Ingredients

1½ cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (preferably Saigon cinnamon)

½ teaspoon ground nutmeg (freshly grated recommended)

½ cup unsalted butter, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs, room temperature

1 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Optional add-ins:

½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
½ cup raisins or dried cranberries
¼ teaspoon ground cloves for extra warmth

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan. For easier removal, line the bottom with parchment paper.

Step 2: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg to evenly distribute the leavening agents and spices.

Step 3: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes using an electric mixer. This step creates air pockets essential for rising.

Step 4: Add the eggs one at a time to the butter mixture, fully incorporating each before adding the next. Don’t worry if the mixture looks slightly curdled here.

Step 5: Stir in the applesauce and vanilla extract. The mixture may appear separated—that’s normal.

Step 6: Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until just combined, taking care not to overmix to avoid toughness.

Step 7: Fold in any optional nuts, dried fruit, or cloves gently with a few strokes.

Step 8: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top evenly.

Step 9: Bake for 50-60 minutes, testing for doneness by inserting a toothpick in the center. It should come out with a few moist crumbs but no wet batter.

Step 10: Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing to improve texture.

Tips & Variations

Reduce baking time by 5 minutes or add 2 tablespoons more applesauce if your bread tends to dry out.

For a denser but still moist loaf, add raisins or dried cranberries along with chopped nuts.

If your bread is gummy, check your oven temperature and consider baking 5-7 minutes longer with foil loosely covering the top.

Use freshly grated nutmeg and Saigon cinnamon for the best flavor impact.

Try adding ¼ teaspoon ground cloves for an extra warm spice note.

FAQs

Why is my cinnamon applesauce bread too dry?

It may have baked too long or the oven temperature could be slightly high. Try reducing the baking time by 5 minutes or add an extra 2 tablespoons of applesauce next time to retain moisture.

How can I fix a gummy or undercooked middle?

This often happens if the oven temperature is too low or the bread was removed too soon. Increase your oven temperature by 25°F or bake it a bit longer with foil covering the top to prevent overbrowning.