Gluten-Free Apple Bread (Vegan)

This delicious vegan gluten-free apple bread is perfect for a healthy breakfast or snack. Made with simple, wholesome ingredients, it’s easy to prepare and bursting with apple flavor and hints of cinnamon. It’s moist and fluffy, studded with fresh apples, and sure to satisfy your cravings and become a favorite in no time!

There’s nothing quite like the smell of freshly baked cinnamon apple bread! It’s one of my all-time favorite flavors. While there are many versions of this bread out there, I’ve come to love this particular recipe for gluten-free apple bread!

Jump to:

• Why you should try this recipe
• Recipe highlights
• Ingredient notes
• How to make gluten-free apple bread
• Recipe video
• Tips & recipe notes
• Variations, additions & swaps
• Serving suggestions
• Storage tips
• FAQs
• Recipe

Why you should try this recipe

What I love the most about this recipe is that, unlike many other apple bread recipes, we blend a good amount of fresh apples into the batter, in addition to stirring in chunks. This creates a deliciously moist and apple-packed bread, even in every bite without chunks. Trust me, it’s absolutely amazing!

Also, I’m a fan of using oat flour in my healthier treats. I’ve perfected this recipe to be gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, oil-free, and refined sugar-free. If you’re hesitant to try a recipe with all these labels, fear not – this healthy apple bread is still incredibly delicious and satisfying.

With this simple recipe that requires only a bowl and blender, you can easily make a delicious apple bread and enjoy a slice (or more) for a quick breakfast, a satisfying snack, or even as a sweet dessert.

New to baking with oat flour? You’ll also love these delicious recipes that feature this nutritious ingredient: oat flour peanut butter cookies, banana oat mug cake, and chickpea blondies. Give them all a try!

Recipe highlights

• Deliciously moist and fluffy with a subtle sweetness, and an optional crunchy, sweet topping for added texture.
• Nutritious and satisfying, a healthier alternative to most quick breads.
• Easy to make with a few simple steps, and no yeast, rising, or kneading required.
• Convenient for meal prep, as it stores well and can be frozen for a quick and satisfying snack anytime.
• Customizable with different types of apples, spices, nuts or raisins for added texture and flavor.
• A great way to use up past-their-prime apples that might otherwise go to waste.
• Perfect for sharing, as it makes a great gift or potluck contribution that’s sure to please a crowd.

Ingredient notes

Let’s start with the apples. As mentioned before, this recipe uses both fresh apples blended into the batter and chunks of apples for an apple-packed, moist bread in every bite.

• I recommend using honeycrisp, pink lady, gala, or fuji apples, but you can certainly try this recipe using your favorite kind.
• No need to peel the apples unless you prefer to! Just remove the core.
• Weigh the apples for accurate measurement. Apples come in different sizes, so if you use a measuring cup for chopped apples, you might get varying results depending on the size of each apple chunk.
• Dice the apple chunks you’ll be stirring into the batter into 1/2-inch cubes or smaller. For the apples that you’ll blend into the batter, you can chop them to any size you prefer. If you don’t have a powerful blender like a Vitamix, chop the apples small to make blending easier.

Other ingredients for this recipe:

• Oat Flour: Oat flour provides a hearty and nutritious base for this apple bread. If you have gluten intolerance or celiac disease, be sure to use certified gluten-free oat flour. Use a fine oat flour for the best texture.
• Potato Starch: It helps hold all the ingredients together, making the bread soft and tender. It also makes the bread lighter and fluffier by improving its ability to rise. Using potato starch in the recipe also helps prevent the bread from becoming too dense or gummy by absorbing any extra liquid. If you don’t have potato starch, you can use more fine oat flour instead, but the bread won’t be as fluffy. Just make sure not to confuse potato starch with potato flour, as they are different ingredients.
• Flaxseed Meal: It works as an egg replacement to keep the ingredients together. When it mixes with the moisture of the other ingredients, it becomes sticky and acts as a binder.
• Almond Butter: Natural almond butter adds healthy fats. You can substitute with other nut or seed butters like peanut butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter (for nut-free option), but expect flavor changes.
• Sugar: Coconut sugar adds a subtle sweetness without making it overly sugary, but you can also use other granulated sugars like demerara or brown sugar. Avoid using liquid sweeteners like maple syrup, as they can affect the overall consistency of the bread by adding too much moisture.
• Spices: Cinnamon and nutmeg create a warm, comforting taste.
• Salt: It enhances the flavor and balances the sweetness.
• Baking Powder, Baking Soda & Apple Cider Vinegar: The combination of these ingredients helps to create a balanced rise and a light, fluffy texture. This is especially important in vegan and gluten-free baking, where traditional leavening agents like eggs or wheat flour are not used.

Topping

The topping of old-fashioned rolled oats, coconut sugar, coconut oil, and ground cinnamon is optional but recommended for extra sweetness and crunch.

Full ingredient measurements and detailed instructions are located in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. This section covers notes on ingredients and possible substitutions.

How to make gluten-free apple bread

This apple loaf cake is quick and easy to make. Follow these simple steps to create a delicious, moist and apple-packed bread.

Step 1: Prepare for baking

When you’re ready to start:

• Preheat the oven to 356˚F (180˚C).
• Line an 4.5×8.5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
• Gather your ingredients.
• Prepare the apples: Remove the core from the apples and weigh them using a kitchen scale. Split the apples into two parts: 300 grams for blending and 130 grams for folding. Cut the 130 grams of apples into small pieces (1/2 inch cubes or smaller) to mix into the batter.

Note: A non-stick cooking spray can also be used to coat the loaf pan, but I highly recommend using parchment paper instead as it makes it easier to remove the bread after baking.

Step 2: Make the topping (optional)

Start by making the crumb topping, which consists of a mixture of old-fashioned rolled oats, sugar, cinnamon, and coconut oil. While optional, it adds extra flavor, texture, and makes the apple bread more visually appealing.

It’s important to prepare the topping before making the batter because once the leavening agents are mixed in, the batter should be baked quickly to ensure the best rise.

Step 3: Make the batter

To make the batter, start by blending apples (300 g), almond butter, coconut sugar, flaxseed meal, water, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and apple cider vinegar until they become smooth and creamy. The apples will become liquidy in the blender, so don’t worry if it seems like there’s not enough liquid.

Next, get a large mixing bowl and sift together oat flour, potato starch, baking powder, and baking soda. You don’t need to sift all of them, but it’s especially important to sift the baking soda to get rid of any lumps or clumps and make sure it’s evenly mixed. This will help prevent any issues with the rising or baking of the final product.

Finally, add the blended apple mixture to the bowl and mix everything together until it’s well combined. Then add chopped apples (130 g) to the batter and fold them in.

Note: If you prefer, you can also blend all the ingredients in a blender, but make sure you have a good high-powered blender because the batter is quite thick. For a smooth blending process and to prevent the blender from getting stuck, start by adding the wet ingredients first. Use a spatula to scrape down the sides and assist the blending process. It’s essential not to over-blend the batter as this can warm up the oats and negatively affect the bread’s texture.

Step 4: Transfer batter into the loaf pan

After mixing all the ingredients together, pour the apple bread batter into the loaf pan. Spread the batter evenly into all corners of the pan to ensure it is level, and smooth out the top. If you made the topping, sprinkle it over the batter and gently press it down with a spoon.

Step 5: Bake the apple bread

Now it’s time to bake! Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 40 minutes. The baking time may vary depending on your oven, so keep an eye on it. To check if it is done, insert a toothpick in the center. If it comes out clean, the apple bread is ready.

Step 6: Allow it to cool before slicing and serving

After baking, leave the apple bread in the pan for 10 minutes to cool before removing it. Then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing and serving.

Cooling is essential for the bread to set and firm up. This resting time also allows the bread to finish cooking slightly, which is crucial for its texture. Cutting it too early may cause it to crumble and fall apart. If you prefer to eat the bread warm, simply reheat it after slicing.

Recipe video

Watch how to make this recipe:

Tips & recipe notes

• To achieve a moist and fluffy apple bread with this vegan, gluten-free, oil-free, and refined sugar-free recipe, it’s crucial to use the right ingredient ratios. Be sure to follow the recipe closely for optimal results.
• It’s important to measure your ingredients accurately, and the best way to do this is by using a kitchen scale to follow the listed amounts.
• Remember that natural almond butter tends to separate, with the oil rising to the top. Make sure to stir the almond butter in the container thoroughly before measuring the required amount. The consistency you want is runny and not dry, like the bottom of a container.
• Make sure to sift the dry ingredients, especially the baking soda, to ensure that the bread rises evenly.

Variations, additions & swaps

While I recommend sticking to the tested recipe for best results, there are some ways to adapt it to your preferences. Here are some ideas:

• For an extra crunch and flavor, add a handful of chopped walnuts or pecans to the batter or sprinkle them on top of the bread before baking.
• Mix in some raisins or cranberries with the chopped apples for a sweet and tangy burst of flavor.
• Experiment with different nut butters like hazelnut, cashew, or sunflower seed butter to change up the flavor profile. Tahini can also add a nutty and rich flavor.
• Add a teaspoon of vanilla extract to the batter for a subtle sweet flavor.
• Try using other spices such as ginger or cardamom for a new twist on the flavors.
• To indulge in something decadent, fold in some chocolate chips into the batter or sprinkle them on top of the bread.
• Bake the recipe in a cake form to make an apple cake. Note that baking times may vary, so adjust accordingly.

Please be mindful not to add too much add-ins (nuts, dried fruis, chocolate chips), as it can affect the texture and moisture level of the bread, making it dense or dry. Adding about a handful of add-ins at most will maintain the integrity of the recipe while adding some variety in flavor and texture.

Serving suggestions

• Spread some almond butter (or other nut or seed butter) on top and then drizzle with maple syrup or cinnamon honey for some extra deliciousness.
• Top a slice with soy yogurt or Greek yogurt for a satisfying breakfast.
• Serve with apple butter to complement the apple flavor.
• Enjoy with a cup of coffee, milk, or tea as a mid-day snack.
• For a decadent dessert, serve with a scoop of your favorite ice cream.

Storage tips

This gluten-free apple bread is perfect for meal prep because it can be stored easily and even frozen for longer periods. Actually, I found that freezing this bread helps retain its texture!

To store:

• Make sure the bread is completely cooled before storing it. Storing it while it’s still warm can cause it to become too moist.
• You can keep the apple bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. However, if you need to store it for a longer period, place it in the refrigerator for up to a week.

To freeze:

• This apple bread freezes well for up to 3 months. To freeze, cut it into individual slices and place them in a freezer-safe container with parchment paper between each slice to prevent them from sticking together.
• When you’re ready to enjoy a slice, it thaws quickly. You can either transfer it to the refrigerator about an hour before eating, leave it on the counter for about 30 minutes, or microwave for about 20 seconds. For a crunchy texture, try reheating it in an air fryer at 356°F (180°C) for about 2 minutes.

FAQs

Did you try this recipe?
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I’d love to hear about it! Please leave a comment below with a recipe rating to let me know how it was. Be sure to tag me @FeedYourselfPlants + #FeedYourselfPlants if you post it on social media — seeing your creations always makes my day. Thank you for the support!

Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, Facebook, and YouTube. You can also subscribe to my email list to never miss a new recipe!

Print

Recipe