Apple Bread
This hearty apple cinnamon bread is perfect for breakfast and mid-afternoon coffee breaks. This vegan apple bread recipe is a must-make!
Breakfast bread! I’ve been looking for a hearty bread recipe that I could serve for breakfast without feeling like I’m secretly eating a cupcake in disguise.
Van is really into baked goods, especially muffins, and while I love baking with him I also want to offer wholesome options. I wanted a hearty bread recipe that I could serve for breakfast and snack that wasn’t packed with various sugars or too-many refined grains.
This apple breakfast bread does it all! It’s nutrient-dense thanks to walnuts, flax seed, apple sauce, whole-grain flour and apples while just sweet enough to be paired with coffee or a mid-day cappuccino. I often crumble this on some yogurt for V while topping a warm slice with almond butter for me.
I’m so excited to be partnering again with Autumn Glory apples for this recipe. Did you have a chance to try the lentil BBQ sandwich recipe that I posted a few months ago with Autumn Glory apples? That sandwich is SO hearty and delicious— it’s a must try after you bake this bread.
If you haven’t had a chance yet to try this apple brand, you are going to fall in love with first bite. They are grown in Central Washington and have a brilliant flavor, crisp texture and pinkish-red blush to them. I think they taste a lot like caramel apple cider and provide the perfect balance of sweet and tart in this breakfast bread recipe.
I really wanted to highlight their unique taste and that’s why you see chunks of fresh apples in this bread! Think of it as a cross between coffee cake and slow roasted apples; baking breaks down the apples just enough so they are soft but still retain their shape, moisture and sweet fragrance.
If you like Fuji and Golden Delicious apples, then you will love these— they are like a cross between the two! Like all fruit grown by Superfresh Growers, they are completely GMO-free. I find them in my local grocery store and at Trader Joe’s.
Tips for Success
- Make sure your apples are chopped roughly the same size so they bake evenly in the bread. I peeled them for a softer texture, but feel free to leave the peel on if you’d like! Don’t throw away the peel though— finely chop and add to oatmeal or a smoothie for an extra boost of fiber.
- I call for Pumpkin Pie spice because it contains all the warming spices I want in this bread: cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg. If you don’t have Pumpkin Pie spice, then sub in 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger and a pinch of ground nutmeg.
- The applesauce is a must here for added moisture without excess sugar or oil; don’t skip it!
I hope you enjoy this Apple Breakfast Bread as much as we do! If you try it, make sure to come back and rate it and leave a review. Seeing you make my recipes makes my day and your feedback is so helpful to other readers!
Apple Bread
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup raw walnut halves
- 1 tablespoon ground flax seed
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 3 tablespoons canola or other neutral oil
- 2 tablespoons non-dairy milk of choice
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups peeled, cored and chopped apples
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly spray an 8 inch loaf pan and set aside.
- Place the walnuts in a single layer on an ungreased baking sheet; place in the oven and cook until just toasted, about 7-8 minutes. Nuts can burn very quickly, so I recommend keeping the oven light on and checking every minute after 5 minutes. Remove, let cool slightly and roughly chop. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, add the ground flax seed along with 2 tablespoons water and mix together until combined. Set aside until just gelled, about 5 minutes.
- While the flax seed mixture is coming together, place the flour, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice and salt in a separate large bowl. Whisk until well-mixed.
- To the flax seed bowl, add in the applesauce, oil, non-dairy milk, brown sugar and vanilla extract. Whisk until well combined, then add the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined, the batter will be very thick- that’s normal!
- Add in the apples and walnuts and mix together, either with a spoon, spatula or your hands. You want to just mix the apples into the thick batter, taking care as much as possible not to overmix.
- Place the batter into the prepared loaf pan, pressing the top down as much as possible. Lightly cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil, then bake another 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove and let cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then gently remove and let cool on a wire rack until mostly cooled.
- Slice and enjoy! We love this most with almond butter and more sliced apples on top!