The Best Apple Carrot Bread For When You’re Craving Something Sweet

On their own, apples and carrots are pretty healthy. But when you bake them into bread, they become something even more special – a delicious and nutritious snack or dessert that’s perfect for when you’re craving something sweet. Baking with both these ingredients gives the bread a lovely chewy texture and natural sweetness, without needing to add any extra sugar. And, of course, the added bonus of getting some extra fruit and veg into your diet! Here are four scrumptious recipes for apple carrot bread that we know you’ll love…

1. Classic Apple Carrot Bread (2)

This classic recipe is the perfect way to use up any leftover apples and carrots you might have lurking in the fruit bowl or veg drawer. It’s simple to make and can be enjoyed either as a snack or dessert.

Ingredients:

• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 1/3 cup liquid-state coconut oil (canola or vegetable may be substituted)
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup cup sour cream (lite is okay; or Greek yogurt may be substituted)
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
•  2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• pinch salt, optional and to taste
• 3/4 cup grated carrots (about 1 large peeled and trimmed carrot)
• 3/4 cup grated apples (1 medium unpeeled Fuji; try Gala, Honeycrisp or similar)

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Line an 8-by-4-inch loaf pan with parchment paper, spraying with cooking spray; set aside.
2. In a large bowl, whisk the egg, brown sugar, oil, granulated sugar, sour cream, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg together until smooth.
3. Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda and optional salt, stirring gently until just combined. Do not overmix. Stir in the carrots and apples until evenly distributed. Turn batter out into a prepared pan, smoothing the top lightly with a spatula or spoon.
4. Bake for about 45 minutes, or until bread is cooked through and a toothpick or cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, or with moist, not wet, crumbs. 
5. Allow bread to cool in the pan for about 15 minutes before removing and transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Serve bread warm or at room temperature, optionally sliced and Spread with butter.
6. Store bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

Read More: Are Carrots Keto? Vegetables That Will Knock You Out Of Ketosis

Carrot Apple Bread With Walnut Streusel (3)

This apple bread is quick to make and features a nutty oat streusel topping. It’s the perfect breakfast or snack, and can even be enjoyed as a light dessert.

Ingredients:

• 1 ¼ cups flour*
• ¼ cup almond flour
• 2 tablespoons ground flax seed
• 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ¾ teaspoon baking powder
• ¾ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon coarse salt
• 2 medium ripe bananas (about 1 cup)
• ½ cup dark brown sugar
• ¼ cup oil
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 medium carrots, shredded (about 1 ½ cups)
• 1 medium apple, shredded or diced (about 1 ½ cups)

For Streusel:

• 3 tablespoons melted butter
• ½ cup old-fashioned rolled oats
• ½ cup chopped walnuts
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray an 8½ x 4½ inch loaf pan with cooking spray and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together oat flour, almond flour, flax seed, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Add salt and whisk to combine.
3. In a separate bowl, mash the bananas with a fork or potato masher until mostly smooth. Add brown sugar, oil, eggs and vanilla extract and whisk until combined. 
4. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Fold in carrots and apples.
5. Pour batter into the prepared pan and set aside while you make the streusel.
6. To make the streusel, mix together melted butter, oats, walnuts, brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Sprinkle streusel over the top of the batter.
7. Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick or cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow bread to cool in the pan for about 15 minutes before removing and transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Serve warm or at room temperature, sliced and Spread with butter, if desired.
8. Store bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

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Whole Wheat Apple Walnut Carrot Bread (4)

Wholesome ingredients like oatmeal and maple syrup give this quick bread a hearty, comforting flavor. The carrots and apples add natural sweetness and moistness, while the walnuts give it a satisfying crunch.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup finely grated carrots
• 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 2 large eggs
• ½ cup coconut sugar
• ¼ cup maple syrup
• ¼ cup melted and cooled coconut oil
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 ½ cups (180 grams) whole wheat pastry flour
• ½ cup quick oats
• 2 tsp. apple pie spice (sub pumpkin pie spice)
• 1 tsp. ground ginger
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• ½ tsp. kosher salt
• ⅓ cup finely chopped walnuts or pecans

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease an 8×4 inch loaf pan with cooking spray and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the carrots, applesauce, eggs, coconut sugar, maple syrup, coconut oil and vanilla until smooth.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, oats, apple pie spice, ginger, baking soda and salt. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Do not overmix.
4. Pour batter into the prepared pan and sprinkle nuts on top. Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until a toothpick or cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow bread to cool in the pan for about 15 minutes before removing and transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. 
5. Serve warm or at room temperature, sliced and smeared with almond butter. 

Zucchini Carrot Apple Bread (1)

This zucchini carrot apple bread is the perfect recipe. It’s moist and flavorful, with a hint of sweetness from caster sugar. 

Ingredients:

• 265 g (2 cups) self-raising flour
• 1 tsp bi-carb soda
• pinch of salt
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 225 g (1 cup) caster sugar
• 3 eggs, lightly beaten room temperature
• 120 g (½ cup) coconut oil, melted
• 1 cup grated carrot 2 small
• 1 cup grated zucchini, strained 1 large
• 1 cup grated apple 2 small

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 180 C (350 F). Grease and line a 20 x 10 cm (8 x 4 inch) loaf tin with baking paper, making sure you leave enough paper overhanging the sides to easily lift the cake out later.
2. In a large bowl, sift flour, bi-carb soda, salt and cinnamon. Add sugar and stir to combine.
3. In another bowl, whisk together eggs and coconut oil until well combined. 
4. Make a well in the dry ingredients and pour in wet ingredients. Stir until just combined.
5. Fold through carrot, zucchini and apple.
6. Pour mixture into prepared tin and bake for 45-50 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean when inserted into the center of the cake. 
7. Allow to cool in tin for 10 minutes before removing and transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Read More: The Best Low Cholesterol Soups To Make This Winter

What Are The Best Apples For Apple Carrot Bread?

The best apples for apple carrot bread are the ones that are high in natural sugar and have a strong flavor. Granny Smith apples are the perfect type of apple to use for this recipe because they are tart and have a strong flavor. Other good options include Honeycrisp apples, Golden Delicious apples, and Braeburn apples.

What Is The Best Way To Grate Carrots?

You want to make sure the carrots are grated finely so they blend in well with the batter. You don’t want big chunks of carrot in your batter because it will make the bread dense and ruin the soft texture. The best way to grate the carrots is with a food processor or a box grater.

Can I Substitute The All-Purpose Flour For Something Else?

Yes, you can substitute the all-purpose flour for whole wheat flour, almond flour, or coconut flour. Just keep in mind that the texture of the bread will change slightly if you use a different type of flour and you may need to adjust the amount of liquid you add.

Can I Add Yogurt In A Carrot Apple Bread Recipe?

Yes, you can add yogurt to this carrot apple bread recipe. Yogurt will make the bread moist and add a slight tanginess to the flavor. If you don’t have yogurt, you can also use sour cream or buttermilk.

To add yogurt to the bread, simply substitute it for the same amount of milk in the recipe. So, if the recipe calls for 1 cup of milk, use 1 cup of yogurt instead. Or if you prefer, substitute a portion of the milk for the same amount of yogurt.

The Bottom Line

Apple carrot bread is a delicious and easy to make quick bread that’s perfect for breakfast or a snack. The key to making this bread moist and flavorful is to use the right type of apples and to grate the carrots finely. You can also add yogurt to the batter for an extra moist and tangy loaf of bread.