How to Make Caramel Apple Bread with Applesauce

Caramel apple bread with applesauce is the sweet bread you’ll want to bake on a cozy fall day. It’s moist, full of warm spices, and topped with the most irresistible caramel apple icing. This apple bread recipe is simple to make, even if you’re a beginner. The juicy apples blend in perfectly and taste like fall. 

Why You’ll Love This Caramel Apple Bread Recipe

This caramel apple bread recipe tastes like a caramel apple in bread form. It has brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg to give you those cozy fall flavors. The applesauce keeps the bread soft and moist without being heavy. And the caramel glaze on top? Pure magic. Be careful if using plastic wrap, so that you don’t pull all the icing off of it. 

Ingredients You’ll Need

You probably already have most of these on hand.

For the Bread:

• 1 cup room-temperature unsweetened applesauce (smooth and at room temperature)
  
• ½ cup white granulated sugar
  
• ½ cup packed light brown sugar
  
• 2 large eggs
  
• ¼ cup melted butter
  
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  
• 2 cups flour (you can use all-purpose, bread flour, or do a half-and-half blend with whole wheat)
  
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
  
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
  
• ½ teaspoon salt
  
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
  
• 1 cup peeled, cored, and finely diced apples (about one apple—Granny Smith is my favorite, but other apple varieties work too)
  

For the Caramel Apple Icing (Caramel Glaze):

• 5 tablespoons melted butter
  
• 3 tablespoons caramel syrup or caramel ice cream topping ( I use Torani Puremade Caramel Sauce)
  
• 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
  
• A dash of salt
  

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Prep the Loaf Pan

Butter a 9×5-inch loaf pan. I like to rub butter on a paper towel and swipe it all over the pan. You can also use non-stick spray if that’s easier. Preheat your oven to 350°F.

2. Mix the Wet Ingredients

In a large bowl, whisk together the applesauce, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla extract. You can use vegetable oil, but I think butter is better. 

3. Add the Dry Ingredients

In the same bowl, add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Stir until just combined. Don’t overmix, or your bread may sink in the center while baking.

4. Fold in the Apples

Gently fold in the diced apples. I love the tart bite of Granny Smith, but you can use any apple variety you like. If you want bigger chunks of apple, just cut them that way. I like the tiny diced pieces. You can use Pink Lady, Granny Smith apples, or Golden Delicious apples. I think that firm apples are the best. 

5. Bake the Bread

Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan. Bake for about 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Place the loaf on a wire rack and cool for 15 minutes before removing it from the pan. Let it finish cooling for another 30 minutes.

6. Make the Caramel Apple Icing

In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter and caramel syrup. Stir in the dash of salt. Slowly add the powdered sugar, about ½ cup at a time, whisking well between each addition. The mixture may look lumpy at first but will smooth out. Spread the glaze over the top of the apple bread. Store any leftovers in an airtight container that doesn’t smoosh down the icing. 

Tips for the Best Caramel Apple Bread

• Use room-temperature applesauce. This helps the wet ingredients blend smoothly.
  
• Try different apple varieties. Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Gala all make a delicious quick bread.
  
• Keep caramel sauce handy. Drizzle extra over the top of the apple bread before serving for even more flavor. I like to serve it with some apple slices as well. 
  
• Switch up the flour. You can use all-purpose flour, bread flour, whole wheat flour, or a mix of both for more texture.
  
• Serve it anytime. This makes a clear winner as a delicious breakfast bread, a sweet afternoon treat, or even dessert.
  

Why This is a Great Recipe for Beginners

This caramel apple bread recipe is straightforward and perfect for beginners. You mix the wet ingredients, add the dry ingredients, fold in the apples, and bake. The caramel glaze comes together in minutes and makes the bread look bakery-worthy. No complicated steps. Just a delicious quick bread with caramel apples and fall flavors in every bite. Fall seems to be the time of year that I crave this bread, but it’s a perfectly easy recipe that you can make any time of year. 

Time to Be a Doer and Make This Delicious Apple Bread Recipe

This caramel apple bread with applesauce is one of those recipes you’ll want to make again and again. It’s soft, spiced, and topped with sweet caramel apple icing that is just what the top of the apple bread needs. Perfect for fall or any time you want a little comfort.

Keep a jar of caramel sauce nearby, because you’ll definitely want to drizzle more on each slice. I like to double the icing and spread it on each slice as well.