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Applesauce Bread

A warmly spiced quick bread made with unsweetened applesauce, rolled oats, and a blend of all-purpose and whole wheat flours. The loaf bakes to a moist, tender consistency and may be finished with a delicate powdered sugar icing.
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Course: Bread
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Applesauce Bread
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes
Cooling time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 25 minutes

Ingredients

For the Bread

  • 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
  • ½ cup firmly packed brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground allspice
  • cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup neutral-flavored oil such as canola or vegetable oil
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • 2 large eggs brought to room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ cup old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ cup granulated white sugar
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ cup whole wheat flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder

For the Optional Drizzle

  • ½ batch powdered sugar icing

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Thoroughly coat an 8- or 9-inch loaf pan with oil or nonstick cooking spray.
  • In a medium mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, rolled oats, brown sugar, granulated sugar, baking soda, baking powder, kosher salt, cinnamon, allspice, and cloves. Stir until the ingredients are evenly dispersed.
  • In a separate large bowl, whisk the eggs, applesauce, neutral oil, and vanilla extract until smooth and fully blended.
  • Add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients. Stir only until a thick, uniform batter forms and no visible flour remains. Scrape along the bottom and sides of the bowl to incorporate any unmixed ingredients, taking care not to overwork the batter.
  • Transfer the batter to the prepared loaf pan and level the surface with a spatula.
  • Bake for 55 to 65 minutes. Begin checking the loaf at approximately 50 minutes to prevent overbaking. The bread is ready when the center feels firm and a toothpick inserted into the middle emerges mostly clean with only a few moist crumbs. Alternatively, the internal temperature should register 200°F.
  • Allow the bread to rest in the pan for 15 minutes. Run a knife carefully around the perimeter, then turn the loaf onto a wire rack.
  • Cool completely to room temperature for approximately 1 hour before applying the icing. The bread may also be served warm or at room temperature without the glaze.
  • Once the loaf has fully cooled, use a fork to drizzle the powdered sugar icing across the top. Apply the icing in alternating stripes for a more defined presentation.
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Notes

For a vegan variation, replace the two eggs with an equivalent quantity of prepared flax eggs.
The icing is optional and should be added only after the loaf has cooled completely.