Preheat your oven to 350°. Grease and flour an 8×4-inch loaf pan.
Quarter and core the apple and grate them on the large holes of a box grater. You should have about 2 cups of grated apple.
In a large bowl, mix the shredded apples with sugar, oil, egg, and vanilla extract.
In a medium bowl mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
If you are using nuts and/or raisins add them to the dry ingredients.
Stir dry ingredients into wet ingredients, just until everything is mixed.
Pour mixture into loaf pan. Bake for 45 – 55 minutes. To test insert a toothpick into the center of the load, it should come out without any wet batter.