It's fall now (Hi, my name is Captain Obvious).
That means it's time for my cinnamon intake to increase exponentially.
And I'm starting with this streusel-covered snickerdoodle bread.
Sure, I could've made snickerdoodle cookies, but I was in the mood for something banana bread-ish but I had no bananas. What I did have was a big ol' jar of applesauce. Now even though applesauce takes the place of eggs in this recipe and also helps cut back on the amount of oil needed, the bread surprisingly doesn't have an apple flavor. It's all sweet cinnamony goodness.
How does this bread pack in the cinnamon, you ask? Well, in addition to there being some in the batter itself, there's 2 layers of a cinnamon/coconut sugar mixture. Then, as if that wasn't enough, there's a thick layer of cinnamon streusel piled on top of both loaves. Yes, you read that right: this recipe makes two loaves. You might be wondering what you're going to do with two loaves but trust me- it will go fast! Or, you can give the second loaf to your neighbor or friend or some random person. Whatever floats your boat.
This snickerdoodle bread went over pretty well in our house. And by "well," I mean "oh my god!" Both loaves were gone in under 4 days. In other news, I just awoke from a blissful cinnamon coma in time to share this recipe with you. Go now, stock your pantry with tons of cinnamon because I have a feeling this snickerdoodle bread is going to be on regular rotation in your house too.
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 2 cups applesauce
- 10 medjool dates, pitted
- 1/2 cup sunflower or canola oil
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 cup coconut sugar
- 2 1/2 tablespoons cinnamon
- 1/2 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
- 5 tablespoons coconut sugar
- 2 1/2 tablespoons cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons cold vegan butter
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F. Lightly spray two 9x5-inch loaf pans with cooking spray and line them with parchment paper.
- In a sifter, situated over a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, baking powder, cloves, and nutmeg. Stir the ingredients with a spoon, pushing the ingredients through the sifter. Once all of the ingredients have sifted into the bowl, use a whisk to gently stir the mixture until fully combined. Set aside.
- In a food processor, combine the applesauce, dates, oil, water, and maple syrup. Process until fully combined and smooth. Add the mixture the dry ingredients and stir until fully combined.
- In a small bowl, combine the cinnamon and sugar for the cinnamon-sugar layer and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, combine the flour, sugar, and cinnamon for the streusel. Add the cold butter and use a butter knife or a pastry cutter to cut the butter into the dry ingredients until it has broken up and the mixture has the texture of wet sand. Set aside.
- Scoop a 1/2 cup of batter into each loaf pan and use a rubber spatula to spread it out. Evenly sprinkle a heaping tablespoon of the cinnamon-sugar mixture over the batter. Spread a heaping 1/4 cup over each cinnamon-sugar layer. Sprinkle the remaining cinnamon-sugar mixture over each loaf. Divide the remaining batter between the two pans and spread out evenly. Spread the streusel mixture out over each loaf. Place the pans in the oven and bake for about 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Remove the pans from the oven and let the loaves cool for about 5 minutes in the pan before using the parchment paper to lift the loaves out and placing them on cooling racks to cool for another 5 to 10 minutes. Slice and serve. Enjoy!
What are some of your favorite uses for cinnamon?
Photography by Chris Miller
Jess
Wow! Snickerdoodles and quick breads are my weaknesses...definitely trying this recipe out! Looks to die for!!
keepinitkind
Thanks, Jess! I hope you like it! 🙂
Ceara @ Ceara's Kitchen
This is my kind of bread - it sounds absolutely wonderful! And it looks absolutely gorgeous in the photos - perfect for this time of year! Pinned!
keepinitkind
Thank you, Ceara!
Caitlin
oh hello fall!
keepinitkind
I'm welcoming it with open arms. 🙂
Abby @ The Frosted Vegan
I LOVE this because the streusel is always the best part on the bread, so I'll eat all of this...by myself. No judging!
keepinitkind
Streusel IS always the best part! Thank you, Abby!
The Vegan Cookie Fairy
This looks like heaven to me! Anything cinnamon and I'm in. I nearly always make my oatmeal with a hefty pinch of cinnamon and a sliced banana; it turns out creamy, sweet and softly spiced. It's like eating autumn in a bowl. Proper comfort food <3
marquis @realrawkitchen
This looks absolutely delicious. I've never made a bread like this but I cannot wait to try it!!
marquis @realrawkitchen
This looks absolutely delicious. I’ve never made a bread like this but I cannot wait to try it!!
Summer
Just put this oven;) I used coconut oil instead of vegan butter and grapeseed oil instead of sunflower.
Amanda
Let cinnamon season begin! I'm prepared this year with one of those economy size jars (why I hadn't been buying them all along, I don't know). The texture of this bread looks phenomenal, Kristy! I love that you used applesauce to replace eggs and oil.
Robyn B | Modern Day Missus
Yummmmm - this looks delicious. I love cinnamon!
vegeTARAian
Oh wow, that sounds amazing! I'm such a sucker for cinnamony things - can't wait to try this tasty treat.
Jenn
Oh, this looks and sounds amazing! I love anything with cinnamon...and streusel!
Liz @ Floating Kitchen
This looks delicious. I'm trying to say "streusely snickerdoodle" 5 times fast and it's really hard! Ha ha!
Sarojini
Yum! What a delicious Autumn cake 🙂
Meredith @ Unexpectedly Magnificent
Sweet baby Jesus. This looks ah-maaaazing! I'm all about streusel, snickerdoodles, and bread. Together?! Heaven!
Mercedes
Wow, this looks amazing but so naughty I think it will need to stay as a special occasion bread. I will just need to celebrate all special occasions around the world!
dixya@food, pleasure, and health
i want some right now...
Cyndy
What would be a good substitute for applesauce. The only fruit I can have is avocados and lemons. Plus no root vegetables. !?
keepinitkind
Cyndy, I have been thinking on this and the only thing I can think of is pumpkin puree, if you're able to eat pumpkin. If you do try it, let me know- I would love to hear how it turns out. 🙂
SJ
This looks lovely, but I have everything except the baking Soda and vegan butter. I have Dove's Farm Gluten Free self-raising flour and coconut oil though... Could I leave out the baking soda as the self raising has some added already? Should I also then leave out the baking powder? Should I also add more water to the recipe to compensate for the gluten free'ness' of the flour? And could the coconut oil substitute the vegan butter?
Sorry for the million and one questions!
Thanks!
keepinitkind
Thank you, SJ. I am not that familiar with self-rising GF flour so I don't know how much raising it does. You could try increasing the baking powder by 1 teaspoon. If you chill the coconut oil, it should work for the streusel. It just needs to be in its solid state. As for adding more water, I'm not sure. I would feel that part out as you go. Good luck!
Kathleen
How crucial is the coconut sugar? Will brown sugar work all right or will it lack something?
keepinitkind
Brown sugar would be a fine replacement. 🙂
Julia
Is there some way to reduce/ substitute the oil in the bread?
keepinitkind
I've not experimented so I don't have any suggestions. Sorry.