: I recommend running a cake tester or butter knife carefully around the edges of the pan immediately after removing it from the oven and again before turning out the bread to ensure the bread doesn't stick to the pan.)

Notes

Storage: Store applesauce bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. Bread can also be frozen for up to 3 months; for best results, wrap the completely cooled loaf tightly in plastic wrap followed by a layer of aluminum foil and place it in a plastic bag or other airtight container before freezing.

Nutrition

Calories: 307kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 114mg | Potassium: 79mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 26g | Vitamin A: 387IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 49mg | Iron: 2mg