April 11, 2012
updated
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This Gluten-Free Cinnamon Applesauce Bread is one your kids will ask you to make again and again. It’s perfectly sweetened and will help you start your day on the right foot.

Since they love the bread so much, I decided to make a gluten-free version for the entire family and thankfully, it turned out scrumptious! Oat flour adds a delicious, nutty flavor that goes with the cinnamon and cloves. This recipe is super simple to whip and keep on hand for an easy breakfast or packed in the lunch bag for a snack.
What is Cinnamon Applesauce Bread
Moist, fluffy, and full of flavor, applesauce bread is just like any other recipe – except better! Flavored with warm spices, applesauce bread is usually eaten as a sweet breakfast or after-dinner treat.
This recipe is easy, budget-friendly, and made with ingredients you likely already have in your pantry.
More Gluten-Free Breakfast Recipes
If you are on the hunt for more breakfast breads or morning inspiration be sure to try all of these gluten-free breakfast ideas.
- Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls
- Cheddar Apple Jumbo Muffins
- Banana Oat Muffins
- Gluten-Free Pancakes
- Blueberry Baked Oatmeal
Quick Applesauce Bread
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter, at room temperature
- 1 large egg
- 1 ½ cups applesauce
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 ½ cups oat flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F and line or spray a loaf pan.
- In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, mix the butter, egg, and sugar. Add the apple sauce and vanilla extract and mix to combine.
- In another bowl, combine the oat flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
- Slowly, incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until combined.
- Pour mixture into the lined or sprayed baking pan and bake, for 45 to 50 minutes, making sure to cover with foil around minute 35 if it’s looking too golden until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool down before slicing and serving.
Equipment
Nutrition
*Check out this great tip on oat flour!
Darlene Strong
I do not have the patience to use the oven so do all my baking in the microwave. Is this oat flour recipe micro friendly this will be my 1st time making oat flour. Diabetes2.
MOMables-Laura
Hi Darlene, I have not tested this bread in the microwave therefore, I can’t tell you if it will turn out.
Lisa
I haven’t even made the recipe yet, but it’s rare to have a recipe site that gets right to it without an essay before hand. Also I was wanting to double the recipe and “ta-da”, there is a button that calculates the measurements. It is definitely a momable friendly site.
MOMables-Laura
Thank you, Lisa, yes I do my best to get right to business with the recipes and everything you need to know!
Marie
Even after reading Micah’s post I went and made it in a bread loaf pan that turned out to be too narrow and tall – so I ended up baking it for 2 hours. I was still afraid the middle wasn’t completely cooked since it fell apart a bit, but it was danged good! And it was even better the next day after spending a night in the frig to firm up.
I substituted the butter for coconut oil, used a chia “egg”, and a 1/2 cup of grated apple because I only had a cup of applesauce.
It was really good! I’ll be making it again but this time in a muffin pan or wider loaf pan.
MOMables
glad you saved the recipe and it turned out good!
Emily
What a wonderful recipe! I made muffins instead of bread, and they are moist and delicious. They have the stamp of approval from my two year old son. I used 1/2 cup of maple syrup instead of sugar and reduced the applesauce to 1 cup to adjust for the extra liquid and they turned out perfectly. Thank you!
Chana
Emily …for how long did you leave them in the oven ?
Dena S.
Thank you for the wonderful recipe. I have some leftover applesauce that I made and trying to use it up before it goes bad.
Micah
I tried to make this last night and it did not go well. I subbed the applesauce for homemade apple butter (just applesauce with spices, that I made and canned). When I baked it, it looked done, exactly like yours, and I let it sit for a few minutes before turning it out onto a cooling rack. When I flipped it over out came a hot tsunami of uncooked batter from the center of it. The top, sides and bottom were cooked. If I had cooked it longer those parts would have been burned. I am not giving up! Going to attempt it again tonight.
Laura
Micah, the sides being done and the center still wet is the classic sign for too tall and narrow baking dish. this happens to me too! plus ovens heat differently too. next time, only fill baking container half way, any more and it’s too much. or, try baking it cupcake pans (just adjust time and watch for done-ness.
Angela
I’m 15 and I have recently found out I have gluten soy and egg allergies so lately I’ve been trying to make good tasting foods without them. Baking was one of my passions. Unfortunately, it seems like so many foods and recipes that say gluten free happen to also be taste free. I’m so glad I stumbled upon your recipes. I never thought of grinding up oats to make a flour that still tastes good. I substituted 1 pkt of gelatin and a few teaspoons of warm milk for the egg and bumped up the baking soda to 2 tsp and it worked well, a bit soft but still yummy. Thanks so much for this awesome recipe.
Laura
Hi Angela! My pleasure. I hope you are subscribed to our newsletter… we have a lot of allergy friendly recipes coming out!
Janeal Johnson
I am wondering why this recipe does not include any xanthum gum? I just put some in the oven using 1 cup ap gluten free flour and 1/2 cup of sweet white rice flour and 1/2 cup of agave necture instead of the sugar and cut the applesauce back by 1/4 cup. I bet I could have used the coconut oil and made it dairy free also.
KeeleyMcGuire
Hi Janeal, you certainly can add it. When I first started baking gluten free, I read about many GF folks who purely were against added gums and so I attempted many recipes without. Because of the oat flour, this bread is moist and delicious, it really didn’t need it. However, if you’re going to swap flours you can certainly add it- Xantham gums are always optional. Great question!
The great thing about recipes is they’re adaptable to your tastes and needs, so you can absolutely make it DF if that’s what your family requires. You could also sub the butter for vegan non-dairy spread.
Thanks!
Christina
If i don’t need it to be gluten free do I just use regular flou?
Keeley McGuire
Hi Christina! Yes – just 1.5 cups of your preffered flour. Thanks!
Jayn
Suggestions for egg free? I usually use applesauce and baking powder in baked goods but with this being ‘applesauce’ bread… I’m not sure!
Laura
Use a flax egg as a replacer. :)
Jayn
Thanks!
Charlotte Brewer
Do you think you could substitute Coconut oil for the butter? I am out of butter at the moment and was wanting to make this for my kids for snow day breakfast today?
Laura
Absolutely.
AbbyWarm
This recipe has been a hit with my kids! When you make muffins, how long do you bake them? I know some recipes differ for muffins. Thanks!
Laura
muffins will depend on the size of the muffin pan. Do the toothpick check around 22 minutes.
Cal
I made this last night and it turned our AWESOME! I used date sugar in place of the sugar. Worked great and had a good taste. I used 1/2 cup. BTW….Love your site! I just signed up to get your lunch plans and can’t wait until the Gluten free ones come out.
Laura
Hi! this is one of my favorites too. the recipe is very “giving” and easy to adapt. Our gluten free plan is now ready! click here to save 25% on it! http://bit.ly/MBHCbm
Dede
Followed the link from the original recipe, thank you for including the option to make your recipe GF. I usually spend a little extra time, when baking, converting recipes to GF and it was nice to have to. :(
Can’t wait to try the bread and making and using the oatflour.
Thanks for sharing :)
Laura
Thank you Dede! Let us know how your loaf comes out! :)
Erin
This sounds delicious! I’ve been looking for good recipes to use my homemade applesauce. I’m gonna try subbing maple syrup for the sugar as I am on the paleo diet. I also saw your original post, and butter does indeed make the world go round :) anyways, I’ll let you know how it turns out!
Laura
thanks Erin! Let us know how the substitution comes out. It’s always very helpful to know because you are never the only one! :)
Alison Bearis
This bread looks great and i’m pretty sure my two year old will love it! I try to stay away from butter as much as possible do you know of any substitutes that would work well in this recipe?
Laura
Alison,
try 1/2c greek yogurt plus 1TB vegetable oil. I’ve replaced it successfully in the past but you can’t get away from all ‘fats’ in a recipe. Laura
Nancy @Real Food Allergy Free
This bread looks yummy! Thanks for sharing my tip for making oat flour!
Keeley McGuire
Absolutely Nancy! Thanks FOR the tip. ;-) thanks for the compliments on the recipe too!