Baking with applesauce has never been more simple, and that’s exciting because I love apples. Here’s a quick and easy Applesauce Yeast Bread recipe that is baked with applesauce as the main ingredient. Wholesome and full of fiber, applesauce is used as a healthy add in to a simple bread recipe that only uses 6 ingredients you probably already have at home. It’s vegan, so no butter, eggs or milk is required in this delicious recipe. It’s a much healthier alternative recipe for white bread that you can make all year round.
Applesauce is basically pureed apples, and it’s often sweet and tangy and has the silkiest texture. Just a little goes a long way with the fruity ingredient, and it makes the softest, moist yeast bread, one with a chewy texture that reminds me of Italian bread.
And the smell! Oh, the smell. Make this bread, and you’ll fill your kitchen with the loveliest aroma — it will surely make your neighbors come peeking.
To make this unique loaf, you’ll need flour, yeast, sugar, salt, olive oil and unsweetened applesauce; if homemade, even better! The best recipes are often the easiest, and that’s what you get with this one.
Enjoy a slice of applesauce yeast bread just like you’d use regular bread. You can even make sandwiches with this fluffy delight. Applesauce bread is the perfect companion at the table; it really goes well with everything. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Here’s why I love this recipe
- vegan – no eggs, milk or butter required
- only 6 ingredients
- healthier than regular white bread
- easy to prepare if you have a stand mixer or bread machine
- easy way to get rid of leftover applesauce
- so versatile! it’s a recipe that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch and dinner
Ingredients Used to Make This Applesauce Yeast Bread Recipe
**I’ve linked some of these ingredients to amazon.com to give you an idea of what they are, but you should also be able to find them in your local grocery store (usually, the baking aisle, or the natural & organic food section). They are also affiliate links, which means that I earn a commission as an Amazon Associate if you decide to purchase the items. The price will be the same for you, link or no link 🙂
- Bread Flour – Bread flour is highly recommended for this recipe for the best texture and structure. I used King Arthur Bread Flour. Please read the note on the substitution section below if using other flours.
- Instant Yeast – you can find instant yeast in the baking section near the flours. My favorite is SAF Instant Premium Yeast, which works quickly and consistently produces great results. I recommend using instant yeast over active yeast for this recipe since active yeast (unlike instant yeast) needs to be activated in water, which we don’t add until the very end.
- Sugar – I used raw cane sugar, but you can use regular granulated white sugar, or healthier alternatives like coconut, date, or maple sugars which are less processed and more natural. I also sometimes like to use honey powder.
- For yeasted breads, I would not recommend using sugar-free substitutes such as monk fruit sweetener or stevia powder since they can cause the bread to not rise properly. If you prefer a lower sugar recipe, you’re welcome to leave out the sugar. The bread might taste slightly plain, but it will not significantly impact the shape or texture of the bread.
- Salt – Pink Himalayan salt is what I have at home, so it’s what I use, but you can use any kind for this recipe.
- Applesauce – you can use any kind or any flavored applesauce. I used unsweetened.
- Olive Oil – I like using light olive oil since it has a neutral flavor, but you can also any cooking oil of your choice like coconut oil, or avocado oil instead
Equipment
- I used a KitchenAid Stand Mixer with a dough hook to knead the dough. You’re also welcome to use a bread machine, or knead the dough by hand.
Bread Pan
- I used a 9 x 4 x 4 inch Pullman loaf pan for this recipe, which helps to create a tall bread with straight sides/ edges that’s perfect for baking sandwich breads. If you don’t have a Pullman loaf pan, you can also use a 9 x 5 inch loaf pan instead.
More Applesauce Recipes (HERE)
How to Make
Applesauce Yeast Bread
STEP 1
Mix in the flour and yeast into the bowl of the stand mixer. Add sugar and salt.
STEP 2
Add the applesauce. Start to knead the dough at a low setting (speed 2) for about a minute, until all the ingredients are combined.
If there are still dry ingredients remaining, add water 1 Tbsp at a time* until all the ingredients are just barely combined, with no dry ingredients remaining.
*The water you need can vary depending on the protein content of the flour, the water content in the puree, as well as the humidity and temperature of the kitchen. Be sure to add one tablespoon at a time, so you don’t overhydrate the dough.
STEP 3
Add the olive oil and continue to knead for about 8 to 10 minutes, or until the dough pulls away from the bowl and forms a smooth, supple ball.
STEP 4
Remove the finished dough from the mixer bowl and place the dough in a lightly greased bowl.
STEP 5
Cover and let rise until doubled, about 60-90 minutes.
***note: It’s best if the bowl is put in a warm place, and personally, I prefer using the oven that’s been preheated for just a quick 10 seconds and spritzed with some water. The moist and warm conditions are perfect for the yeast bread to rise without it drying out. You can also place a bowl of hot water inside the oven so that the steam helps to maintain the humidity. This is especially useful during the winter months, when the conditions are cold and dry.
STEP 6
Punch down the dough, then remove from bowl. Place on a generously floured surface and divide into 4 equal-sized pieces.
STEP 7
Use a small rolling pin to flatten each piece into a 6 x 9 inch rectangles, and fold into thirds. Starting from the long side, roll the dough tightly into a tight cylinder (like a sushi roll or cinnamon roll). Pinch the ends to seal. Repeat with the other 3 pieces and place in a well-oiled bread pan.
STEP 8
Let the dough rise again for 40-60 minutes until puffy. Toward the end of the rise time, preheat the oven to 350F / 180C
STEP 9
Bake the bread for 15 minutes, then cover / tent the bread with aluminum foil to prevent over-browning, and bake an additional 10 to 15 minutes, or until the interior of the bread reaches 190°F.
STEP 10
Take the bread out of the oven, turn it out on a rack, and cool it slightly before slicing.
Recipe Variations and Optional Add Ins for Applesauce Yeast Bread:
I made this bread recipe as basic and neutral flavored as possible so that people can customize it to fit their own tastes. Here are some awesome ways you can make this bread your own 🙂
- Add more flavor! Applesauce bread goes wonderfully with warm spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg and cardamom. Add 2-3 teaspoons of cinnamon powder to the dough with the dry ingredients. More ideas below:
- use brown sugar instead of regular white sugar for a deeper sweet flavor
- use cinnamon applesauce instead of regular applesauce
- substitute up to 1/2 cup of applesauce with 1/2 cup of apple butter
- use honey or maple syrup instead of sugar. Just note that liquid sweeteners such as maple syrup, honey or molasses can replace all of the sugar in this recipe, but it makes the dough softer and more difficult to handle since it contributes additional moisture. Increase bread flour by a few Tablespoons to adjust.
- Add more texture! Adding chopped nuts, seeds, or dried fruits or oats is a fantastic way to increase the nutrition and flavor in breads.
- Turn them into dinner rolls – instead of baking this recipe in a loaf pan, divide the dough into 12 pieces, shape them into rolls. You’ll have to adjust the baking time (about 15 minutes for the batch).
How to Make this Applesauce Yeast Bread Recipe Healthier
- Make this even healthier by adding a handful of nuts, seeds and old-fashioned oats to add texture and nutrition. Here are some ideas
- Nuts – chopped walnuts, pecans, cashews
- Seeds – poppy seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, flaxseeds or chiaseeds
- Dried Fruit – chopped apricot, raisins, cranberries, dried cherries, candied ginger, citrus zests, etc.
- Want to add more fiber? Substitute white whole wheat flour for up to half of the bread flour called for in this recipe. You’ll need to add a few more tablespoons of water to adjust the hydration since whole wheat flour absorbs more water than white flour.
Note on Substitutions
- Unfortunately, gluten-free flours cannot be substituted for bread flour in this recipe.
- While bread flour is highly recommended, all-purpose flour can be used instead with 1 tsp of vital wheat gluten for every cup of flour.
- Liquid sweeteners such as maple syrup, honey or molasses can replace all of the sugar in this recipe, but it makes the dough softer and more difficult to handle since it contributes additional moisture. Increase bread flour by a few Tablespoons to adjust.
What are some ways you can eat and serve this Bread?
- Plain and warm, right out of the oven
- Toasted the next day, served with jam, marmalade, honey or butter
- Sliced and use for any sandwich.
- And if you do get any leftovers or stale bread left, use it for french toasts or grilled cheese.
How to Store Applesauce Yeast Bread
- You can store this Applesauce Yeast Bread loaf, well wrapped, at room temperature for up to 3-4 days.
- For longer storage, you can place them in a plastic freezer bag or airtight container and freeze up to 3 months, then defrost them at room temperature or microwave before eating.
Final Tips
- Weigh your flour for the best results. 1 cup of bread flour = 120 grams / 4.23 oz. This is recommended since scooping the flour directly from the bag can can pack the flour into the measuring cup, and this means you’ll end up with more flour than what’s called for in the recipe. If you don’t have a kitchen scale, you can measure the flour by spooning pre-sifted flour into the measuring cup, then using the straight end of the spoon to level the flour across the top to sweep off the excess.
- Baking time (as well as serving size) will vary based on the size of your baking pan, the material (silicone vs metal) of the pan. If you’re not sure whether the bread is ready, you can insert a quick read thermometer into the bread – a finished loaf will register 190 F (or 88 C).
- To make this recipe in the bread machine: add all the dry ingredients into the machine, stir briefly before adding the wet ingredients. The machine can be set for basic. Check the dough for consistency and adjust by adding additional water (or flour) before the end of the first kneading cycle. If you want to add additional nuts or dried fruits, leave them aside, and only them 3 minutes before the end of the second kneading cycle.
More Bread Recipes (HERE)
Applesauce Yeast Bread (A Healthier Recipe for White Bread)
Ingredients
- 4 cups bread flour (480 g) sifted and leveled*
- 2 tsp instant yeast
- 3 Tbsp sugar**
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce, best if warm or room temperature
- 2 Tbsp light olive oil, melted coconut oil or avocado oil
Instructions
- Mix in the flour and yeast into the the bowl of the stand mixer. Add sugar and salt.
- Add the applesauce next.
- Start to knead the dough at a low setting (speed 2) for about a minute, until all the ingredients are combined.
- NOTE: If there are still dry ingredients remaining, add water one tablespoon at a time* until there are no dry ingredients remaining. On the other hand, you can add 1-2 Tbsp of additional flour if the dough appears too wet.
- Add the olive oil
- Continue to knead for about 8 to 10 minutes, or until the dough pulls away from the bowl and forms a smooth, supple ball.
- Remove the finished dough from the mixer bowl and place in a lightly greased bowl.
- Cover and let rise until doubled, about 60-90 minutes***
- Punch down the dough, then remove from bowl. Place on a generously floured surface and divide into 4 equal sized pieces.
- Use a small rolling pin to flatten each piece into a 6 x 9 inch rectangles, and fold into thirds. Starting from the long side, roll the dough tightly into a tight cylinder (like a sushi roll or cinnamon roll). Pinch the ends to seal. Repeat with the other 3 pieces and place in a well-oiled bread pan.
- Let the dough rise again for 40-60 minutes until puffy. Toward the end of the rise time, preheat the oven to 350F / 180C
- Optional: To add some color and shine to the bread as it bakes, gently brush the tops of the bread with 1 Tbsp of non-dairy milk mixed with 1 Tbsp of maple syrup. (Regular milk or egg wash also works).
- Bake the bread for 15 minutes, then cover / tent the bread with aluminum foil to prevent over-browning, and bake an additional 10 to 15 minutes, or until the interior of the bread reaches 190°F.
- Take the bread out of the oven, turn it out on a rack, and cool it slightly before slicing.
- You can store this bread loaf, well wrapped, at room temperature for up to 3-4 days. For longer storage, you can place them in a plastic freezer bag or airtight container and freeze up to 3 months, then defrost them at room temperature or microwave before eating.
Notes
- For yeasted breads, I would not recommend using sugar-free substitutes such as monk fruit sweetener or stevia powder since they can cause the bread to not rise properly. If you prefer a lower sugar recipe, you’re welcome to leave out the sugar. The bread might taste slightly plain, but it will not significantly impact the shape or texture of the bread.
Can replace the applesauce with homey?
Hi Caroline, 1 1/2 cup of honey is a lot for this bread recipe. I wouldn’t recommend substituting, but if you had any other fruit purees like pear or banana, you can do that instead. Hope this helps!