Applesauce oatmeal bread is a delicious sweet quick bread that’s perfect for breakfast, tea time, snack or even a light dessert. The vanilla honey butter helps take each slice to the next level of yumminess!
This applesauce oatmeal quick bread recipe makes a lovely lightly sweet loaf that is loaded with flavor and soft texture. The batter is easy to put together and the applesauce helps to keep it moist and delicious.
Serve up a slice with a smattering of vanilla honey butter as a great breakfast, tea time treat, snack or whenever hunger strikes.
The start of fall signals more than just a season change to me. Yes, the weather change is definitely welcomed. I’d say more so with each passing year!
The crisp air also signals the start of two ancillary seasons that get me even more excited; baking season and oatmeal season. (Chili and soup season too, but we can talk about that more some other time!)
As the days get shorter and cooler, it is easier to think about spending the day making great food. Also the food I crave starts to get heartier and warmer.
About the Bread
This works on all of those fronts! First, it smells amazing while it is baking.
The sweet scents of apples, cinnamon and vanilla make you crave a slice long before you take a bite.
Then there is the lovely texture. It is moist and delicious with a perfectly dense crumb.
Because it is a quick bread, there is no yeast to mess with. That also means you don’t have to wait for anything to proof.
Just mix together the batter and pour it in a prepared pan. It will get plenty of lift from the baking soda and baking powder.
The recipe really is quite simple and pretty forgiving too. The loaf has the perfect quick bread texture for cutting a nice big slice and spreading it with a touch of butter.
I mixed in a healthy bit of old fashioned oats and they mostly melt right into the bread. So I sprinkled a few on top to make sure you knew it was in there.
I think we all know my love for oatmeal runs deep. I have tons of great baked oatmeal recipes here on the blog.
If you’ve only ever had dense or bland baked oatmeal, promise me you’ll give one of my recipes a try!
Vanilla Honey Butter
The bread is good on its own. Just image a slice with a mug of coffee or spiced tea.
But if you want to take it to the next level, schmear on a bit of vanilla honey butter!
In less than a minute and only a few ingredients, you can make this thing soar! In fact, you may want to make extra vanilla butter to put on everything.
All you have to do is stir together some softened butter, vanilla and honey. You can add a pinch of cinnamon too if you want, it’s your kitchen and your show!
Any leftovers would be great on toast, pancakes and more. It would also be lovely on dinner rolls for a holiday meal.
Tips and Tricks
This recipe is pretty forgiving. If you only have standard applesauce instead of unsweetened, go ahead and use that.
Of course the bread will be a bit sweeter, but that’s not something my crew usually complains about. If you are worried about it being too sweet for breakfast, you can always reduce the granulated sugar by a couple of tablespoons.
I usually bake with old fashioned oatmeal. We always have it on hand and I prefer the texture in most recipes.
However, feel free to use quick cooking oats if that is what you have. It will still be moist and tasty.
In the same vane, feel free to use your favorite neutral cooking oil. I wouldn’t use something with a strong flavor, but any of your standard oils should work well.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to store bread?
Applesauce oatmeal bread is best fresh. Though it will store for several days in an airtight container at room temperature. For longer storage, freeze the bread. Refrigerating bread can dry it out faster and is not recommended.
How do you freeze bread?
Once the bread is cooled, wrap it in aluminum foil or plastic wrap and place it in a freezer safe bag. Freeze the loaf for up to 2-3 months. You can also place individual slices in small freezer bags. Then you can just pull one out and put it in the microwave for a few seconds when you want a slice.
More Apple Recipes to Try
Last year I celebrated the advent if baking season with a fabulous applesauce cake with soft and creamy caramel frosting celebrating my favorite fruit of the season and the deliciousness that is vanilla.
I also created an apple pie steel cut oatmeal recipe that people are still raving about. It is another one that smells fantabulous while it’s cooking. Plus it is absolutely loaded with apple goodness and oats.
This year I thought I’d keep it a bit more simple, but no less delicious. Do yourself a favor and give all three a try. Then come back and let me know what you think!
If you like apples and oatmeal together, you will love apple pie steel cut oats. Or make up a batch of apple pie baked oats, both are hearty and perfect for fall.
For another easy apple bake, try making my great-great-grandma’s dutch apple cake. It is a perfect simple cake that my family has been serving as a coffee cake style breakfast for generations.
What are your favorite ways to celebrate the start of apple season? You can always let me know your favorite apple recipes in the comments below.
Applesauce Oatmeal Bread
Ingredients
Applesauce Bread
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1¼ cups all purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 dash grated nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup old fashioned oats
- Optional: 1 Tablespoon additional oats for top
Vanilla Honey Butter
- 4 Tablespoons butter softened
- 2 teaspoons honey
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Applesauce Quick Bread
- Preheat oven to 350° F and grease a 9×5″ loaf pan
- In a large bowl, mix together applesauce, sugar, eggs, oil and vanilla.1 cup unsweetened applesauce, 1 cup granulated sugar, 2 large eggs, ¼ cup vegetable oil, 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- In a separate bowl, stir together dry ingredients.1¼ cups all purpose flour, ¼ teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon, 1 dash grated nutmeg, ½ teaspoon salt, ¾ cup old fashioned oats
- Mix the flour mixture into the wet ingredients until just combined.
- Pour into prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle with a few additional oats if desired.
- Bake for 55-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean.
- Cool in the pan for about 10 minutes and then turn out and cool completely on a wire rack before slicing.
Vanilla Honey Butter
- Mix together butter, honey and vanilla until smooth and creamy.4 Tablespoons butter, 2 teaspoons honey, ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Spread over cooled or slightly warmed slices of bread.
Sandy Rees
Thursday 14th of October 2021
I bet this is delicious. Vanilla honey butter would make it extra good. Yum
Carlee
Thursday 14th of October 2021
They are so good together!
Shirley
Monday 8th of October 2018
Such a yummy recipe for a perfect fall treat!
Carlee
Tuesday 16th of October 2018
Thank you so much!
Amy
Monday 8th of October 2018
The applesauce oatmeal bread sounds wonderful, but the vanilla honey butter puts it over the top.
Carlee
Tuesday 16th of October 2018
the combination is fabulous!
Julie @ Back To My Southern Roots
Sunday 7th of October 2018
I agree with Liz, the bread and vanilla honey butter sound delicious! So yummy!!
Carlee
Monday 8th of October 2018
They are so good together! Thank you!
Liz @ Books n' Cooks
Wednesday 3rd of October 2018
I'm not sure which I'm more excited about - that wonderful fall bread or the vanilla honey butter. Both sound delicious!
Carlee
Monday 8th of October 2018
They are both worth making and thanks for cooking along with me this week. It has been fun, hasn't it?