Erin’s Recipe Rundown
Texture: Moist, tender crumb.
Taste: Subtly sweet apple with hints of cinnamon & nutmeg.
Ease: 100% easy-to-make with everyday ingredients.
Top Tips: Use a standard loaf pan or 3 mini loaf pans — either way it will be gone in a flash!
Recommended GF Flour: Make sure to use a high-quality flour that contains xanthan gum. I like King Arthur Flour and Bob’s Red Mill. I also like adding a little almond flour in to make the perfect texture.
Would I make these again? Definitely! This bread is such a family favorite — it doesn’t last long in my house. Plus it fills the kitchen with delicious fall aromas!
xoxo erin
This post was originally published in October 2017. It was updated with new photos and instructions in August 2024.
This simple gluten-free applesauce bread will fill your home with the most amazing cinnamon-spiced aroma as it bakes. My family particularly likes it for an afternoon snack or in packed lunches.
Looking for more apple inspiration? Check out these tried-and-true recipes: baked apples, gluten-free applesauce cake, and gluten-free apple cider donuts.
Featured Comment
From Madison: “We love this recipe. This bread is so moist with a perfect texture. It’s a fall favorite at our house.“
Table of Contents
Ingredients You’ll Need
Here are a few notes on some of the key ingredients to make this gluten-free applesauce bread. Jump to the recipe card below for the exact measurements.
- Gluten-free flour: For the best texture, use a high-quality 1:1 gluten-free flour blend that includes xanthan gum. King Arthur Gluten-Free Measure-for-Measure Flour works well with this recipe! Bob’s Red Mill is another great choice!
- Almond flour: I like to add a little almond flour to enhance the bread’s texture and create a soft, tender crumb.
- Spices: Ground cinnamon and nutmeg pair so well with the applesauce for the perfect warm, fall flavor!
- Unsweetened applesauce: Using the unsweetened kind adds a mildly fruity flavor to the bread without overwhelming it with too much sweetness.
- Sugar: A mix of granulated and brown sugar helps to achieve the ideal level of sweetness.
- Neutral oil: I like to use oil instead of butter in this recipe. It helps the overall texture and keeps the bread moist without overpowering the mild applesauce flavor.
- Milk: Since the recipe doesn’t contain butter, it’s easy to make it dairy-free! Just switch out the milk with a dairy-free milk of your choice.
How to Make Gluten-Free Applesauce Bread
Here’s an overview of how to make this bread. You can jump to the recipe for the full instructions!
- In a medium bowl: Add in all the dry ingredients, except the two kinds of sugar, and whisk.
- In a large bowl: Whisk together all of the wet ingredients and sugar.
- Combine: Add the dry mix to the wet ingredients. I like to use a rubber spatula to mix until fully combined.
- Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan or mini loaf pans and bake. It typically takes 50-60 minutes on 350°F. Use a toothpick to see if it’s done. Cool in the pan for 5 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to cool the rest of the way.
Make-Ahead/Storage/Freezing:
To Make-Ahead: You can make the batter up to 1 day in advance. Store it in an airtight container in the fridge, then bake according to the recipe instructions.
To Store: Store leftovers wrapped tightly in plastic wrap or in an airtight container. It will keep for 2-3 days at room temperature or up to 1 week in the fridge.
To Freeze: This bread can be frozen for up to 3 months. Tightly wrap in plastic wrap, then store in a freezer bag or airtight container. Thaw at room temperature for 2-3 hours.
Can this gluten-free applesauce bread be made dairy-free?
Absolutely! Switch out the milk with unsweetened dairy-free milk of your choice.
Can this gluten-free applesauce bread be made nut-free?
Yes! Swap out the almond flour with an additional 1/2 cup of gluten-free measure-for-measure flour.
More Gluten-Free Quick Breads:
Gluten-Free Applesauce Bread
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups (225g) gluten-free measure-for-measure flour
- 1/2 cup (50g) almond flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Wet Ingredients:
- 1 cup (240g) unsweetened applesauce at room temperature
- 1/3 cup (80ml) neutral oil
- 1/4 cup (60ml) milk of choice
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup (106g) brown sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray. You can also use three 5¾x3-inch mini loaf pans.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the gluten-free flour, almond flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the applesauce, oil, milk, eggs, vanilla, lemon juice, granulated sugar and brown sugar.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix with a rubber spatula, until fully combined.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Bake for 50-60 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean.
I made this recipe but I changed the oil to 1/4 cup, and the brown sugar I did not pack down.
I baked them in cupcake papers for 25 minutes and it made 20 muffins. Faster cooking and already in handy portion size.
Delicious and Yes, I will make them again!
Hi Theresa, we’re so glad you enjoyed the recipe and that the muffins worked well! Thank you for taking the time to share with us!
Loved this, but I’m wondering if I could add small chunks or shreds of apple in the mix for a boost of apples?
Hi Leslie, we haven’t tried that, but it may work. The key will be to not add too much as the apples will add moisture and can mess with the texture. We’d try starting with 1/2 cup or so of a firm apple variety (Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, etc.). You may also want to toss the chunks/shreds in a little flour so that they don’t sink in the batter. We’d love to hear how it goes!