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Brown Butter Apple Oat Walnut Bread with Whipped Honey Butter

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Brown Butter Apple Oat Walnut Bread with Whipped Honey Butter by Baking The Goods
Brown Butter Apple Oat Walnut Bread with Whipped Honey Butter by Baking The Goods

This Brown Butter Apple Oat Walnut Bread with Whipped Honey Butter is a standout in the quick breads category. Simple, staple quick bread recipes are, in a word, humble. There is nothing fancy or glamorous about them. They're really the unsung hero of the pastry case. I honestly don't feel that quick breads get the attention they deserve.

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Think about it, when you go to a bakery or coffee shop how often do you order a decorative cupcake, those colorful macarons or fancy French pâtisserie? Hardly ever, right? But a slice of Banana Bread or a Blueberry Muffin, 9 times out of 10. Speaking of muffins and apples, my Apple Cider Oat Streusel Muffins are kinda like the muffin cousin to this Apple Oat Walnut Bread. One of the best apple muffin recipes out there, if anyone is asking.

Another advantage to a good quick bread recipe is ease of use. This Brown Butter Apple Oat Walnut Bread with Whipped Honey Butter is incredibly easy to make. With this recipe, you get a lot but you only have to put in a little.

What sets this Brown Butter Apple Oat Walnut Bread apart from other quick bread recipes?

  • Brown Butter - gives the bread depth of flavor and richness. It's a small extra step, with a big payoff.
  • Shredded Apple - shredding the apple ensures maximum moisture levels throughout and adds natural sweetness.
  • Extra Thick Rolled Oats - add texture and chewiness and cozy, homey feel. My favorite baking oats are the Bob’s Red Mill Extra Thick Rolled Oats.
  • Spices - a blend of cinnamon and cardamom spices up the apples and the bread.
  • Buttermilk - adds a slightly tangy richness.
  • Toasted Walnuts - bring cozy nutty flavor and crunch to the loaf and add a textural top crust.
  • Sparkling Sugar - adds pizazz and a sweet crunch to the crust.
  • Whipped Honey Butter - this is what really ties the room together. This Brown Butter Apple Walnut Bread is great by itself but the Whipped Honey Butter gives it that extra special sauce and takes it to a whole other level.
  • Sea Salt Flakes - I'd say they are optional but they really aren't. If the Whipped Honey Butter brings it all together, the sea salt flakes are like the cherry on top. Salt to taste and thank me later.
Browned Butter
Brown Butter gives the Brown Butter Apple Oat Walnut Bread depth in flavor.
Oats and walnuts
Toasty walnuts and extra thick rolled oats add tons of texture to the interior and the top of the Brown Butter Apple Oat Walnut Bread.
Shredded Apple
Shredded apple infuses the entire loaf with moisture and natural sweetness.

That's a lot of goodness going on, right? It might seem overwhelming, but this whole deal comes together quick. You don't need any fancy tools, just some kitchen basics and a loaf pan. This quick recipe is hearty, healthy enough and the loaf should last you through the work from home week. I'm telling you, this Brown Butter Apple Oat Walnut Bread with Whipped Honey Butter will make you swear you bought if from a bakery.

Brown Butter Apple Oat Walnut Bread cooling
So much magical texture happening on the surface and inside of this Brown Butter Apple Oat Walnut Bread.

Texture gives this Brown Butter Apple Oat Walnut Bread with Whipped Honey Butter BIG personality points

From the crunch of the walnuts, the chew of the oats, to the dense moist bite of the apple infused crumb. This loaf is loaded with varying textures that keep it interesting and give it big personality points. Right down to the creamy swirls of Whipped Honey Butter and crunchy sea salt flakes. This baby is loaded. Texture is what makes this Brown Butter Apple Oat Walnut Bread with Whipped Honey Butter such a superstar quick bread.

Dry ingredients for Brown Butter Apple Oat Walnut Bread
A punch of cinnamon and cardamom spice up the all purpose flour and hearty oat base. A blend of baking soda and baking flour give it an extra boost to rise up in the oven.
Wet ingredients for Brown Butter Apple Oat Walnut Bread
Shredded apples, rich brown butter, brown sugar, white sugar and buttermilk give this loaf its signature moisture.
Wet ingredients for Brown Butter Apple Oat Walnut Bread batter
Toasty walnuts also get folded in the mix to add even more texture.

Qualities of the best quick bread recipes

  • Quick! They are quick and easy bake. Since quick breads are chemically leavened with baking soda and/or baking powder, you aren't waiting for yeast to rise.
  • Simplicity. Most quick bread recipes are simple. The ingredients are generally pretty humble or standard. And, they don't require fancy equipment or a high level of baking expertise. The beauty of the best quick bread recipes is simplicity.
  • Versatility. Quick breads are highly adaptable. Add or omit nuts or oats, swap apples for pears, mix up the spices. You get the idea.
  • Comfort food. Quick breads are loaded with homey comforts. These rustic breads are often scented with warming spices, cozy ingredients and snuggly textures that instantly make you feel at home.
  • Just right. Most quick bread recipes aren't overly sweet, so they play at any time of day. They pair perfectly with a morning cup of coffee for breakfast. Serve well as an afternoon pick me up. Quick breads even make great desserts!
Wet ingredients for Brown Butter Apple Oat Walnut Bread pre-bake
Once mixed, the Brown Butter Apple Oat Walnut Bread batter goes right into a buttered and sugared loaf pan, then topped with more textural nuts, oats and sparkling sugar.
Wet ingredients for Brown Butter Apple Oat Walnut Bread ready to bake
Once topped, toss that little loaf in the oven and wait for the magic to happen.

With simple ingredients and clever techniques, this Brown Butter Apple Oat Walnut Bread with Whipped Honey Butter is a must. It satisfies all of those sweet, salty, crunchy, cakey, creamy & comforting cravings. And it's an easy quick bread recipe with big personality!

Brown Butter Apple Oat Walnut Bread cooling
That Brown Butter Apple Oat Walnut Bread comes out looking all kinds of beautiful. But ya gotta let it cool down and finish baking in the loaf pan for a bit.
Slicing Brown Butter Apple Oat Walnut Bread
Slicing into this Brown Butter Apple Oat Walnut Bread and you can see how much character it has, inside and out.
Brown Butter Apple Oat Walnut Bread sliced
Each slice is studded with crunchy walnuts and chewy oats. The shredded apple melts right in, providing sweetness and moisture.

Shall I pencil you in for a home based, virtual coffee date; you, me and a very real slice of Brown Butter Apple Walnut Bread with Whipped Honey Butter next week? *adds to calendar.

Ingredients for Whipped Honey Butter
While the quick bread bakes, whip up the easy as can be Whipped Honey Butter.
Whisking Whipped Honey Butter
I use my whisk attachment on my stand mixer to whip that honey and butter together. But you can use a hand mixer or mix by hand.
Whipped Honey Butter
Just whip that honey and butter good, until it's smooth and creamy like this.
Brown Butter Apple Oat Walnut Bread with Whipped Honey Butter
This hearty and humble Brown Butter Apple Oat Walnut Bread with Whipped Honey Butter makes for a perfect easy breakfast all week long.
Brown Butter Apple Oat Walnut Bread with Whipped Honey Butter and sea salt flakes
A thick slab of Brown Butter Apple Oat Walnut Bread slathered in Whipped Honey Butter with a light sprinkle of sea salt flakes is what fall is all about.
Brown Butter Apple Oat Walnut Bread slathered with Whipped Honey Butter
That Whipped Honey Butter really ties the room together.
Slice of Brown Butter Apple Oat Walnut Bread with Whipped Honey Butter
If you need me, I will be here all of fall admiring this slice of Brown Butter Apple Oat Walnut Bread with Whipped Honey Butter.
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Brown Butter Apple Oat Walnut Bread with Whipped Honey Butter by Baking The Goods

Brown Butter Apple Oat Walnut Bread with Whipped Honey Butter

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Description

This Brown Butter Apple Oat Walnut Bread with Whipped Honey Butter is loaded with rich and spicy flavors and studded with hearty texture. Then it's slathered with a creamy swirl of honey kissed butter and crunchy sea salt flakes for the ultimate finish.

Ingredients

Units

BROWN BUTTER OAT APPLE WALNUT BREAD

  • ½ cup unsalted butter
  • 1 ½ cups whole walnuts (- divided)
  • ¾ cup extra thick rolled oats (- divided)
  • 1 ¾ cups all purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon cardamom
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1 ½ cups grated apple (- about 2-3 medium sized apples)
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ½ cup buttermilk (- at room temperature)
  • 2 large eggs (- at room temperature)
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1-2 tablespoons sparkling or raw sugar (- optional)

WHIPPED HONEY BUTTER

  • ½ cup butter at room temp (- salted or unsalted, whatever you've got)
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • sea salt flakes- salt to taste (- optional, but not really)

Instructions

BROWN BUTTER OAT APPLE WALNUT BREAD

  1. Begin by browning the butter. Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Swirl the pan occasionally to be sure the butter is cooking evenly. As soon as the butter melts, remove about 1 tablespoon and set aside to grease the loaf pan.
    As the butter melts, it will start to turn from yellow to a deeper golden color and toasty bits will start forming around the edges. When the butter starts to foam up and give off a nutty aroma, the brown bits will start to really show up. Take it off the heat immediately to avoid burning. Pour the butter and scrape the browned bits into a heatproof bowl or liquid measuring cup to cool down while you prepare the other ingredients.
  2. Preheat oven to 350° F. Then use the reserved melted butter to grease and flour, or sugar, a 9"x5" loaf pan. I like to use sugar instead of flour because it adds a nice subtle crunch and sweetness to the exterior of the bread loaf.
  3. Give the walnuts a rough chop, then spread 1 cup walnuts and ½ cup oats evenly on baking sheet, reserve the remaining walnuts and oats for topping. Transfer the baking sheet to the oven and toast the walnuts and oats for 8-10 minutes, until they begin to smell toasty and nutty. Set aside to cool.
  4. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the toasted oats, flour, cinnamon, cardamom, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
  5. In another bowl whisk together the granulated sugar, brown sugar, cooled browned butter, grated apples and buttermilk until well mixed.
  6. Whisk in the eggs, one at a time. Followed by the vanilla.
  7. In 3 additions, mix the wet ingredients in with the dry. Stirring to combine between additions. Only stir until just combined, then stir in the toasted walnuts.
    Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Top with remaining walnuts and oats, then sprinkle with sparkling or raw sugar.
  8. Bake at 350°F for 60-70 minutes. The loaf should turn a deep golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean when ready.
    Allow to cool in the pan for at least 15-20 minutes, then carefully invert the loaf and remove it from the pan. Transfer it to a cooling rack to finish cooling.

WHIPPED HONEY BUTTER

  1. While the bread cools, whip up that easy Whipped Honey Butter. I like using my stand mixer with the whisk attachment but you can use a hand mixer or even mix it by hand. Just whip that butter and honey together until it's light and fluffy and undeniably creamy.
  2. Slice and serve the Apple Oat Walnut Bread with the Whipped Honey Butter and sprinkle with sea salt flakes to taste.

Notes

For maximum shelf life and freshness, store in the refrigerator, tightly wrapped for up to 5 days. 

  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

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