Apple Walnut Bread (with brown butter glaze)

It's fall and that means cozy sweaters, colorful leaves, pumpkin spice lattes and best of all... APPLE SEASON! If you love apples like I do, you're going to love this Apple Walnut Bread with Brown Butter Glaze.

This Apple Nut bread celebrates fall flavors in a healthy, moist, and delicious bread that's quick and easy to make. And there is NOTHING like the aroma of apple baking. And although it's healthy, this delicious apple bread is soo good it tastes more like an apple loaf cake. It makes a great quick breakfast, dessert, or snack! And it's great for bringing along to a breakfast potluck. Be sure to check out my other breakfast potluck ideas! 

Jump to:

• 🥘 Ingredients
• 🎥 Video
• 📖Variations & Substitutions
• 🍽Equipment
• 🌡️Storage
• Top tip
• 👪 Serving Size
• 📋 Apple Walnut Bread (with Brown Butter Glaze) Recipe
• 🍞More Quick Breads

🥘 Ingredients

I came up with this Healthy Apple walnut bread recipe years ago. I use prunes in my Healthy Carrot Cake and it gives it a great taste and moist texture. And I don't think prunes get used enough in baking. So I added them to this recipe and WOW!

This apple bread also has a delicious brown butter glaze, which is truly the crowning glory. The photos do not do justice to the deliciousness of this bread - it's that good! My son begged me to make it again and again, but with more brown butter glaze, of course!

I'll admit I'm a little brown butter crazy. I especially love it as a glaze, like on my Saskatoon Berry Loaf with Brown Butter Glaze (shown) and my Butter Tart Bundt Cake with Brown Butter Glaze  but I also love plain brown butter in my  Award-winning Pecan Brown Butter Granola! My glaze is similar to a brown butter frosting, just a little less thick. Brown butter is a little old-timey but it's a delicious timeless flavor!

🎥 Video

If you've never made brown butter, here is a video showing How to make brown butter

Although this apple nut bread recipe is healthy, it's still indulgent and as I said, it's more like an apple loaf cake recipe. It's not low-fat, nor is it meant to be WW friendly. However, you can reduce the fat and calories a little by using lighter versions of some of the ingredients, as I do.

For this apple walnut loaf recipe you'll need:

• oats *quick rolled oats
• all-purpose flour
• baking soda
• baking powder
• brown sugar
• fresh apple * Gala or Ambrosia
• Vanilla Greek yogurt * I use low-fat
• prunes
• water
• vegetable oil
• vanilla
• ground cinnamon
• coconut milk * I use light
• shredded coconut (unsweetened)
• walnuts
• whipping cream
• cream cheese (I use light)
• powdered sugar/icing sugar

*see recipe card for quantities

📖Variations & Substitutions

• Nuts- you can use pecans instead of walnuts
• Prunes -you can use dried apricots, if you don't have prunes, but prunes are ideal
• Apples-You can use any type of apple for this recipe, but I find that Ambrosia or Gala work best. I've also made it with apples given to me by my neighbor (from her daughter's tree)! Honeycrisp apple are also great for baking*I don't recommend Granny Smith, as they hold their shape well and you don't want the apples holding their shape in this recipe; you want them to bake into the essence of the bread. Granny Smiths are better for baked goods like pies and such, where you want them to hold their shape.
• Sugar - you could substitute white sugar for brown sugar
• Vegetable oil - you can substitute canola oil

• Fridge: This apple nut bread can be stored in a sealed container or freezer Ziplock bag for up to 3 days in the fridge. 
• Freezer: This recipe freezes well for up to 3 months. You can leave it in the loaf pan to freeze, if you prefer (I do this sometimes). Simply cover the loaf with Glad Press n' Seal (affiliate link) and slide the entire loaf into an extra large Ziplock freezer bag. Or you can use a loaf pan that comes with a lid (see equipment above). I would still put that into a Ziplock bag, just to ensure it stays as fresh as possible.

👪 Serving Size

This apple bread recipe serves 8 and they are thick slices. You could get 10 pieces out of the recipe, by cutting the slices thinner. You can also double or triple this recipe by adjusting the serving size on the recipe card. Just click on the serving size (it's highlighted in blue) and select the number of servings you’d like. You'll need extra loaf pans. *You can freeze the extra loaves (see storage, above). 

If you are looking for a moist and delicious sweet quick bread recipe, you'll love this Apple Walnut Bread with Brown Butter Glaze. It's the perfect fall treat!

And if you're looking for additional apple recipes, try my Apple Cinnamon Scones, my Healthy Apple Crisp in a Mug (shown), Apple Sage Pork Chops, and Caramel Apple Betty Dessert Shooters!