Apple Cinnamon Bread

Want to jazz up a simple quick bread? Add a few layers of cinnamon and sugar! You can pretty much do this to most quick breads but the ones that come to mind right away are pumpkin, vanilla, banana and applesauce.

All I did was take one of my fave recipes for Applesauce Cinnamon Quick Bread and changed it up a bit so there would be a layer or two of sweet cinnamon hidden within the bread. It adds lovely texture and amazing taste.

In this recipe you can use either chunky or smooth applesauce but whatever you do , please make sure it is sugar free. For the brown sugar/cinnamon layers go with dark brown sugar and stick with golden brown sugar in the batter.

Again, another easy recipe where you don't need to dust off any appliances to whip up a delicious batter; just a few bowls and a wooden spoon is all you need.

This treat is especially lovely served warm on a cold winter day with a cup of tea. For the kids, a slice is a well-received lunch box treat. Granted, it is not gluten-free but for those who have no sensitivities, you will love this bread !


Let's get started

RECIPE:
*adapted source recipe, Cinnamon Applesauce Bread, McCormick

WHAT YOU NEED

Cinnamon Layers
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons cinnamon

Batter
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 cup firmly packed golden brown sugar
2/3 cup milk
2 tablespoons grapeseed oil

MAKE IT

PREHEAT oven to 350F
SPRAY a large loaf pan with baking spray (preferably the kind with added flour)

IN SMALL BOWL combine Cinnamon Layers ingredients and set aside

IN LARGE BOWL, whisk together first 3 Batter ingredients
IN MEDIUM BOWL, whisk together remaining ingredients
FOLD WET INGREDIENTS into dry ingredients blending just until combined
POUR 1/3 of batter into loaf pan and smooth top
SPRINKLE with 1/3 cinnamon layer mix
CONTINUE with 1/3 batter and 1/3 cinnamon layer mix
TOP final 1/3 of batter with remaining cinnamon layer mix
BAKE 50-55 MINUTES or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean

ENJOY !

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Applesauce Cinnamon Quick Bread

Oh, for the love of applesauce and cinnamon. A flavor combo that stands the test of time. Sure, we combine them in pies, cakes, crisps and muffins. But what about quick bread? I had this loaf prepped and in the oven in 10 minutes. Then I sat back, feet up, tea in hand, and let it bake away for 55 minutes on the dot. What emerged from my oven? A glorious moist applesauce loaf that I swear the neighbors could smell from their place - the aromas of sweet cinnamon wafting out the open window !

If you prefer , bake it with chunky applesauce for extra texture. But for us, we prefer the smooth kind and it works so well in this recipe. As far as cinnamon goes, this is where being cheap on adding spices won't cut it. You want to add 2 level tablespoons of cinnamon to get the right flavor in this loaf. Don't be afraid. Just go for it.

You don't need too much oil or more than 1 egg in this recipe. You don't lose the moistness factor as a result either. The applesauce takes care of that nicely.

Eat it plain or topped with butter, cream cheese... even apple butter sounds fantastic. My daughter really likes her toasted. Whichever way you slice it, this bread is a winner!

I didn't frost this loaf as I did with my chocolate loaf but it is safe to say that a caramel frosting would be the cat's meow on this !

Are you ready? Haul out that loaf pan and let's get at it.

RECIPE:
*adapted source recipe, Cinnamon Applesauce Bread, McCormick

WHAT YOU NEED

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1 cup chunky applesauce
1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
2/3 cup milk
2 tablespoons vegetable oil

MAKE IT

PREHEAT oven to 350F
SPRAY a large loaf pan with baking spray (preferably the kind with added flour)
IN LARGE BOWL, whisk together first 4 ingredients
IN MEDIUM BOWL, whisk together remaining ingredients
FOLD WET INGREDIENTS into dry ingredients blending just until combined
POUR into loaf pan and smooth top
FEEL FREE to sprinkle with some turbinado sugar now if you like
BAKE 55-60 MINUTES or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean

ENJOY !



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Applesauce Spice Muffins

The work / school week started off with muffins and ended with muffins. We kicked off Monday with deep, dark and delicious Double Chocolate muffins and welcomed in Friday with the flavors of fall. These glorious little cakes are moist with applesauce and spiced with the flavors of cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg.

A wonderful way to ensure a moist crumb is to use applesauce whenever you can. There isn't a hint of dryness in these little babies! Plus, the apple flavor is truly heightened with the addition of all those "apple pie" spices we have loved since childhood.

I made these at 6 AM today and they were ready in 1/2 hour. So by my math, the prep time took no more than 10 minutes and they were baked to perfection in 20 minutes. To save yourself cleanup time, line your muffin cups with liners. These are parchment fluted liners but any muffin liner will work well. I love the parchment liners because they peel off so easily and are a nice change visually as well.

For this recipe, use unsweetened applesauce only. The sugar adds the required sweetness. I used a finer ground turbinado sugar for the batter and a coarse turbinado sugar for the topping. If you prefer, use a light brown sugar in the batter at a 1:1 ratio. The taste will pretty much be the same. Do not use white sugar. You will lose so much flavor if you go that route.

I like the texture and flavor of this brand
but any sugar free applesauce should do the trick

So are you ready? Let's get baking !

RECIPE:
*altered source recipe: Applesauce Spice Muffins, Epicurious.com

WHAT YOU NEED

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1 cup turbinado sugar (not coarse ground)
1 stick (1/2 cup) plus 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 cup unsweetened applesauce

coarse turbinado sugar and cinnamon for topping

MAKE IT

PREHEAT oven to 400F
LINE 12 muffin cups with paper liners

IN LARGE BOWL, whisk together first 7 ingredients
IN MEDIUM BOWL, whisk together eggs and sugar
ADD butter and applesauce to egg mixture and whisk until thoroughly combined
FOLD wet ingredients into dry ingredients blending just until combined

USING your ice cream scoop, add one scoop of batter to each muffin cup
SPRINKLE tops with turbinado sugar and ground cinnamon
BAKE 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean

REMOVE immediately from muffin tray and place muffins on cooling rack

SUPERB WARM AND FRESH FROM THE OVEN !


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