Vegan Apple Bread
69
Last updated on Jul 22, 2024
This post may include affiliate links. Thank you for your support.
This vegan apple bread is studded with fresh apples and has a delicious cinnamon pecan topping and creamy glaze. It’s the perfect loaf for fall!
I don’t know about you, but I cannot look at these pictures without my mouth watering. This apple bread is SO good. It’s giving me all the fall vibes and I want to make a loaf weekly until I get sick of it. It’s so perfect for fall and has a good amount of sweetness, but isn’t over the top sweet. You know it’s good when I’m sad I let Isaac have the last piece from my test batch. Better make more!
If you’re intimidated by making homemade bread, don’t be! This is a quick bread, similar to healthy banana bread or healthy zucchini bread. It doesn’t need yeast, time to rise or any kneading, just mix and bake!
Vegan Apple Bread Ingredients
There are three components to this bread: the bread, the crumb topping and the glaze. Both the crumb and glaze are optional, but highly recommended!
Bread Ingredients
- flaxseed egg – flaxseed eggs are easy! They are made by combining 1 Tablespoon ground flax with 3 Tablespoons water. If you don’t need this recipe to be vegan, you can swap the flax egg with a regular egg. You can also use a chia egg if you don’t have either on hand.
- whole wheat pastry flour and all-purpose flour – this combo of flour results in a quick-bread texture that isn’t too heavy or dense. If needed, you can sub whole wheat pastry flour for regular whole wheat flour or you can use just one type of flour.
- cinnamon, nutmeg – seasonings and spices.
- sea salt – brings the flavors together.
- baking powder and baking soda – leavening agents.
- unsweetened applesauce – amps up the apple flavor and keeps the bread nice and moist! You can use store bought or but I like to make homemade applesauce.
- coconut sugar – the less-processed upgrade for brown sugar. You’ll also use some for the topping.
- coconut oil – keeps the bread nice and moist.
- non-dairy milk – use your favorite non-dairy milk! I used oat milk or you can even make your own almond milk.
- vanilla extract – the perfect flavor enhancer.
- peeled and chopped apples – provides a nice chunk of apple in every bite and honestly makes this apple bread so dang delicious!!
Crumb Topping Ingredients
- chopped pecans – you can sub the pecans for another nut like walnuts or almonds. I haven’t tested this, but I bet you could sub the nuts for oats to make the topping nut-free.
- coconut sugar – the less-processed upgrade for brown sugar.
- cinnamon – the perfect spice to sprinkle on top!
Glaze Drizzle Ingredients
- powdered sugar – powdered sugar melts beautifully into liquid to make the most delicious glaze. It’s important to use powdered sugar and not granulated!
- non-dairy milk – make your own or use your favorite!
Whole Wheat Pastry Flour vs Whole Wheat Flour
You’ll often see whole wheat pastry flour used here on EBF when I’m making lightened-up baked goods! The reason I like using whole wheat pastry flour is that it is a whole grain flour, which means more fiber + nutrients than regular all-purpose flour. And it’s more finely ground than regular whole wheat flour so it produces lighter, softer baked items like cookies, pie crusts and quick bread. It also has less gluten than regular whole wheat flour.
If you don’t have whole wheat pastry flour, a blend of all-purpose and regular whole wheat flour works as a substitute.
How to Make Apple Bread
Start by making your flaxseed egg by whisking together the ground flaxseed and water. Set aside for about 5 minutes to let it gel.
Mix your dry ingredients – the flours, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, salt and nutmeg in a medium mixing bowl. In another bowl, mix your wet ingredients – the applesauce, coconut sugar, coconut oil, milk, flax egg and vanilla extract.
Stir the dry ingredients into the wet until just combined. Gently stir in the apple chunks.
In a small bowl, mix the chopped pecans, coconut sugar and cinnamon. Pour the batter mixture into a prepared loaf pan with parchment paper or oil and top with the crumb topping mixture.
Bake in a preheated oven and bake for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the loaf cool on a wire rack before attempting to remove it from the pan.
While cooling, prepare the drizzle by mixing the powdered sugar and dairy-free milk. When the bread is cool, drizzle with icing and enjoy!
How to Make a Gluten-Free Version
I originally tested this recipe as gluten-free and vegan. It tasted delicious, but the gluten-free version didn’t rise as much. Not a failure – just giving you fair warning! To make this bread gluten-free, use 1 1/2 cups of gluten-free 1:1 baking blend in place of the whole wheat pastry flour and all-purpose flour. I tested it with Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour and it was so tasty!
I haven’t tried this recipe with oat flour or almond flour so I’m not sure how it will turn out with those options. However, I do not recommend using coconut flour for this recipe!
Storing Apple Bread
After letting your bread cool completely, store it in an airtight container on the counter for up to three days. It will last for up to a week in the refrigerator and up to three months in the freezer. Storing the bread in an airtight container is crucial to making sure that the bread stays nice and moist!
More Quick Breads to Try
- Coconut Flour Banana Bread
- Tahini Banana Bread
- Vegan Zucchini Bread
- Low Sugar Pumpkin Bread
- Healthy Banana Bread
- Zucchini Bread
- Gingerbread Loaf
- Fig Bread
- Strawberry Banana Bread
- Zucchini Banana Bread
- Healthy Lemon Loaf (Starbucks Copycat)
More Apple Recipes to Try
- Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal
- Apple Crisp with Oatmeal Pecan Topping
- Apple Pancakes
- Apple Dutch Baby
- Apple Crumble Bars
- Baked Apple Cider Donuts
- Apple Yogurt Muffins
- Apple Cake
- Healthy Dutch Apple Pie
Be sure to check out all of my apple recipes as well as the full collection of dessert recipes here on EBF!
If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below.
Vegan Apple Bread
Ingredients
- 1 flax egg, 1 Tablespoon ground flax + 3 Tablespoons water*
- 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour*
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- pinch of nutmeg
- ¾ cup unsweetened applesauce
- ½ cup coconut sugar
- 3 Tablespoons melted coconut oil
- 2 Tablespoons non-dairy milk, I used oat milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 ¼ cups peeled and chopped apples
Crumb Topping
- ¼ cup chopped pecans*
- 2 Tablespoons coconut sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Glaze Drizzle
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- ½ Tablespoon non-dairy milk
Instructions
- Make flax egg by whisking together ground flaxseed and water. Set aside for about 5 minutes to gel up.
- Preheat oven to 350°F and line a 9X5 loaf pan with parchment paper (or grease with oil).
- Stir together flours, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, salt and nutmeg in a medium mixing bowl.
- Combine applesauce, coconut sugar, coconut oil, milk, flax egg and vanilla in another mixing bowl.
- Stir the dry ingredients into the wet until just combined.
- Gently stir in the apple chunks.
- Stir together chopped pecans, coconut sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl to make the topping.
- Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan and top with crumb topping.
- Place in preheated oven and bake for 45-50 minutes, or until a cake tester or toothpick come out clean.
- Let loaf cool on a wire rack before attempting to remove the loaf from the pan.
- Once cool, make glaze by stirring together powdered sugar and milk. Drizzle glaze over bread and serve.
Video
Notes
- If needed, you can sub the whole wheat pastry flour for regular whole wheat flour or you can use just one type of flour.
- To make this gluten-free, I recommend using a gluten-free 1:1 baking flour. I tested it with Bob’s Red Mill. The bread doesn’t rise as much but still tastes great!
- If you don’t need this bread to be vegan you can swap the flax egg for 1 regular egg.
- You can sub the pecans for another nut like walnuts or almonds. I haven’t tested this, but I bet you could sub the nuts for oats to make the topping nut-free.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
omg this is so goood!! will def be making again 🙂
WOO! I am so glad you are loving this bread, Jazmyne. This makes me super happy to hear. Thank you for sharing your review & star rating, I really appreciate it!
I always love your recipes and this one was no different. It was easy to make and tasted excellent. I did cut back on the sugar just a little as I put the topping on but you’d never know it. I don’t feel guilty enjoying it because it is healthy! Great recipe!
WOO! I am so glad you are loving this bread recipe, Jude. Thank you for giving it a try and sharing your review & star rating, I appreciate it so much!
Made a double batch of this recipe to share with a friend and the loaves turned out great! I subbed regular egg for flax egg, whole wheat flour for whole wheat pastry flour, and brown sugar for coconut sugar (all 1-1). Be aware your batter will be quite thick, but I think this is expected since the apples release extra moisture while they bake. Great fall recipe to make with your extra apples!
Amazing! Happy to hear this recipe turned out great for you, especially with your subs, Natalie. Thanks so much for your review + star rating, I really appreciate it!
I went to an apple orchard and this was the first recipe I thought of making with the apples I bought. I added nutmeg and cloves this time and it’s delicious. Love the crumb topping!
Yay! So glad you loved this recipe, Molly. Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a review. I so appreciate it!
This turned out so fragrant and tasty, thank you so much for the recipe! Some modifications I made: I used one half whole wheat spelt flour and one half all purpose flour, about 50 g of sugar but added around the same amount of pitted dates to the batter, and topped it with walnuts and oats. 🙂
Yay!! So glad this vegan apple bread was a hit, Zoria! Thanks for the review. It means so much to me!
I’ve made this several times and it’s the most moist and delicious bread. Everyone loves it. I found that it’s great with Bob’s red mill 1 to 1 gluten free flour as well. Thank you!!
Woo!! So glad this bread has been a hit, Kristin. Thanks for the review. I so appreciate it!
I’ve probably made this 20 times! I always sub the flours for oat flour and buckwheat and its delicious!
Oh that’s awesome to hear, Kalli! I’m so glad this bread has turned out with the subs you made. Thanks for coming back to share and for leaving a review. I so appreciate it!
I just used all-purpose flour because it’s what I had on hand. I added 1/8 tsp of cloves. SO good! Will bake for the full 50 mins next time.
So glad you loved this bread, Mira. Thanks for coming back to leave a review. 🙂
Just made this and it’s sooo delicious. Had two slices already. I added a handful of blueberries and it’s extra moist. I didn’t have any nuts or oats so I missed out the crumb layer, but it’s still delicious. Thank you for these amazing recipes.
Yay!! So glad you loved this bread. Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a review. I so appreciate it!
I’ve been making this all Fall, and love it! I made this gluten free by using combinations of buckwheat and almond flour, and it comes out great.
Yay!! I’m so glad this bread turned out for you with the combo of buckwheat + almond flour. Thanks for coming back to share. It’s super helpful for other readers. 🙂
Doubled the recipe to make an apple loaf and muffins. Added muesli/oats (1/3 cup) and substituted almond flour (about 1/2 cup). I also used self-rising or all purpose flour. I added more apples and did not use applesauce. It turned out wonderful!
So glad this recipe turned out for you with the subs you made, Amanda! 🙂
I was amazed at how much I loved this bread. So soft and comforting!! I have made it 3x now and made it for a neighbor who had lost their dog – felt it was the perfect fall recipe to soothe the soul and a ease some of the grief
Woo! So pumped you’re loving this bread! And how sweet of you to bring a loaf to your neighbor – I’m sure they really appreciated it. <3
This is going in the “faves” folder!!
Woo!! That makes me so happy to hear. 🙂
This is incredible – so moist and the flavour is amazing – love it x
I’m so glad you enjoyed this bread, Nadine. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment + star rating. I appreciate it!
Yum yum yum!! I used gluten free flour and thought it turned out great. The loaf didn’t last long because my girls kept going back for more!! Must make again!
Ahh yay!! So glad this apple bread was a hit, Erica! Thanks so much for making it and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I so appreciate it. 🙂
First vegan baked good I have ever made. A friend suggested it and holy cow this is delicious! I will definitely be checking out your other recipes
Ahh yay, that makes me so happy to hear, Rachael!! I’m so glad you loved this bread. Thanks for giving it a try and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I really appreciate it!
This is delicious! Plan on making it again today.
So so so good! Went apple picking just so I could make this bread! Will be making it again soon!
This is my first ever apple bread and I’m impressed! I skipped the glaze and had it for breakfast warm out of the oven. I think I’d add a little more cinnamon to the batter next time but other than that, the texture and taste is amazing!
Oh yay!! So glad this bread turned out for you, Molly. Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I so appreciate it. 🙂
Great, easy recipe! Thank you for this, had all the ingredients at home already(also giant honey crisp apples from a recent Michigan visit. Used a French flour to make it and it was a big hit with family and friends. Was like a less sweet and healthier coffee cake, absolutely loved it!
I love it when that happens! So glad this apple bread was a hit! Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating, Tara. I so appreciate it. <3
My home smells so good after baking this! I subbed Bob’s Red Mill Gluten free flour, added 1.5 tsp of xantham gum, and used a blend of walnuts, oats, and coconut sugar for the topping. Flavor and texture are dreamy! Thank you for the recipe, I’m already planning which of your ideas to try next! 🙂
Ahh yay, so glad this bread turned out for you, Rachel!! Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I so appreciate it. 🙂
Made this with regular flour and a chia egg instead of flax seed and its AMAZING! Thank you for always having the best recipes!
Yay!! So glad this bread turned out for you, Molly. Thanks for sharing the subs you made and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I so appreciate it. <3
I loved this bread! I admit I was a little concerned that the chunks of apple would make the bread soggy, but it was perfectly moist and not soggy at all. I also liked that it wasn’t too sweet. I used a chicken egg instead of a flax egg and it turned out great. Definitely going to make this several more times this fall!
Yay!! I’m so pumped this bread turned out for you. Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I so appreciate it. <3
Absolutely delicious! I could have eating the whole thing in one go!! My daughter said that this was better than banana bread, (we use your recipe) and she loves eating that!
Yay!! I’m so pumped this apple bread was a hit. And your daughter saying that definitely says a lot! 🙂 Thanks for making it + for coming back to leave a comment + star rating, Susannah. I so appreciate it.
Made this with all whole wheat flour and it turned out absolutely delicious! Perfectly moist and the crumb topping & glaze were great additions. The whole family loved it!
Oh yay!! So glad this bread was a hit with the entire fam!! Thanks for making it + for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I so appreciate it.
Wow! This bread is amazing. It tasted like fall and would be a dream for Christmas morning! Or really any other morning of the year. The topping & glaze almost give it the feeling of coffee cake. I didn’t have pecans, so I used oats for the topping. Worked out just fine! Definitely will make again.
Amazing!! I made this bread this morning!! Just wow!! I will make this bread from now on!!!
Ahh yay!! I’m so glad this bread was a hit. Thanks for making it + for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I so appreciate it.
Ahh omg this makes me so happy to hear, Sarah!! I’m so glad you loved this bread. Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. The reviews are so helpful, so I really appreciate it. <3
I was wondering how many apples to buy for this? Also, what kind of apple would be best…there are so many to choose from nowadays!
How many apples should I buy for this recipe. I see the recipe calls for 1 1/4 cups of chopped apples…would that be one large, two large? And what type of apple would be the best for this…there are so many different kinds out there nowadays!!! Thanks for the recipe, it sounds wonderful 🙂
I’d buy 2 medium-large apples! And any type of apple will work, but I prefer the sweeter varieties like Fuji, Honey Crisp or Gala.
Delicious! I used oats instead of nuts for the topping and it turned out really well!
Oh yay!! So glad this bread turned out for you, Patricia. And good to know that oats worked for the topping. Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I so appreciate it!
Just made this but with regular sugar instead of coconut sugar, chia instead of flax, and whole wheat instead of pastry flour. It came out amazing, perfect to fall. Thanks so much!
Ahh yay, that makes me so happy to hear Lauren!! I’m so glad this bread turned out for you. Thanks for sharing the subs you made and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I appreciate it. 🙂
i wish this sweet bread had more flavor! it was very moist and thick and had great consistency but it honestly was very underwhelming in taste. i wonder if increasing the spices would help?
Hi Dani. Thanks so much for this feedback. I bet adding more spices would help if you didn’t find the bread flavorful enough. Did you change anything about the recipe? What type of apples did you use?
So perfect for fall!! I used walnuts and whole wheat flower, and it turned out great. Will definitely be making it again!
Oh yay!! SO pumped this recipe turned out for you, Amanda. Thanks for making it and for sharing the subs you made. It’s super helpful for other readers. 🙂
Vegan Apple Bread has just been added to the fall lineup. That pecan crumble & sticky glaze had us smiling all evening, Brittany! Thank you for another winner!
Ahh that makes me so happy to hear. I’m so glad this apple bread was a hit! Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating, Jennifer. I so appreciate it. <3
Do you think you could use almond flour?
I definitely think it’s possible, but I don’t know what amount you’d need because I haven’t tested it.
Will need to make this gluten free so would I just omit the whole wheat pastry flour? And just use 1/2 cup gluten free flour?
You’d want to replace all the flour with gluten-free all-purpose flour, so 1 1/2 cups. I tried it with Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free baking blend and it worked great. The bread didn’t rise as much as it does with gluten-based flours, but still delicious!!