Applesauce bread-cake (VG/V/DF), 9p
Applesauce breadcake, Jack Monroe
This applesauce bread-that’s-a-bit-cakey is based on my original vegan banana bread recipe from my first cookbook, A Girl Called Jack. Photographs of that banana bread are sent to me on a near-daily basis, with an especial flurry at weekends, and I am delighted to receive them. It remains one of my favourite recipes, but every now and again a reader gets in touch to say that they just really don’t like bananas. At all. It seemed a shame not to share the simplicity and deliciousness of one of my favourite recipes with bananaphobes, so, I set about creating one just as simple, with Something Else.
The Something Else turned out to be applesauce, made from stewing apples – this can be cheated in the microwave for an even simpler version, or use a jar of shop-bought apple sauce.
As this is a yeast-free and quite dense bread, it will work well with gluten free flour, simply add a splash of water, and then another, towards the end, and mix in well to form the dough. Gluten free flour tends to need more liquid than its regular counterparts.
As ever, my ingredients are costed at Sainsburys because that is the closest supermarket to where I live, but others have similar ingredients at similar prices. If you find an amazing bargain ingredient, please comment and let us all know!
Serves 8 in chunky squares or slices, 9p each.
2 small apples, any kind will do, 40p (80p/4, Basics)
1 tbsp bottled lemon juice, 3p (50p/250ml)
100ml vegetable or sunflower oil, 10p (£3/3l)
225g plain flour, 8p (Basics, 55p/1.5kg)
1 1/2 level tsp bicarb, 3p (85p/180g)
1 tsp ground cinnamon, depending on taste, 7p (Fairtrade, £1/38g)
optional: a generous handful of sultanas or mixed dried peel
First dice your apples, I leave the skin on mine with a quick wash under the tap, as there is fibre in the skin and a lot of the vitamins reportedly sit just beneath. You won’t notice it anyway, as it will be mushed down and baked into a loaf! Toss them into a pan with 1 tbsp lemon juice to stop them from browning. Cover with water, bring to a boil, and reduce to a simmer for around 20 minutes or until softened.
Preheat your oven to 180C and lightly grease a loaf tin. (If you don’t have a loaf tin, a cake tin will do, or even a baking tray).
Take a large mixing bowl and add the flour, baking powder and cinnamon. I have deliberately not put sugar in this recipe as I find the small cheap apples sweet enough, but if you have a cooking apple or a more tart variety, you might want to add 2 tbsp sugar to the mix. Stir it all together to evenly distribute.
Remove the apples from the heat and drain any excess water. Leave it to one side in case you need it later – not all dough is created equal and this water will be apple-flavoured! Mash the apples with a fork, adding the oil to create a loose applesauce mixture.
Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients, and pour in the applesauce. Mix well to form a thick batter, adding a splash of the reserved apple-water if necessary. It should be reasonably stiff to stir but not dry and cracking.
Dollop the dough into your vessel of choice – loaf tin, cake tin or on a baking tray. If using a baking tray, flour your hands well and roughly shape your batter to hold it together somewhat. Err on the side of tall and round as it may spread as well as rise.
Pop it into the oven for 40 minutes, until a sharp knife inserted into the centre comes out clean.
And enjoy!
Jack Monroe. I am on Instagram and Twitter at @MxJackMonroe and my recipe books are available to buy here.
My new book, Cooking on a Bootstrap, is now available to order HERE.
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Categories: 10p RECIPES, 20p RECIPES, Blog, BREADS, DAIRY FREE, Recipes & Food, RECIPES UNDER 30P, RECIPES UNDER 50P, RECIPES UNDER £1, VEGAN, Vegan Recipes, VEGETARIAN
COOKING ON A BOOTSTRAP 
About how much applesauce? I have some in the fridge…
3-4 heaped tablespoons!
Hi Jack! Great article 🙂 Just a thought….we (our Eating You Alive film crew) embarked on a whole food vegan journey 2 years ago February and experienced some amazing results. We were hungry for information (pardon the pun) and as we learned more, we discovered so many myths that we had believed as truth. Was wondering if you would consider exploring some of these things in your blog? Our mission is to help people regain their health and prevent the onset of chronic disease- and who knew that the answer to that is also a solution to many of our environmental problems, and leads to a kinder more compassionate world- for all creatures! I’d like to hear your thoughts!
Sounds like a great way to use leftover apples from the fruit basket! Will give it a go 🙂
I find that if I put a tight-fitting lid on and put them on a gentle heat, apples only need a splash of water to cook and start breaking down. Might be cheaper on fuel, too, since you’re not heating up the extra water?
agreed,only need a few minutes then!x
Another winner from the amazing Jack!
Definitely another winner, and Vegan too, yay!!!
I always cook my apple in a microwave, they don’t need water either and just 5 mins. max. on full power. (Use a pyrex dish for mine).
Glad you posted the recipe for this. Liked the sound of it. Next week’s after school snack methinks ☺
Ooh that looks yummy! I have a daughter who can’t stand bananas and who loves baking so maybe she’ll help make it 🙂
This sounds great my son has a dairy intolerance will definitely try this, thanks.
I wonder whether you could use a soft set jam instead of apple/applesauce? I have somewhat of a jam build up from not being able to pass wild fruit without picking some.
Jack, in the list of ingredients it says bicarb, in the method it says baking powder, can I use either?! Looking forward to giving this a go, thanks 🙂
I went back to the Banana loaf recipe mentioned and it is bicarbonate of soda in that recipe and so that is what I have gone for
Thanks Kerry 🙂
Mmmm another yummy recipe will be making it to take to work for elevenses next Friday. I’m not good with bananas so this is perfect. Love all of your recipes I have cooked. I have both of your books xx
Saw you this evening Jack on London tonight, brilliant interview, well done xx
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.
One for me to make for my brother, he’s had to go gluten and lactose free this would be great for his work lunch box, Cheers Jack
trying to reduce my sugar intake. This looks like a great treat!
i made this ysterday for a vegan friend, he really liked it (me too, with a little jam on top!) Thanks Jack!
although I have to admit my baking habits are very non-vegan (“Grease a loaf tin” – I was about to grab the foil in which butter comes which I keep for greasing pans.. ooops!)
This was very popular and has been breakfast and snacks all week. The interior of the loaf was tinged with pink, which was a bit mysterious!
Great recipe – thank you! Also just made it with some squishy left-over pears (didn’t need to cook them to make into puree) and ginger and almonds instead of cinnamon and raisins – delish
I’m going to use this and the banana bread recipe to make my own hot cross buns – peel for the crosses with apple, maybe sliced banana for the banana bread. Or maybe use up the tin of pumpkin puree I’ve had lurking in the cupboard since last Halloween. Bet it’ll be better than anything in the shops!
Just baking this, though have made 8 individual muffin type thingys. Great recipe and they smell heavenly.
This went down really well with Mac n cheese for mains