Gluten Free Cinnamon Apple Bread (Dairy Free)

This easy Gluten Free Apple Cinnamon Bread is a delicious way to use fresh apples this fall season. This moist, lightly sweet gluten free apple bread is made with fresh apples, applesauce, and maple syrup. Dairy free and refined sugar free, this easy quick bread has just the right amount of sweetness and warm cinnamon spice.

If you are looking for the perfect, easy apple bread recipe, then look no further! I generally love to add a special twist my baked goods (like adding a crumble topping), but sometimes we just want a quick and easy recipe, and that's exactly what this cinnamon apple bread is!  It's the perfect fall treat that is healthy enough to enjoy with breakfast, snack, or for dessert.

Why You'll Love This Gluten Free Apple Cinnamon Bread

• Allergy friendly: this apple bread is fully gluten free, dairy free, soy free, nut free, and corn free. It's the perfect fall recipe for anyone with food allergies or restrictions.
• Refined sugar free: sweetened with maple syrup and applesauce, we amp up the apple flavor without white sugar.
• Nut free: tigernut flour keeps this safe for nut allergies, but almond flour can always be used if tolerated or easier to access.
• Simple and unfussy: no streusel, glaze, or complicated toppings needed. Fresh apples and warm cinnamon provide all the flavor this easy quick bread needs.
• Super moist: thanks to the olive oil, applesauce, and maple syrup, this apple bread is already soft, but the addition of fresh apples yields a very moist bread as they give off liquid during baking.
• Easy fall bake: this simple apple bread comes together with basic ingredients and doesn't require any complicated techniques.
• Nutrient filled: apples are loaded with fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants that are great for overall health. 

Ingredients for Gluten Free Apple Cinnamon Bread 

• Apples: you'll need one large apple of choice. The variety really depends on your taste preferences. Opt for green apples for a more tart bread or pink/red for a sweeter variety.
• Gluten free flour: be sure to use a 1:1 all purpose gluten-free flour blend with xanthan gum for best results.
• Tigernut flour or almond flour: tigernut flour is a nut free flour alternative to almond flour for those with nut allergies. You can use almond flour if you tolerate it!
• Olive oil: keeps the bread light and moist!
• Maple syrup: be sure to use pure maple syrup, not pancake syrup.
• Applesauce: this helps increase the apple flavor in every bite, keeps the bread moist, and allows us to cut back on the added sugar. Be sure to use unsweetened applesauce.
• Dairy free milk: stick to a plant based milk to keep this recipe dairy free. I've used both oat milk and coconut milk, but almond milk also works!
• Eggs: 2 large eggs
• Baking powder, baking soda, ground cinnamon, vanilla extract, salt

How to Make Gluten Free Apple Cinnamon Bread

1. Preheat the oven to 350F.
2. Whisk all the dry ingredients together in a medium bowl and set aside.
3. In a large bowl or in a stand mixer, beat together all the wet ingredients on medium speed until combined.
4. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix on low until a few flour streaks remain.
5. Toss the chopped apple with cinnamon and flour then gently fold them into the batter. Coating the apples helps keep them evenly distributed throughout the loaf instead of sinking to the bottom.
6. Pour batter into a lined loaf pan and bake for 45-50 minutes, until a toothpick comes out with a few crumbs on it and the top of the loaf is golden brown.
7. Let the bread cool in the pan for 10–15 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

Substitutions and variations 

• Tigernut flour: if tolerated, you can use almond flour instead as a 1:1 substitution.
• Olive oil: I have not tested this recipe with melted coconut oil or (dairy free) butter. Olive oil provides a light and airy texture, but melted butter should work in a pinch. Coconut oil will likely yield a denser loaf.
• Applesauce: if you love cinnamon, opt for a cinnamon applesauce. If you don't have applesauce, you can use yogurt or more olive oil.
• Maple syrup: this recipe is designed for a liquid sweetener, not something like coconut sugar. If you need to sub it, try agave syrup.
• Cinnamon: switch out the cinnamon for an apple pie spice mix for even more flavor!
• Variations:  for more apple flavor, swirl in 1-2 tablespoon of apple butter to the batter before baking. Add  pecans, walnuts, or raisins to the batter or top with a cinnamon-sugar mixture before baking.
• Crumble topping: take this apple loaf up a notch by adding a crumble topping. You can use the crumble from my Gluten Free Coffee Cake Banana Bread or the walnut crumble from my Gluten Free Walnut Crumble Banana Bread.

How to Serve and Store This Gluten FreeApple Cinnamon Bread

Slice and enjoy this bread with a cup of coffee or tea, as a snack, or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or coconut whipped cream  for dessert. I highly suggest warming a slice up (either in the oven for a few minutes or for 15-30 seconds in the microwave). Warming it up really brings out the flavor and if you add ice cream, it melts perfectly on top.

More serving suggestions: spread a slice with some nut butter, honey, or apple butter. Drizzle the loaf with caramel sauce before serving.

Store the cooled apple bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to 5 days. You can wrap individual slices in plastic wrap and place in a freezer bag then freeze slices for up to 3 months. Just thaw and warm up before eating.

Tips for Making the Best Gluten Free Apple Bread

• Chop apples well: dice the apples into ¼ inch pieces to keep them evenly distributed throughout the bread instead of sinking. Don't forget to toss them in flour before adding to the batter which also helps them from sinking to the bottom.
• Measure ingredients properly: for dry ingredients, scoop the flour into your measuring cup then level it off.
• Don't over mix the batter: for best results with gluten free baking, you never want to over mix batter. Mix until just combined and in this case, until there are a few flour streaks remaining. The flour will get fully incorporated when you fold in the apples.
• Don't over bake: gluten free baked goods dry out fast, so for a moist crumb, pull the bread out right before you think it's done. When you insert a toothpick into the center of the cake, it should come out with a few crumbs on it and when you press on the center, it should bounce back. It will continue to cook a little as it cools. This goes for most gluten free recipes.
• Let cool fully: make sure to let the bread completely cool, preferably overnight, as this helps it hold together when sliced and enhances the flavors.

FAQ

More Fall Apple Recipes

Gluten Free Cinnamon Apple Muffins

Apple Pie Cheesecake Cookies

Caramel Apple Crumble Cheesecake

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