This delicious apricot bread is the easiest quick bread recipe ever! It’s loaded with dried apricots, oats, and nuts and baked until perfectly golden brown. You’ll love the heartiness of this bread that makes it perfect for breakfast or an afternoon snack.
This apricot quick bread is packed with flavor, as most vintage recipes are. My husband loves the heartiness of this bread with oats, nuts, and apricots in each bite. What I loved most about this recipe is that it comes together really quickly as there is no yeast, which means no rise time. You simply make the batter and bake.
If you haven’t tried quick bread recipes, then this is the perfect one to start with. It’ll help you get into baking bread more since you don’t need to wait for it to rise. Another great one is my nut bread recipe or the hearty cranberry bread recipe you’ll love as much as this one.
This recipe was found in my recipe box from my grandma. She glued it to an index card to make it easy to find leading me to begin she enjoyed this recipe as much as I did. She had lots of quick bread recipes, and this one was just as delicious as the others.
Table of Contents
Why I Love This Recipe
- Quick and Easy: This apricot bread recipe is a no-fuss quick bread recipe that doesn’t require yeast or rising time. You simply combine the ingredients, make the batter, and bake. You will have delicious bread ready to enjoy in no time!
- Family Favorite: The heartiness of this bread, loaded with oats, nuts, and dried apricots, is something my husband particularly loves. The use of honey instead of sugar gives it a unique flavor that’s a hit with kids too!
- Versatile: This bread is perfect for any time of the day. Enjoy it for breakfast, serve it as an afternoon snack, or even use it as a base for a delicious bread pudding. The possibilities are endless!
- Delicious: With its golden brown crust, moist interior, and the delightful crunch of nuts, this apricot bread never fails to impress. Whether you’re hosting a brunch or looking for a treat to share at a gathering, this bread is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
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Key Ingredients
- All-purpose flour: The base of this quick bread recipe, all-purpose flour provides structure and helps create a tender crumb in the finished product.
- Baking powder and baking soda: These are the leavening agents that help the bread rise during baking.
- Salt: A little bit of salt enhances the flavors of the other ingredients and balances the sweetness.
- Old-fashioned oats: These add a delightful texture to the bread and enhance its heartiness.
- Chopped nuts: Nuts add a pleasant crunch and additional flavor to the bread. You can use your favorite variety.
- Milk: This helps to moisten the ingredients and blend the flavors together.
- Dried apricots: These are the star of the show, providing a sweet-tart flavor that pairs wonderfully with the oats and nuts.
- Eggs: These bind the ingredients together and contribute to the bread’s rich texture.
- Vegetable oil: This adds moisture to the bread, guaranteeing that it doesn’t dry out during baking.
- Honey: Used as a natural sweetener in this recipe, honey also gives the bread a beautiful golden color. However, keep an eye on the bread while it’s in the oven, as honey can cause it to brown more quickly.
Equipment
- Large Mixing Bowl – You’ll need this to combine the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, oats, and nuts. It is also where you’ll add the wet ingredients to form your batter.
- Blender – This is where you’ll mix the milk, dried apricots, and eggs. The blender helps chop the apricots finely and helps guarantee that they’re evenly distributed through the bread.
- Loaf Pan – This is where you’ll pour your batter before baking. Make sure that it is well-greased to prevent the bread from sticking.
How to Make
Preparations
Start by preheating your oven to 350˚F to make sure that it is at the right temperature when you’re ready to bake your apricot bread.
Step 1 – Combine Dry Ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir these ingredients together until they’re well mixed. Then, add the oats and nuts into the mixture, stirring until they’re evenly distributed throughout.
Step 2 – Blend Wet Ingredients
Place milk, apricots, and eggs into a blender. Pulse the blender until the apricots are finely chopped. This will make sure that the apricots are evenly distributed throughout the bread, giving each bite a burst of apricot flavor.
Step 3 – Mix Wet and Dry Ingredients
Pour your wet ingredients over the dry ingredients in your mixing bowl. Add in the oil and honey, and then stir everything together until the batter is moist. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to tougher bread.
Step 4 – Bake the Bread
Pour the batter into a well-greased loaf pan, making sure to spread it evenly. Place the loaf pan in your preheated oven and bake for one hour. After about 35 minutes, check the bread and add foil to the top to prevent over-browning.
Step 5 – Cool and Serve
Once the bread is finished baking, let it cool in the loaf pan for about 10 minutes. Then, remove it from the pan and let it finish cooling on a wire rack. Once it has cooled, slice your apricot bread and enjoy!
Expert Tip
- Monitor the Browning: Since honey is used in this recipe, the bread tends to brown easily before the bread is fully baked. Keep an eye on your loaf and add foil after about 35 minutes to avoid over-browning.
Recipe Variations
- Other Dried Fruit: To switch up the flavor, you can also add other dried fruit such as cherries, nectarines, or dried peaches. It’ll enhance the flavor even more and it’s a great way to customize the flavors.
- Nuts: Feel free to add whichever nuts you love most such as walnuts, pecans, or almonds. You can even add some nut extract like almond extract to make your bread have a more pronounced nut flavor.
- Warm Spices: You can also add some warm spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, or ground ginger to enhance the flavor of your apricot nut bread even more.
What to Serve With
- Start your day on a sweet note! Enjoy a slice of apricot bread for breakfast, lightly toasted with cream cheese. The cheese compliments the hearty and fruity bread beautifully.
- How about a dessert option? Serve a slice of apricot bread with a dollop of vanilla ice cream and a sprinkle of chopped almonds. The ice cream adds a creamy contrast to the hearty bread and the almonds give a delightful crunch.
- Hosting a tea party? The apricot bread goes great with a cup of hot tea. Try it with a robust Darjeeling or chamomile tea.
- Apricot bread can also be a convenient on-the-go snack. Just wrap a slice in a napkin and take it with you for a quick bite during your busy day.
- You can also make your apricot bread into a delicious French toast for a weekend brunch. Just dip slices in a mixture of beaten egg, milk, and a dash of cinnamon, then cook until golden brown. Serve with a drizzle of maple syrup and a sprinkle of powdered sugar.
Recipe FAQs
Absolutely! You can replace the dried apricots with other dried fruits like cherries or peaches. Just make sure that you chop them finely to blend well with the batter.
Since this recipe uses honey, it tends to brown faster. To prevent over-browning, you can cover the loaf pan with foil after about 35 minutes of baking.
Definitely! This quick bread recipe can easily be adapted to make muffins. Simply pour the batter into muffin pans and reduce the bake time accordingly.
Yes, a simple cream cheese glaze or a sprinkle of powdered sugar on top could add an extra touch of sweetness to this hearty apricot bread. Just make sure the bread has cooled completely before adding any glaze or frosting.
Storing and Reheating
- Refrigerate: Once your apricot bread has completely cooled on a wire rack, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or place it in an airtight container. It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- Freeze: For longer storage, you can freeze the apricot bread. After it cools, slice the bread and individually bag each piece. Store these in the freezer and they’re ready to grab and go for breakfast or a snack. This bread can be frozen for up to 3 months.
- Thawing Instructions: When you’re ready to enjoy your frozen apricot bread, let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
- Reheating Instructions: To reheat the bread, you can use a preheated oven or a microwave. If using the oven, wrap the bread in foil and heat at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes. If using the microwave, heat the bread on a microwave-safe plate for about 20-30 seconds. Always remember to check the bread’s temperature before eating.
More Quick Breads You’ll Enjoy
Serving Size
- What to Expect: This quick bread recipe makes one hearty loaf of apricot nut bread, enough for about 12 servings.
- How to Scale: If you want to make more than one loaf, you can easily double the recipe. Just make sure your mixing bowl is large enough to combine all the ingredients properly. For baking, use two loaf pans instead of one. Follow the rest of the instructions as directed.
Apricot Bread
Equipment
- bread pan
- blender
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 Cup all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 Cup old fashioned oats
- 1/2 Cup chopped nuts
- 1 1/4 Cup milk
- 1 Cup dried apricots
- 2 eggs
- 1/3 Cup vegetable oil
- 3/4 Cup honey
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350˚ F. Grease a bread pan.
- In a large bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir in the oats and nuts.
- Place milk, apricots and eggs in a blender. Pulse until apricots are chopped finely. Pour over dry ingredients.
- Add the the oil and honey. Mix until the batter is moist.
- Place batter into a well-greased loaf pan and bake for one hour at 350˚F. Check after 35 minutes to add foil to avoid over browning the top.
- Let bread cool for 10 minutes and then remove from bread pan to cool. Slice and enjoy.
Comments & Reviews
Cynthia Jones says
Can you refer me a fresh picked APRICOT bread recipe,not dried apricots.