There is something so nostalgic about the start of strawberry season. For me, it means one thing: my mom’s delicious easy strawberry bread recipe. When I was young we’d drive to a local farm and pick the strawberries ourselves (great activity for kids!).
What I love most about this recipe is how it respects your time and your kitchen. Whether you’re looking for a treat or a healthy strawberry bread with applesauce for your morning coffee, this batter delivers every single time. Plus, it’s a “one-bowl wonder”, aside from the fresh strawberries, you likely have every single ingredient sitting in your pantry right now! You can also use the batter to make strawberry muffins if you prefer.
Why You’ll Love This One-Bowl Strawberry Bread
Ingredients You Already Have in Your Pantry
I’m a firm believer that the best recipes don’t require a special trip to the grocery store. Aside from your fresh strawberries (and a bag of pecans if you want that extra crunch), this recipe relies on simple staples: flour, sugar, eggs, oil, and cinnamon. It’s the ultimate way to use up those strawberries that are just about to get too soft.
One Batter, Three Ways: Loaves, Muffins, or Both
One of the great things about this recipe is its versatility. Since it yields a generous amount of batter, you don’t have to choose! Depending on your needs, you can make:
- 2 Full Loaves: Perfect for gifting.
- 24 Strawberry Muffins
- 1 Loaf + 12 Muffins: My personal favorite, one for the counter, and a dozen for the freezer
Healthy Swaps for a Guilt-Free Treat
Using Stevia for Sugar-Free Strawberry Bread
If you are watching your sugar intake, you can easily turn this into a sugar-free strawberry bread. I have tested this using Baking Stevia (the kind designed for a 1:1 swap). You can replace the two cups of sugar with two cups of a granulated Stevia blend without having to redo any measurements. Note: Always check your specific Stevia brand to ensure it is a “cup-for-cup” replacement!
The Magic of Applesauce vs. Oil
You’ll notice this recipe uses a combination of oil and applesauce. This was a trick my mom used to keep the bread incredibly moist while cutting down on the overall fat content. The applesauce acts as a natural sweetener and tenderizer, ensuring your moist strawberry bread stays soft for days.
Pro Tips for the Perfect Strawberry Quick Bread
- Prevent Sinking Berries: To keep your strawberries from sinking to the bottom, toss your chopped berries in a tablespoon of flour before folding them into the batter.
- Flour Quality: For the best crumb, I recommend using a high-quality unbleached all-purpose flour.
- The “Well” Method: When mixing, always make a well in the center of your dry ingredients before adding the wet. This ensures everything incorporates evenly without over-mixing!
How to Store and Freeze Your Strawberry Bread
To keep your bread tasting fresh, store it in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Can you freeze strawberry bread?
Absolutely! This bread freezes beautifully. Wrap individual slices or muffins in plastic wrap and place them in a heavy-duty freezer bag. They will stay delicious for up to 3 months. Just thaw at room temperature or give them a quick 20-second zap in the microwave for that “just out of the oven” feel!
The Best Easy Strawberry Bread Recipe (One-Bowl!)
Ingredients
- 3 cups Flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 2 cups sugar or 1:1 Baking Stevia,
- 3 eggs beaten
- 1/2 cup cooking oil
- 1/2 cup applesauce
- 1 1/4 cups chopped pecans
- 1 pint fresh strawberries. chopped
Instructions
- Preheat to 350°F.
- Combine dry ingredients.
- Make a well, add eggs, oil, and applesauce. Stir.
- Fold in berries and pecans.
- Bake loaves for 60 mins or muffins for 20-30 mins.
Notes
Join the Conversation!
I would love to hear how this recipe turned out for you! Do you have a different family secret for quick bread? Drop a comment below and let’s talk shop! If you have any questions about substitutions (like using frozen berries or different nuts), ask away.
