Description

This Apple Bread recipe is a moist and flavorful quick bread combining warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg with fresh apples and crunchy toasted pecans. Perfect as a cozy breakfast or afternoon snack, it features a tender crumb enhanced by applesauce and a cinnamon-sugar topping for an extra touch of sweetness and texture.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder

Wet Ingredients

2 large eggs, room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons applesauce
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Additional Ingredients

2 cups finely chopped peeled apples
1 cup chopped toasted pecans
1 tablespoon sugar (for sprinkling the top)
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon (for sprinkling the top)

Instructions

Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius). Grease a standard loaf pan thoroughly to prevent sticking and ensure easy removal of the bread after baking.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and baking powder. This creates the spiced flour base for the bread.
Combine Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, sugar, vegetable oil, applesauce, and vanilla extract until smooth and fully combined. This mixture will add moisture and sweetness to the bread.
Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Stir gently until just combined to avoid overmixing, which can toughen the bread. Fold in the chopped peeled apples and half of the toasted pecans evenly throughout the batter.
Prepare Topping and Assemble: In a small bowl, mix the remaining pecans with 1 tablespoon of sugar and 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the top of the batter in the loaf pan to create a crunchy, sweet topping.
Bake: Place the loaf pan in the preheated oven. Bake for 55-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs. This indicates the bread is fully cooked.
Cool and Serve: Remove the bread from the oven and allow it to cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes. Then invert the bread onto a wire rack to cool completely before slicing and serving.

Notes

Make sure apples are finely chopped and peeled for best texture.
Use room temperature eggs to ensure even mixing and better rise.
To toast pecans, warm them in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-5 minutes until fragrant.
If desired, substitute walnuts for pecans or use a mix of nuts.
For a dairy-free option, verify the applesauce and other ingredients are free of dairy.
This bread keeps well for 2-3 days stored in an airtight container at room temperature or up to a week refrigerated.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 55-60 minutes
Category: Baking
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: apple bread, quick bread, cinnamon apple bread, nutmeg, pecans, applesauce, baked bread, autumn recipes, breakfast bread