Breads/ Quickbreads/ Recipes

almond applesauce bread

Hey you!

And yes, I mean YOU! It’s good to be back with you. Did you read Miss Lisa’s wonderful post while I was gone? I’m making the toasts for lunch today and can’t wait! I have a new (read: old…very old) great grandma recipe for you today and I think you’re going to love it. I know I did. I’m loving every bit of it as I type with my mouth full, actually.

This is one of those faded yellow index cards that I pulled out to make right when I started this project a few months ago. I don’t know why it’s taken me two months to make but boy, was it ever worth the wait!

If you’re like me, you love nothing more than pulling a hot loaf of semi-sweet, crusty, relatively healthy bread out of the oven. Bonus points go for if the bread is easy to make, doesn’t require any rising time and can be slathered with butter, raspberry jam and crunchy peanut butter.

This is the first thing I’ve baked in the new year and it feels great. As much as I loved traveling around and visiting family over the holidays, it felt a little weird to be out of the kitchen for that long. My hands itched to get in some dough and I missed the rush of heat that would fog up my glasses whenever I opened the oven door. Oh, I ate some wonderful food while I was gone (Adam’s mom’s crawfish etouffee and gumbo…my mom’s croissant french toast casserole and slow cooker spaghetti sauce) but I won’t lie and say that I wasn’t happy to get home and form some kind of routine again. Starting with this old fashioned bread!

Great grandma called for shortening, which I used, but I’m positive you could swap it out for butter instead if that’s what you have on hand. It’s only a measly three tablespoons anyway (remember the relatively healthy part?). The end result is a dense, slightly sweet bread that loaded with crunchy toasted almonds and applesauce.

Let it be known though that this bread doesn’t really taste like apples—I’m guessing great grandma made it during the great depression when butter was rare and applesauce proved to be a worthy substitute.

Almond Applesauce Bread

makes one loaf

Print this recipe!

Ingredients:

2 cups flour

3/4 cup sugar

3 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp cardamom

5 oz toasted sliced almonds (about 1 cup)

1 egg, beaten

1 cup applesauce

3 tbsp melted shortening (you can use butter if you like)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a standard sized loaf pan.

Whisk together the flour, sugar, salt, baking power, baking soda, cinnamon and cardamom in a large bowl. Add the sliced almonds to the dry ingredients, reserving about three tablespoons.

In another bowl, combine the melted shortening, egg and applesauce. Add to dry ingredients and mix until a dough forms (be careful not to overmix here!).

Smooth batter into loaf pan and top with reserved sliced almonds. Bake for 1 hour then let cool completely before slicing.

Time:

1.5 hours

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  • Jen
    January 4, 2012 at 4:38 am

    Looks good, I thought it would be a quick bread from the title but it resembles a real bread loaf to be used for sandwiches.

  • Molly @ RDexposed
    January 4, 2012 at 4:54 am

    Ah, your bread could have its own History Channel documentary, “How the Economy Raised Bread.”

  • Sally @ Spontaneous Hausfrau
    January 4, 2012 at 5:41 am

    This looks like a great “everyday” bready treat. I love that you are doing more of your great grandma’s recipes. They’re my favorite type of post on your blog!

  • Kellie @ Blackboard Kitchen
    January 4, 2012 at 5:42 am

    This looks awesome. I love the use of applesauce in here! Plus, toasted almonds? Yes, please. Glad you made it back safely from all of your travels!

  • katie @KatieDid
    January 4, 2012 at 5:44 am

    Interesting that she used applesauce and shortening, I wonder if that was to just ration the shortening and make it last a bit longer. I’ve never baked with applesauce but I’ve heard it lends a nice moisture and great texture to breads.

  • Kristen @ Popcorn on the Stove
    January 4, 2012 at 6:08 am

    I’m not a fan of almonds but my husband is. I have a feeling he would really love this!

  • amy walters, aDESIGNdock
    January 4, 2012 at 6:23 am

    Fabulous recipe Jenna. You’re Great Grandma was genius. Love the almond crust. It turned out beautifully.

  • DessertForTwo
    January 4, 2012 at 6:26 am

    I’m crazy about Depression-era recipes! My grandma has lots of ’em too.

    Happy New Year 🙂

  • Gina @ Running to the Kitchen
    January 4, 2012 at 6:28 am

    Wow, it’s surprising to see an old recipe with applesauce as the butter substitute. I like it! I think I would love this for breakfast.

  • Nicole @ Giraffelegs
    January 4, 2012 at 6:31 am

    I love the color.

  • Heather Michelle @ A Sweet Simple Life
    January 4, 2012 at 6:46 am

    Looks incredible. I love that is crusted in almonds!! Might try this with gf flour… Thanks, Jenna. Glad you’re back.

  • Robyn {Planet Byn}
    January 4, 2012 at 6:50 am

    slowcooker spaghetti sauce?! please share!

  • Maria
    January 4, 2012 at 6:51 am

    I want a slice now!

  • Hilliary @Happily Ever Healthy
    January 4, 2012 at 7:04 am

    Oh this looks so delicious! I have been in a bread making mood, as soon as my banana bread is gone I will be making this!

  • Cait's Plate
    January 4, 2012 at 7:20 am

    I just want to take a huge chunk of that, spread it with nut butter and call it a day!

  • joelle (on apink typewriter)
    January 4, 2012 at 7:42 am

    I totally agree – it was great to be home and eat all of the goodies that my mom cooks up (or the baked goods sitting around the house) but it’s also nice to be back home and in a routine. 🙂

  • Estela @ Weekly Bite
    January 4, 2012 at 7:45 am

    Applesauce bread is one of my favorite Fall recipes! Love the almonds 🙂

  • Leslie Means @ Her View From Home
    January 4, 2012 at 7:59 am

    I LOVE love bread!!! This looks awesome!

  • Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga
    January 4, 2012 at 8:08 am

    The bread looks lovely and you’re probably right about applesauce being used in place of butter for flavor and taste without the price or availability of butter being a consideration. Your great grammie was playing around with vegan substitutions way back when 🙂

    I want a slice of that bread!

  • Katie
    January 4, 2012 at 8:13 am

    Making bread is one of my very favorite things on earth. Oh, and I think baked goods are better with shortening…for sure.

  • HRCK the Herald
    January 4, 2012 at 8:33 am

    For some reason, I used to be anti-almond. Like, until unfortunately recently. Happily, I’ve learned the errors of my ways and I’d love to make this recipe RIGHT now!

  • dana @ my little celebration
    January 4, 2012 at 8:34 am

    Yum! So hearty and delicious looking!

  • em @ simplypresent
    January 4, 2012 at 8:39 am

    I’ve been looking for a good “applesauce” recipe for muffins or breads and I think I’ll try this one out. Except I’ll try it without the almonds since I’m the only one in my family who likes them!

  • Laura @ She Eats Well
    January 4, 2012 at 8:54 am

    This looks so, so good. Especially topped with some homemade peach jam I have in the fridge and maybe….a dollop of almond butter. YUM!

  • Katie
    January 4, 2012 at 9:17 am

    Hi Jenna, I am new to yoga, and I was wondering if you could do a post about how to find the right studio for you. There are so many options and so many different styles of yoga that it can be overwhelming!

    • jenna
      January 4, 2012 at 10:22 am

      sounds good!

  • Kristin @ FoodFash
    January 4, 2012 at 9:56 am

    I’m so envious of your jackpot of grandma recipes!

  • Lu
    January 4, 2012 at 12:59 pm

    Wow that looks well tasty! Can’t wait to make this one! 🙂

  • Deanna B.
    January 4, 2012 at 1:58 pm

    I have a bunch of apples that are just begging to be turned into apple sauce to be made into bread. Bread that I might have to include apple chunks in.

  • Amy
    January 4, 2012 at 2:21 pm

    Jenna– love your blog and check in everyday!

    Do you think almond extract would be a good addition to the bread? Thanks!

    • jenna
      January 4, 2012 at 2:32 pm

      I do! I would add one teaspoon to the wet ingredients and see where that puts you.

  • Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin
    January 4, 2012 at 2:39 pm

    This looks delicious! I bet the toasted almonds add such a great flavour!

    Since the shortening is melted, do you think canola oil would work in its place?

  • rachel
    January 4, 2012 at 2:49 pm

    jenna- can you make another playlist? i’m craving one!

  • maureen
    January 4, 2012 at 3:01 pm

    Looks great! How many cup is is 5oz of almonds? I don’t own a scale. thanks!

    • jenna
      January 4, 2012 at 4:31 pm

      It’s about one cup sliced toasted almonds—thanks for the reminder; I need to put that in the recipe as well.

  • Rebecca @ Naturally Healthy and Gorgeous
    January 4, 2012 at 3:19 pm

    Looks good! I love bread with nuts on it. Bread like that is hard to come by in the US>

  • Angela @ Happy Fit Mama
    January 4, 2012 at 4:01 pm

    This bread looks amazing! I’m out of cardamom, though. Is there a substitute?

  • Missy
    January 4, 2012 at 4:10 pm

    I must try this. I love cardamom and not to many recipes use it.
    Have you tried substituting some wheat flour for the white?
    Just curious.

  • Dana
    January 4, 2012 at 8:26 pm

    Hey Jenna!
    I love reading your posts! Glad to hear your feeling better!
    Cant wait to make this bread tomorrow.

  • Emily @ Life on Food
    January 5, 2012 at 3:31 am

    Quick breads are some of my favorite recipes! Sweet but not overwhelming and my husband actually eats breakfast with them. This one looks like a winner.

  • Deborah
    January 5, 2012 at 8:57 pm

    I love everything about this recipe!!

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  • honeywhatscooking
    January 13, 2012 at 9:13 pm

    this looks so good and very healthy. almond applesauce bread – yum! Really like your blog

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  • Victoria R.
    July 19, 2012 at 9:20 am

    Hi Jenna,

    Just curious, what do you think about substituting the white sugar for brown sugar- texture/taste-wise? Also, what about greek yogurt instead of the shortening/butter?

    Thanks so much!

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  • Alyse
    September 15, 2017 at 10:06 am

    This looks delicious! I’m assuming the applesauce in the recipe is sweetened? How much additional sugar should I add if I have unsweetened applesauce?

    • jenna
      September 15, 2017 at 12:40 pm

      Actually I am referring to unsweetened applesauce here so you should be ok!

  • Jessica
    September 24, 2017 at 5:33 pm

    I made this bread tonight, added pecans (was low on almonds) and it turned out amazing! One of the best breads I’ve tasted this year. Thanks Jenna!