Vegan Apple Cinnamon Bread (Healthy and Oil-Free)

This vegan apple cinnamon 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!

Hey guys, I finally was able to visit my family in Quebec! My children turned my sister's house upside down within minutes of our arrival, but there were lots of hugs, laugh and happy tears after 1 ½ year apart from each other.

And I was able to reconnect with a few of my favorite treasures from Quebec: all the crop lands, the rustic side road markets overflowing with fresh sweet corn (yes, Quebec has the best corn you will ever taste) and the endless views of apple orchards. There are giant beautiful apple trees everywhere! My dad's backyard IS an apple orchard! Unbelievable.

So, on top of canning hundreds of fresh tomatoes from my dad's impressive garden, I spent most of my time in the kitchen with my sister testing recipes for the blog and turning fun and unique Quebec style recipes vegan and healthier. (stay tuned!).

And although I was holding on to this apple bread recipe to share later when the fresh seasonal apples are ready, being back to my roots and placed into apple paradise made me eager to get more apple recipes out in the world!

So here you go: this moist, fluffy and cinnamon-y homemade apple bread is SO amazing and definitively to be bookmarked to make this autumn. I hope you enjoy each bite that is bursting with crunchy fresh apples and hopefully it gets you into a nice cozy fall vibe.

This healthy & vegan apple cinnamon bread is for you if you:

• Love easy, simple and quick recipes.
• Have extra apples to use, even the not-so-fresh-anymore ones.
• Are always on the hunt for no-oil, no-refined sugar and fiber rich sweet recipes.
• Love amazingly delicious fall recipes filled with spices and studded with sweet apples.
• Are into meal-prep as this homemade bread can be frozen.
• Don't mind making double batch as the first loaf will disappear faster than you think.

Ingredients you'll need

• Flour: I used this white whole wheat flour from King's Arthur. All purpose flour works well too.
• Ground flax seeds: Use a high speed blender to crush the seeds yourself or buy them already ground. Store in the fridge for freshness.
• Baking soda and baking powder: Leveling agents. Be sure to use a fresh and aluminum-free baking powder for best flavor.
• 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 or homemade works. 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.
• Vegan milk: Any kinds will work. I used plain almond milk for this recipe.
• Vanilla extract
• Apples

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 this recipe: Step-by-Step

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

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Watch how to make it

Baking tips

• I recommend to peel the apples and dice them small. 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, 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 before slicing it.

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 some chopped walnuts or pecans, raisins, cranberries or other spices like nutmeg and cardamom within the batter. Or, you can go completely bananas and add chocolate chips.

Also, I added a few thin slices of apple over the batter before baking, just for the look. There are other ways to garnish your loaf:

Garnishing your vegan apple cinnamon bread

• 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!), coconut yogurt plus some walnuts, pour over this vegan cashew vanilla icing or a sprinkle of cinnamon\coconut sugar. You can also go all the way to town and caramelize some apples to generously top your loaf. I found this healthy caramelized apple recipe from Beth at bonaippetit.com that would be amazing over this bread.

Can I make this bread gluten-free?

Yes! You can use this gluten-free flour from King Arthur. It is a 1:1 ratio, which makes it super easy to substitute.

Make this recipe completely nut-free

Choose oat milk to make sure your loaf does not contains any nuts. If you wanted to add a crunch to your loaf, then choose pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds instead of walnuts or pecans.

Storage tips

Let the loaf completely cool down before storage. Once cooled down, you can slice it and store in a 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 a 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.

Other healthy bread recipes you might like

• Oat milk whole grain bread
• Buckwheat chia bread
• Vegan whole wheat rolls

I hope you enjoy this 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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