Life

The First Day of Fall

/ Veronica/

Yestderday was cold, gray, and rainy.  Perfect weather for curling up with a cup of hot apple cider and a good book.  It also put me in the mood to bake…something I do not pretend to be an expert at, and really, don’t do too often (except the box-mix brownies for the Guy’s Bible Study).  But, since we were signed-up to bring “snacks” to Sunday School this morning, I had the perfect excuse.  So, I made some Spiced Applesauce Bread. 

It’s a quick bread, easy to make, and uses ingredients that I typically have on-hand!  We think it is pretty good, and more than a few ladies asked for the recipe this morning (that rarely happens to me – I’m usually the one doing the asking!).  So in honor of the first day of Fall, I thought I would share it with you… :)  

Of course, today, the weather is once again warm and sunny, and decidedly un-fall-like…Oh well!  Happy First Day of Fall anyway!

—————-

Spiced Applesauce Bread
(from Southern Living Homestyle Cooking, pg. 124)

INGREDIENTS:

Bread:

  • 1 ¼ cups applesauce
  • 1 cup sugar
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • 3 tablespoons milk
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon ground allspice

Topping:

  • 1 cup chopped pecans, divided
  • ¼ cup firmly packed light brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

DIRECTIONS:

  • Combine first 5 ingredients (applesauce, sugar, oil, eggs, and milk) in a large bowl; mix well.
  • In a separate bowl, combine flour and next 6 ingredients (baking powder, baking soda, salt, ½ tsp. cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice); add to applesauce mixture, stirring well.  Fold in ½ cup pecans.  Pour batter into a greased 9×5-inch loaf pan. 
  • Combine remaining ½ cup pecans, brown sugar, and ½ tsp. cinnamon; sprinkle over batter in pan.
  • Bake at 350° for 1 hour, or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.  Cool in pan on wire rack 10 minutes; remove from pan.  Cool completely on wire rack.

Yeild: 1 standard loaf, or 4 mini-loaves

It is great plain, or try it with:
Butter, Cream Cheese, or Apple Butter Â