Breakfast
Cinnamon Applesauce Banana Bread
This is the banana bread we make when the bananas on the counter have gotten a little too ripe to eat. Applesauce keeps the loaf soft and moist, and plenty of cinnamon gives it that warm flavor we love. It's simple, uses ingredients we usually already have on hand, and the same batter works just as well for muffins.
Bread or muffins
We usually make this as one loaf, but the same batter makes great muffins too. Divide the batter into a prepared muffin pan and bake at 350°F for about 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. It's an easy option when we want individual portions or something that's quicker to bake.
Knowing when it's done
For a loaf, start checking around 55 minutes. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean or with just a few moist crumbs. If the top is browning before the center is finished, loosely tent it with foil. Let the bread cool in the pan for a few minutes before turning it out onto a rack.
Printable Recipe Card
Cinnamon Applesauce Banana Bread
Ingredients
- 3 very ripe bananas, mashed
- ½ cup applesauce
- ¾ cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
Instructions
- 1Heat the oven to 350°F and grease a loaf pan.
- 2Mash the bananas and stir in the applesauce, sugar, eggs, and vanilla.
- 3Whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt.
- 4Stir the dry ingredients into the wet just until combined — don't overmix.
- 5Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 55–65 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs. If the top begins browning too quickly, loosely tent it with foil.
- 6Let the bread cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then turn it out onto a cooling rack.
MUFFIN OPTION
Use the same batter and divide it evenly into a prepared muffin pan. Bake at 350°F for about 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the muffins cool in the pan for a few minutes before transferring them to a rack.
Helpful Tips
The riper the bananas, the more banana flavor they'll bring to the loaf.
If the top is browning before the center is finished, loosely tent it with foil.
For muffins, start checking around 18 minutes and expect them to be done at about 20 minutes.
Products Used
- Loaf pan
- Mixing bowls
- Cooling rack
