Nourishing Applesauce Oatmeal Bread Recipe (Oil-Free, GF)

This satisfying and nutritious applesauce oatmeal bread recipe is a reliable addition to any breakfast or snack. Oil-free, gluten-free and vegan, it is packed with fiber and nutrients–a tasty way to start your day!

The smell of apples and spices wafting through the kitchen signals comfort to me—and this nourishing applesauce oatmeal bread delivers all those cozy vibes in the simplest way.

It also takes me straight back to my childhood home. We had a gravenstein apple tree in our backyard (it produces sweet-tart heirloom apples). My parents both loved to cook and bake, so the scent of cooking, baking, and stewing apples will always be familiar and beloved.

The bread is an straightforward, wholesome recipe that comes together quickly and makes the reliable anytime snack or a grab-and-go breakfast. I especially love making it when I’ve got a fresh batch of kitchen-made applesauce from my Instant Pot or slow cooker, but it turns out just as satisfying with store-bought, too.

With warm spices throughout and an (optional) applesauce glaze on top, it’s a treat that feels indulgent but is made with feel-good, pantry friendly ingredients.

Recipe Benefits

This nourishing applesauce oatmeal bread is both satisfying and nutritious. It is also:

• A great breakfast or nourishing snack
• Vegan (egg-free, dairy-free)
• Packed with 4 grams protein per slice
• Packed with 4 grams fiber per slice
• Gluten-free
• Oil-free (E.g., no butter, coconut oil, or avocado oil)
• Wheat-free
• Low in added sugar
• Especially straightforward to make
• Made in one bowl

Ingredients

The exact amounts of each ingredient are indicated in the recipe card at the end of the post.Toggle betweenUS Customary(volume) andMetric(weights) for preferred measurement option.

The basic ingredients for the vegan gluten-free applesauce oatmeal bread are pantry staples. Here is what you will need:

• Unsweetened applesauce (see options in the notes and recipe card)
• Rolled oats (you will grind into a flour) or Ready-to-Use Oat Flour
• Coconut sugar (see options in the notes and recipe card)
• Flaxseed meal
• Vanilla extract
• Ground spices(e.g., see my notes; or use all ground cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, or apple pie spice)
• Baking powder (certified gluten-free, as needed)
• Salt

Make Your Own Oat Flour

Unless I am pressed for time, I prefer to make oat flour from rolled oats. It is less expensive than buying ready-to-use oat flour, plus it is fast and straightforward to make.

Process the rolled oats in a blender or food processor until the oats resemble especially-fine flour. This will take seconds in a high speed blender. It will take longer in a regular blender (about 30 to 45 seconds), or about 2 minutes in a food processor.

If you have oat flour on hand, skip the steps in my recipe for grinding the oats and see the measurement equivalent in the recipe notes. Use the same weight of oat flour as rolled oats (the volume measurement is less).

Step by Step Instructions

Note that the complete instructions are also in the recipe card below.

1. Preheat Oven & Prepare Baking Pan: Preheat the oven to 350F (180C). Line a 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper. If you eat oil, you can opt to lightly spray the pan with nonstick cooking spray, or grease, instead.
2. Grind the Oats into Oat Flour: While the oven preheats, grind the oats into a fine flour. You can use a food processor or blender, but if using the former, take an extra minute to grind the oats especially-fine. (Skip this step if using pre-made oat flour).
3. Whisk the Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk the oat flour, flaxseed meal, coconut sugar,baking powder, spices, and salt until blended.
4. Stir in the Wet Ingredients:Add the applesauce, 1/4 cup (60 mL) water, and the pure vanilla extract to the bowl. Use a spoon or rubber spatula to stir the mixture until completely blended. The batter will be thick.
5. Spread Batter into Prepared Pan: Scrape and pour batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the top.
6. Bake the Bread: Bake the bread in the preheated oven for 45 to 48 minutes until golden brown and a toothpick inserted near the center of the loaf comes out with only a few moist crumbs attached.
7. Optional:Brush the top of the warm bread with the 1/4 cup applesauce. This adds extra moisture and apple flavor.
8. Cool the Bread:Cool the bread in the loaf pan for 15 minutes before removing and cooling completely on a cooling rack.

Tip: Cool the Bread Completely Before Slicing

Be sure to cool the bread completely before slicing it. The bread is much easier to slice when it is completely cooled (especially the next day), or, even better, if it is chilled.

Storage

Store the cooled nourishing oatmeal applesauce bread in an airtight container at cool room temperature for 2 days, the refrigerator for 1 week or the freezer for up to 6 months.

FAQ

• What is the Taste & Texture of the Applesauce Oatmeal Bread?This is a hearty, just sweet enough, wholesome (yet still tender) loaf. Oat flour yields quick breads with a more dense crumb than those made with all-purpose wheat flour.
• What Spices Do You Use in Your Spice Mix?I use the following for my mixed spice blend: 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon, 3/4 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom. Feel free to make your own blend! Limit the amount of nutmeg to 1/2 teaspoon, and cloves to 1/4 teaspoon, if you choose to use either of these spices in your blend. You can also use pre-made blends, such as pumpkin spice blend or apple spice blend.
• Can I Toast this Nourishing Applesauce Oatmeal Bread?Yes! Slices of the bread make great toast (lots of nooks and crannies in the morning, plain or topped with jam, peanut butter, or other nut/seed butters.
• Is the Applesauce Glaze Necessary?No, you can leave off the additional applesauce “glaze.” You can leave the top of the bread plain, or sprinkle it with one or two tbsp of extra oats before baking.
• What Kind of Rolled Oats Should I Use?You can use either old-fashioned rolled oats or quick oats. It does not matter since they are ground into flour. If you need to guarantee that the bread is gluten-free, use certified gluten-free oats.
• Can I Leave Out the Coconut Sugar?You can, but the bread will not be very sweet at all. Unsweetened applesauce does not have very much natural sweetness.

Substitutions

• Can I Use Something Other Than Oat Flour?I do not recommend using other flours in this recipe (e.g., chickpea flour, all purpose gluten-free flour, cassava flour, or almond flour).
• What Can I Use in Place of Flaxseed Meal?I have only tested this applesauce bread recipe with flaxseed meal, but you should be able to use a scant half cup (80 grams) of chia seeds, ground into meal as a substitute.
• I Only Have Sweetened Applesauce. Can I Use It Here?Yes, definitely. The only change is you may want to reduce the amount of coconut sugar by one or two tablespoons, depending on the sweetness of the applesauce.
• Can I Use Baking Soda in Place of Baking Powder?Yes. Replace the baking powder with 3/4 teaspoon baking soda (add with the dry ingredients)plus1.5 teaspoons lemon juice or light-colored vinegar (add with the wet ingredients).

Happy Baking!