Apple Bread

Apple Bread

3 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
2 eggs
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/3 cup canola oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 cups chopped peeled tart apples

TOPPING:
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 tbsp chopped walnuts
1/3 cup cold butter

1.  In a large bowl, combine the first six ingredients.  In another bowl, whisk the eggs, applesauce, oil and vanilla.  Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened.  Fold in apples.  Transfer to two 8x4 inch loaf pans coated with cooking spray.

2.  For topping, combine the flour, sugar, and walnuts; cut in butter until crumbly.  Sprinkle over batter.

3.  Bake at 350* for 45-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.  Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks. 
Yield 2 loaves (12 slices each)
1 slice equals cal 200, fat 7, fiber 1

This bread is amazing.  I was really surprised by how little you can actually taste the apples.  I ended up reducing the amount of apples to around 2 cups.  It just seemed like 3 cups was so much.  Perhaps if I had added it, you would get more of the apple flavor.  As it stands it has a great cinnamon flavor.  It reminds me of the cinnamon swirl bread that you can buy at most grocery stores.  I am a little disappointed in how quickly the bread began to dry out.  We have been microwaving a slice for a few seconds, and adding a little bit of butter to help bring the moisture back. 

The dough was very sticky, I was worried that perhaps the ingredient amounts were incorrect.  You definitely can't pour it into your loaf pans.  I ended up only using 1 loaf pan, and 3 mini loaf pans.  Realistically, I could have fit it all the larger loaf pan and been fine.  Just watch how much filling you are putting into the pan, because this stuff does rise quite a bit while baking.  You will want to make sure that you leave plenty of room for the topping as well as the rising while the bread bakes.  It makes quite a bit of topping, it appeared to be too much, but flavor wise, it is pretty perfect.