Vegan Apple Cinnamon Bread (Healthy and Oil-Free)

This vegan apple bread is a perfect loaf to make in the fall. Filled with pieces of apple with hints of cinnamon, this quick bread is not overly sweet and amazing for breakfast, snack or even dessert. It is a healthy recipe that's made without oil, but tastes juste like apple cake! 100% vegan, dairy-free and egg-free.

This vegan apple bread is one of our favorite breakfast or snack recipe to make ahead.

We love banana bread, especially this spelt flour banana chocolate bread, but in the fall, this apple loaf is such a treat!

It is super moist, perfectly sweet (but not too much), very cinnamon-y and filled with chunks of apple. It stores very well too, so you can make one or 2 breads in the weekend and use for breakfast, lunch boxes or afternoon snacking during a busy week. Kids love this bread and you can also freeze it!

The texture of the bread is absolutely amazing with the fresh apples being mostly responsible for the soft, fluffy and yumminess. There is some apple sauce that gives tons of flavor, but also cubed fresh apples, which provides more moisture to the bread. The pieces of apple softened, but also stay a little crunchy, adding more layers of texture to the loaf.

Not only is this recipe SO delicious, but it is also super healthy: made using whole wheat flour, includes flax seeds for optimal fluffy texture, sweetened with maple syrup and uses apple sauce instead of oil. Plus, it is packed with pieces of sweet apple rich in vitamin-C, such a fun way to eat more fruit!

I also love how simple this recipe is. It includes only the usual pantry baking ingredients, plus some fresh apples of course. All you have to do is combine the dry + wet ingredients and then add the apple to the batter. Then, bake until golden brown, your house will smell like a bakery!

Let me know if you gave it a try! ❤️

Highlights of this recipe

• Easy, simple and quick recipe
• Delicious fall recipe filled with spices and studded with sweet apples
• Oil-free, refined sugar-free and fiber-rich sweet treat
• Great to meal-prep breakfast or snacks for the week
• Easy to customize with more adds-on
• Vegan, dairy-free and made without eggs

Ingredients you'll need

• Flour: I used this white whole wheat flour from King's Arthur, but regular whole wheat flour should work too.
• Ground flax seeds: I like to use a high speed blender to grind the seeds myself, but you can also buy already ground flax seeds in most grocery stores. Once ground, then store in the fridge for longer freshness.
• Baking soda and baking powder: Leveling agents. Be sure to use a fresh and aluminum-free baking powder for best flavor (check on your expiration dates!).
• Cinnamon: Any type will work, but I prefer the flavor from Ceylon cinnamon. I used this ceylon cinnamon from Kiva Organic that I buy online.
• Apple sauce: Store bought apple sauce is perfect for baking, although you can make your own apple sauce and use this instead, especially during apple season. If using store-bought, then I recommend to use unsweetened. The apple sauce keeps this oil-free bread moist and tender (and a little sweeter too).
• Maple syrup: To sweeten the bread, but also brings amazing flavor that pairs well with the apple and cinnamon. Do not swap for granulated sugar as this could significantly change the overall texture.
• Plant-based milk: Any kind of milk will work. I used plain almond milk for this recipe, but for a nut-free bread, then choose oat or soy milk.
• Vanilla extract: add flavor, but this is optional.
• Apples: you will need 2 full cups of diced apple, which is about 2-3 regular size apples. If you have extra apples, then thinly slice it to garnish the bread before baking!

What kind of apple to use

I use Honey Crisp apples when making this bread as I love their crunchy texture and sweet flavor. But, most kinds will work well too, especially the sweeter kinds. If you can, also choose apples that are crispier and firm as they will keep their shape better while cooking and provide a nice texture to the bread.

As a few examples, Gala, Pink Lady and Fuji would be great choices for this bread. You can also use Granny Smith if you love less sweet and tart flavor. Or you can combine different apples!

How to make a vegan apple bread

This apple loaf cake is so quick and easy!

Before you start, be sure to pre-heat your oven and cover a loaf pan with parchment paper for easy unmolding.

Step 1- Combine the dry

In a large bowl, stir to combine the flour, ground flax seeds, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Set aside.

Step 2 - Combine the wet

In a medium bowl, stir to combine the apple sauce, plant-based milk, maple syrup and vanilla extract.

Step 3 - Combine the dry + wet

Pour the wet over the dry ingredients and stir to combine. Avoid over-mixing.

Step 4 - Add the apples and bake

Add the diced apples to the batter and stir to combine. Again, try not to overwork the batter too much and stir just enough for the ingredients to be combined.

Then, pour in the prepared loaf pan, add a few thinly sliced apple over the batter (optional) and bake.

Baking tips

• I recommend to peel the apples and dice them on the smaller side. It creates a better texture to the loaf and guarantees you get sweet apple chunks in every bites. Also, prepare the batter before peeling and chopping the apples. If you start by prepping the fruit, then they might have enough time to brown before you incorporate them into the batter.
• Make sure to keep mini apple sauce container like these one from Santa Cruz in your pantry, so you don't have to open a big jar when you need a smaller amount.
• To ensure you have a fluffy and light loaf, then be sure not to overmix the batter. Stir until all the ingredients come together and you don't see any dry clusters of flour, then stop.
• Cooking time can vary depending on your oven and the water content of your apples. Cook the loaf for about 1 hour, then make sure to check for doneness with a clean sharp knife or long tooth pick (poke in the loaf and it should come back out mostly clean). Cook for an additional 5-10 minutes if needed, considering that the loaf will keep cooking for a little longer after out of the oven.
• Make sure to let the loaf completely cool down (at least 1 hour, ideally more) before slicing it or the loaf will roll on your knife and this will allow the bread to infuse all of the spices flavor before serving.

Variations to the recipe

I love the simplicity of this bread and how it keeps the focus on the apple and cinnamon flavor. But, you can also add more ingredients to it and personalize your loaf! Here are a few ideas:

• chopped walnuts or pecans
• raisins or dried cranberries
• other spices, like nutmeg, ginger, cardamom, chai mix, pumpkin spice mix, etc
• or if you feel like a sweeter loaf, then add some chocolate chips.

Also, you can swap the apples for pears or plums!

Garnishing your vegan apple cinnamon bread

I added a few thin slices of apple over the batter before baking, just for a nice look and added texture, but there are other ways you could garnish your loaf:

• Before baking the bread: add a few chopped pecans or walnuts over the raw batter and sprinkle with more cinnamon. This will add a good crunch and a beautiful look. You can also mix cinnamon with coconut sugar in a small bowl and sprinkle over the batter for an added flavor and create a fun sweet crust.
• After the loaf was baked and has cooled down: add a good layer of vegan date caramel (whoa!), tahini caramel, coconut yogurt plus some walnuts, pour over this vegan cashew vanilla icing or a sprinkle of cinnamon\coconut sugar. You can also caramelize some apples in a small pot to generously top your loaf. I found this healthy caramelized apple recipe from Beth at bonaippetit.com that would be amazing over this bread.

Serving suggestions

We love this bread in the morning with a cup of coffee. If you feel like a treat, then pair with a peanut butter coffee or a cardamom latte. Spread

In the afternoon, this bread goes beautifully with a cup of warm tea, such as this lavender milk tea, but our kids will ask for a flavored plant milk, such as a strawberry almond milk or a hemp chocolate milk.

You can also absolutely serve this apple bread the same way as a vegan apple cake for dessert. Simply top with vegan whipped cream and dust some extra cinnamon over.

Storage tips

Let the loaf completely cool down before storage. Once cooled down, you can slice it and store in an air-tight container. It can be left at room temperature for 24-48 hrs, but for longer storage, keep it in the fridge (4-5 days).

Be sure to keep the loaf in an air-tight container so it does not dry and you can warm it up for a few seconds in the microwave before eating, if desired. This bread can also be frozen for up to 3 months.

FAQ's

Other healthy bread recipes you might like

• Oat milk whole grain bread
• Buckwheat chia bread
• Vegan whole wheat rolls
• Vegan Focaccia Bread
• Vegan lemon poppy seed loaf
• Vegan everything bagels
• 5-Ingredient banana bread
• Turmeric bread
• Spelt banana bread
• Vegan peanut butter banana bread

I hope you enjoy this vegan apple cinnamon bread as much as we do! If you try it, please leave a comment below and rate the recipe to let me know how it was. Your feedback is so helpful!

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