For new bakers, quick breads are a great place to start because they don’t involve messy frostings or fondants, the only equipment you really need is a loaf pan and a wooden spoon or mixer and the recipes are usually not overly complicated – just a couple of steps.
For more advanced bakers, quick breads are fun because there is a lot of room for trial and error.
This recipe can be adapted with your favorite fresh fruits – pears, berries – anything that’s in season or looks good at the market.
My love affair with quick breads started in first grade, when my mother and I made boxed quick bread for my class Thanksgiving party.
It somehow became a tradition and I would whip up a loaf of cranberry bread from the ubiquitous blue box every year, until I realized that I could achieve an even better outcome with fresh cranberries and a little bit of orange zest.
Of course, cranberry bread is one of those seasonal foods that it would just seem wrong to eat outside of November or December, which is why my quick bread repertoire has expanded to include peanut butter banana bread and healthier zucchini bread.
And now, an apple walnut version that you can enjoy from now right up until cranberry bread season.
- 1 cup chopped, peeled apple
- 1½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup old-fashioned rolled oats (not quick-cooking or steel-cut)
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ¾ cup walnuts, separated into ½ cup and ¼ cup
- Preheat the oven to 325°. Grease loaf pan with butter or cooking spray. In a large bowl, combine the flour, oats, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a small bowl. In separate bowl, whisk together the sugar, eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla.
- Add the liquids to the dry ingredients and stir gently until flour is completely combine into the liquid. Fold the apples and ½ cup walnuts into the batter.Pour the batter into the greased loaf pan and top bake for 50 - 60 minutes, rotating the pan partway through. The loaf is done when the top is puffed and dry, and when a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
- Let the loaf cool in the pan for 10 minutes before removing. Allow it to cool completely before slicing. Makes 1 loaf/12 slices.
51 Comments
marla
September 17, 2011 at 8:14 amWish I had some of this for breakfast 🙂
Please join our link up for *Project LunchBox* You have awesome recipes that can inspire others to make healthy meals at home http://su.pr/221xT1
Samantha @ Bikini Birthday
July 18, 2011 at 7:33 amI’m all over zucchini bread during the summer once I start to get zucchinis by the bushel full from friends with gardens.
I like that you used oats in the bread. I don’t think I’ve ever tried making a quick bread with oats before. I bet it gives a geat flavour!
shannon
July 13, 2011 at 10:22 amthis sounds delicious 🙂 although i will bookmark it for the fall… hehe
Nami @ Just One Cookbook
July 12, 2011 at 4:52 pmYay… I love mix and bake type of easy and quick bread/cake. I feel like I won’t fail. 😉 Apple and walnut goes well together but I had never had both in the cake/bread before. This sounds awesome!
Susan
July 12, 2011 at 1:38 pmThere is something about the combination of apples and walnuts that is wonderful. I love quick breads but usually fall back on my favorite banana bread recipe. This sounds delicious!
Maria @ Scandifoodie
July 12, 2011 at 2:32 amThis is one of my favourites! I can never resist walnuts and I love using them in loaves like this one.
Kay
July 11, 2011 at 6:20 pmQuick breads are one of my favorite things to bake to bring to work- so easy to transport and share :o)
Shilpa
July 11, 2011 at 5:18 pmWhat an amazing recipe…I have seen something like this with bananas but never with apple..Banana makes it so dense whereas the apple wouldn’t do that…I have bookmarked this…will need to give it a go…
-Shilpa
Blond Duck
July 11, 2011 at 6:02 amI like apples any day of the year!
Barbara
July 11, 2011 at 5:42 amQuick breads are my favorite! I make them all the time and it’s fun ’cause you can make muffins with the same batter. I make an apricot one we love and pumpkin…so I’m always in fall mode too. Doesn’t make any difference to us! Apple and walnut quick bread looks and sounds wonderful.
Erwan @Thefatkidinside
July 11, 2011 at 4:40 amI can picture myself eating this with a cold tall glass of milk.
Jenny at Baking Devils
July 11, 2011 at 4:27 amThis sounds so fabulous am bookmarking to make sometime soon. Thank you!
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella
July 10, 2011 at 11:46 pmI love quick breads too! Banana bread is a favourite-we don’t see a lot of apple bread for some reason but it looks great! And I love vegetable breads with their soft and moist texture 🙂
The Harried Cook
July 10, 2011 at 10:34 pmApples and walnuts are such a great combination! I love the picture of that slice with the bits of apple peeking out… I bet it tasted fabulous! Thanks for sharing, Maris!
Aparna E.
July 10, 2011 at 9:17 pmThis. sounds. so. goooood!!! I love apples and love walnuts. I usually only ever see banana nut bread, but apple? Never. But why not?! It’s a great combo and this looks and sounds delicious 🙂
Rachel @ Not Rachael Ray
July 10, 2011 at 5:50 pmThis looks delicious! It looks so moist and yummy!
kankana
July 10, 2011 at 4:08 pmI am one of those struggling baker(if there is anyone else beside me) This kind of bread .. simple .. with a hint of fruit has always been my fav. Looks lovely 🙂
Alicia@ eco friendly homemaking
July 10, 2011 at 4:01 pmThis recipe looks awesome! We really like apple bread and this looks like when will want to try!!
rebecca
July 10, 2011 at 3:15 pmlove breads like this with my afternoon tea
lisa @ smart food and fit
July 10, 2011 at 2:27 pmI love this recipe. I agree with everyone, doesn’t matter what time of year apple bread is the best! A very healthy clean recipe too I might add, lovin’ it!
Natalie
July 10, 2011 at 12:50 pmI love apple bread at any time of year. It’s so moist and delicious and I love the oats you’ve got in there too!
Pudding Pie Lane
July 10, 2011 at 12:44 pmHehe, quick bread! Very useful in my internship, thanks for the recipe 🙂 And no I don’t think just because most people have it in fall, that doesn’t mean that you can’t!
suzy eats
July 10, 2011 at 10:56 am🙂 this looks excellent. apples are my favorite!!
Roz
July 10, 2011 at 10:34 amHi Maris, oooo…this has been bookmarked! I love quickbreads. I make more muffins than breads, but could easily convert this into a batch. Bring on the apples! Have a good rest of the weekend.
Betty @ scrambled hen fruit
July 10, 2011 at 9:45 amApples are ALWAYS in season somewhere! I could enjoy this lovely bread any time- quick breads make a lovely breakfast or snack, and this one is no exception! 🙂
The Slow Roasted Italian
July 10, 2011 at 9:04 amHow delicious, I love the buttermilk in there!
Chaya
July 10, 2011 at 8:33 amApples are meant to be used all year round. This has what is important, apples and nuts.
Heavenly Housewife
July 10, 2011 at 7:39 amI can never get enough of these lovely quick breads. Right now my trees have teeny weeny apples, in a few months they will be ready to dive into a delicious concoction such as this 😀
*kisses* HH
SMITH BITES
July 10, 2011 at 6:36 amQuick breads are such a great way to not only learn how to start baking, but also a terrific way to switch things up if you’re felling inspired or adventurous; so fun that you started baking w/your mom – love that!
Lauren at Keep It Sweet
July 10, 2011 at 6:14 amI love baked goods with apples, this quickbread looks delicious!
Lydia (The Perfect Pantry)
July 10, 2011 at 5:54 amI make apple quick breads all year round. I think it’s because the smell of apples baking (in anything) is so seductive. Or maybe it’s just because I love apple bread!
Maureen
July 10, 2011 at 2:47 amIt’s winter here and this bread is singing my song! I picked up some great apples at the farmers market and some lovely walnuts too. I’m ready to begin.
Maris, this looks moist and delicious! Thank you, my friend!
Lenore
July 9, 2011 at 10:00 pmOh how I love quick breads! This one looks delicious, as does the peanut butter banana one 🙂 I love apple in any baked good, especially muffins and breads 🙂
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen)
July 9, 2011 at 7:19 pmApples and oatmeal…sounds perfect to me! The bread looks delicious!
Junia @ Mis Pensamientos
July 9, 2011 at 7:16 pmi LOVE quick breads and they are perfect anytime in the year!!! apple + walnut is a classic combo! they are so easily veganized too :).
NancyC
July 9, 2011 at 6:22 pmQuick breads are one of my favorite things to bake–they’re so easy! The apple and walnut combination in this recipe sounds really good!
Karriann Graf
July 9, 2011 at 6:03 pmOh, love this quick bread! Apples make everything nice and moist! Happy Baking!
peachkins
July 9, 2011 at 5:47 pmSo that’s where I have to start… I’m gonna try baking this year. I made some cookies but that’s all I know how to bake…
Simply Life
July 9, 2011 at 5:45 pmoh my gosh, what a fabulous bread! I love apples and walnuts together!
Sherilyn @ Wholepromise
July 9, 2011 at 5:31 pmI love anything quick like this. I bet it was delicious as well. A lovely post as always.
bellini
July 9, 2011 at 5:25 pmI just love quick reads Maris!!!
Tara @ Chip Chip Hooray
July 9, 2011 at 5:12 pmYum!! I grew up bringing loaves of pumpkin bread and walnut-date bread to our neighbors at Thanksgiving time (made from those blue boxes!), so this will definitely be a fun and nostalgic recipe for me to try. 🙂
yummychunklet
July 9, 2011 at 3:59 pmThis looks delicious but I’m making your zucchini bread because of my newfound love of the veggie!
sarah
July 9, 2011 at 2:18 pmI loved making quick breads when I was little too. I’m not the biggest fan of cooked apples, but my family loves these flavors. I’m keeping this to make for school lunches. They’ll be so happy.
Daryl (mom)
July 9, 2011 at 1:51 pmYou have come a long way since boxed bread which, by the way, with your touch was delicious!
Greg
July 9, 2011 at 1:34 pmIt looks great to me too, no matter the season. A good bread is always welcome.
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga
July 9, 2011 at 1:20 pmthis looks so good and so easy! im all about that 🙂
Three-Cookies
July 9, 2011 at 1:13 pmQuick breads are awesome, apple and walnut combination sounds awesome though I have yet to try it. I love walnut bread
marci
July 9, 2011 at 1:06 pmWe are thinking the same again. I made Apple Cinnamon Muffins earlier this week with pecans and thought it was just like Fall! My post is going up Monday.
Erica
July 9, 2011 at 1:04 pmQuick breads are so awesome! A cinch to throw together and the perfect breakfast or snack. Looks delicious lady 🙂
Heather @girlichef
July 9, 2011 at 1:01 pmIt does sound like fall, but I would happily eat a slice any time of the year. Fabulous combination and it looks so moist and delicious!