Description
A moist and flavorful Apple Banana Bread combining the natural sweetness of ripe bananas with tender cooked apples spiced with cinnamon and cloves. This comforting loaf is perfect for breakfast, snack, or dessert.
Ingredients
Apple Mixture
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 2 Tbsp light brown sugar (packed)
- 2 large apples (Granny Smith or another firm, tart variety – cored, peeled, and cut into 1/2-inch chunks)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
Bread Batter
- ½ cup butter (softened, at room temperature)
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 large eggs (at room temperature)
- 2 medium bananas (browned, mashed)
- ¼ cup applesauce
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
- 1 pinch nutmeg
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
Instructions
- Prepare Apple Mixture: Heat a skillet over medium heat and melt 2 Tbsp butter with 2 Tbsp light brown sugar, stirring occasionally. Once melted, add the 1/2-inch apple chunks and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in 1 tsp vanilla extract and ½ tsp ground cinnamon to infuse flavor.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Butter and flour a 9×5-inch loaf pan to prevent sticking and ensure an even bake.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened ½ cup butter and 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition to incorporate air.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Stir in the mashed bananas and applesauce until fully combined, which adds moisture and natural sweetness to the batter.
- Mix Dry Ingredients and Combine: Add 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1 tsp baking soda, ½ tsp salt, ¼ tsp ground cloves, and a pinch of nutmeg to the mixture. Then fold in the 2 cups all-purpose flour just until combined to keep the bread tender. Finally, gently fold in the spiced cooked apple mixture to distribute evenly without losing texture.
- Bake the Bread: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 1 hour 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, indicating the bread is cooked through.
- Cool the Loaf: Remove from the oven and allow the loaf to cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing to maintain its shape and texture.
Notes
- Use ripe bananas with plenty of brown spots for maximum sweetness and flavor.
- Cooking the apples before adding them to the batter keeps them tender and moist inside the bread.
- Do not overmix the batter once flour is added to avoid a dense, tough loaf.
- Ensure eggs and butter are at room temperature for better creaming and batter texture.
- Check doneness with a toothpick toward the end of baking time to prevent overbaking.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Category: Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
