Apple Bread with Pecan Streusel

By Naperville Magazine
October 2025 View more Recipe

By Kelli Ra Anderson

Quick breads may be easy to assemble but they are notorious for turning out heavy, sunken, or too dry. This apple bread recipe, however—with a triple dose of apple flavor and ingredients—uses applesauce and grated apple to ensure a moist crumb. And, being oil based, it only needs a gentle folding of ingredients, which prevents the dreaded heavy or sunken loaf (instead of the typical creaming of egg, sugar, and butter/oil required in other recipes).

Spiced with cinnamon and freshly grated nutmeg and topped with a pecan streusel and caramel sauce, this apple loaf pairs perfectly with a morning cup of coffee, a celebration of fall in every bite.

MAKES: 2 loaves

BATTER INGREDIENTS

1½ cups diced and peeled apple
1 cup peeled and grated apple
⅓ cup apple sauce, unsweetened
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
¾ teaspoon salt
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
3 cups flour
4 eggs
1 cup oil
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

STREUSEL INGREDIENTS

⅓ cup sugar
½ cup chopped pecans
1 tablespoon softened butter

PRO TIP: This recipe is perfect for the fall when apples are at their freshest. Ideal apple choices for this bread are firm and sweet-tart varieties, such as Pink Lady, Honeycrisp,
or Fuji.

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two eight-by-four-inch loaf pans; line the bottoms with parchment paper.

2. In a medium bowl, combine (just until mixed) eggs, oil, sugar, grated apple, diced apple, applesauce, and vanilla.

3. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Mix thoroughly.

4. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Gently fold mixture until just combined.

5. Make the streusel in a third bowl, mixing the pecans, sugar, and butter until crumbly.

6. Pour the batter into the two loaf pans and sprinkle the streusel on top.

7. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes or until an inserted thermometer reaches 200 degrees.

8. Once cooled, remove the loaves from the pans and drizzle with your favorite caramel sauce.

Photos: Kellira Media