With Labor Day upon us, that means September, and all the “Ber” months are here! And with this change of season, comes all the apple recipes! I personally love apple baking, and all the warm fall recipes! This healthy and easy oatmeal apple bread recipe is always a favorite as the weather shifts. It is sweetened with maple syrup, gluten-free and made with old-fashioned rolled oats making it a great way to enjoy all the fresh apples in season!

This apple oatmeal bread is similar to baked oats and has texture that is different from my apple bread recipe that is made with all-purpose flour in it. It is still soft and delicious, but it feels more like a breakfast recipe compared to a quick bread, although it has plenty of sweetness to it!

What to love about this healthy and easy oatmeal apple bread recipe.

Easy to make: With just one bowl, a handful of uncomplicated ingredients, and a loaf pan, you can make this oatmeal bread. No special kitchen gadgets or ingredients! You probably already have a majority of the ingredients already in your pantry!

Healthy: This recipe is fairly healthy! No gluten or refined sugar is used to make this oatmeal apple bread. In fact, using the old-fashioned rolled oats in this recipe boost the fiber! And rolled oats have heart healthy benefits, such as helping to lower cholesterol. You can even make this recipe dairy free by replacing the greek yogurt with a dairy-free yogurt.

Flavorful: The oatmeal apple bread has all those warm and delicious flavors you want from a fall-forward recipe. Thanks to the added cinnamon and allspice that complement the apple flavor perfectly.

Versatile: You can enjoy this healthy and easy oatmeal apple bread recipe for breakfast, snack or dessert!

Grated Apples: I love the grated apple in this oatmeal recipe. They add that apple flavor but also blend into the batter. There are no large chunks of apple, so it is all the same consistency. And huge added bonus, it is so easy to use a cheese grater to get the apples shredded. No need to peel or core the apples!

Types of apples to use in this recipe

There are so many types of apples to choose from! So what ones work in this recipe? While the majority of apples will be a good fit in the healthy and easy oatmeal apple bread recipe, here are some of my favorites.

Honeycrisp: I love the honeycrisp apple because it works well in this recipe, but also is delicious on its own, so you can buy a larger quantity if you want. They are sweet and juicy!

Fuji: These crisp and juicy apples are on the sweeter side. They are great in this recipe, but also work for cooking and just eating on their own!

Pink Lady: This apple is tart yet still a little sweet. They are great for cooking and baking and enjoying on their own.

Gala: This is another great apple that works well for both baking/cooking and snacking on. They fall on sweeter side of the apples.

These are just some of the options you can use for the apple type. But feel free to use whatever kind of apple you love in this recipe!

Tips and tricks for making this oatmeal apple bread

Before you grate those apples, here are some tips and tricks for success.

No need to peel the apple before you start grating! The peel blends right into the bread, so save yourself time and skip the peeling process.
Unlike a lot of zucchini bread recipes, you do not need to squeeze out the extra moisture from the apples before adding it to the batter. Just grate and fold in!
I like to use old fashioned rolled oats and toss them into the food processor the break them down into a flour texture. This saves me from buying oat flour, and actually saves money if it is not a product you use often. However, if you wish to use oat flour instead of making your own, it will be about 1 3/4 cups of oat flour compared to 2 cups of rolled oats.
Try to remember to let the batter rest for about 5 minutes before baking. The oats will absorb some of the liquid and the batter will thicken a little bit.
As always, watch your bake time. There are external factors can affect how long it will take for this oatmeal apple bread to bake. When it is done, the batter will be set, and a toothpick will come out clean.
You can store this fall oatmeal apple bread in an airtight container on the counter for about 2 days. Or in the fridge for up to four days. Just place a slice the microwave for a few seconds to warm up before enjoying!

Ingredient substitutions and variations

Maple Syrup: Honey works as a good swap for the maple syrup as the sweetener in this apple recipe.

Allspice: If you do not have allspice, you can either leave it out or replace it with ground nutmeg.

Coconut oil: A good replacement for the coconut oil is another cooking oil. I find that avocado oil makes for a great ingredient swap.

Applesauce: If you need a substitution for the applesauce, you replace it with more greek yogurt. Just add an additional 1/4 cup of the greek yogurt.

Greek Yogurt: To make this oatmeal apple bread dairy-free, just replace the greek yogurt with a dairy-free yogurt of your choice.

If you give this healthy and easy oatmeal apple bread recipe a try, let me know your thoughts in the comments below! And be sure to tag me on Instagram so I can see your creations.

From my kitchen to yours, happy baking! I hope you love this recipe as much as I do.