Applesauce Bread

This Applesauce Bread is packed with dried cranberries and diced apples, with hints of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, for a moist, flavorful loaf. Serve it with a hot pot of coffee or tea.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

See the recipe card below for the complete list of ingredients.

• Ground nutmeg: For those who like it; omit it if you don’t. Replace it with an equal amount of ground ginger, if desired.
• Sugars: I find an equal split of granulated and brown sugar is best for this bread.
• Applesauce: Preferably unsweetened. If using sweetened applesauce, reduce the granulated sugar to 3 tablespoons.
• Oil: Vegetable, canola, sunflower, or safflower.
• Vanilla extract: Use the pure stuff, please.
• Dried cranberries: I love the pop of flavor they add. You can substitute raisins or dried cherries.
• Apple: Choose crisp, tart apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp apples. Other good choices are Braeburn or Pink Lady (Cripps Pink).

How To Make Applesauce Bread

This is a summary; for the complete list of ingredients and instructions, see the recipe card below.

1. Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt in a medium bowl.
2. In a large bowl, mix the sugars, eggs, applesauce, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract.
3. Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and stir to combine.
4. Gently stir in the dried cranberries and diced apples.
5. Bake in a loaf pan coated with nonstick baking spray until a toothpick inserted in the top of the loaf comes out clean.

Best Baking Tips

• Use the correct baking pan. I use a nonstick 9×5-inch steel loaf pan. Avoid glass pans, as they can lead to overcooked, dry loaves. Avoid nonstick pans that are too dark. I find that the crust gets too dark and looks burnt.
• Spray the pan with nonstick baking spray. Or coat with butter or shortening, then dust lightly with flour.
• Nut lovers can add chopped pecans or walnuts. I did not add them because both of my kiddos are allergic to nuts.
• Mix the batter just until combined. Overmixing can make the bread tough and gummy.
• Cook just until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
• For an over-the-top-looking loaf, scatter a few cranberries over the top and gently push them just under the batter.

More Sweet Breads

• chocolate zucchini bread
• carrot bread
• sweet potato bread
• strawberry bread
• zucchini bread
• chocolate chip banana bread
• soda bread
• cranberry orange bread

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