Ingredients
Wet Ingredients
- ⅓ cup brown sugar (packed)
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- ¾ cup plain yogurt (preferably plain Greek yogurt)
- ½ cup applesauce
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 large egg
Dry Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup whole wheat flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Additional Ingredients
- 2 large apples (peeled, cored, and chopped into bite-size pieces)
- ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
- 2 tablespoons rolled oats for topping (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare loaf pan: Preheat your oven to 375℉ (190℃) and lightly coat a 9×5-inch loaf pan with baking spray. Set aside to ensure it’s ready for the batter.
- Combine wet ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, maple syrup, plain yogurt, applesauce, olive oil, and egg until smooth and fully incorporated.
- Soften oats: Stir in the rolled oats into the wet mixture and let them soak for about 10 minutes, which helps the oats soften and blend better into the batter.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, ground cinnamon, and salt until evenly distributed.
- Combine wet and dry mixtures: After the oats have softened, carefully add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. Stir gently until just combined to avoid over-mixing, which can make the bread dense.
- Fold in apples and nuts: Gently fold in the chopped apples and optional pecans or walnuts, taking care not to overwork the batter. The batter will be thick and chunky due to the apples and oats.
- Transfer to loaf pan and add topping: Pour the thick batter into the prepared loaf pan. Use the back of a rubber spatula to smooth the top into a mostly flat, even layer. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of rolled oats on top if desired for added texture and visual appeal.
- Bake the loaf: Bake in the preheated oven for about 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. If the top starts browning too quickly, tent the loaf loosely with aluminum foil to prevent burning.
- Cool the bread: Remove the apple bread from the oven and allow it to cool slightly in the loaf pan for around 10 minutes. Then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Allowing the oats to soak in the wet ingredients softens them, resulting in a better texture in the bread.
- Use ripe but firm apples to avoid them turning mushy during baking.
- For a nut-free version, simply omit the pecans or walnuts.
- If the top browns too quickly, tent the loaf with foil to prevent burning while the interior finishes baking.
- Store bread wrapped at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
- Reheat slices gently in a toaster or oven for a warm treat.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian