Apple Bread

Here's another great quick bread - I will never tire of making these - that is easy to whip up and doesn't even require a mixer! The most time consuming part is peeling and chopping the apples. After that, it's a breeze! It has a nice streusel topping and not much fat but plenty of moistness from applesauce and juice.

Start by combining the flour, sugar, baking powder, soda, salt and cinnamon in a large mixing bowl.



In a smaller bowl, combine the eggs, oil



applesauce, vanilla and apple juice and whisk well. Add the wet ingredients to the dry,



and stir just until the dry ingredients are completely moistened. Fold in the apples.



Pour the batter into two greased loaf pans.

For the streusel, combine the flour, sugar and nuts in a small bowl and add the butter.



Cut in the butter til crumbly with your fingers or a pastry blender



and then sprinkle the streusel over the batter in the pans.



Bake for 40-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. (The time will vary depending on if you use a 9" loaf pan - less time - or a 8" loaf pan - more time.)

Cool the bread in the pans on wire racks for 10 minutes.



Then remove carefully from the pans - this will be a bit tricky as some of the streusel may fall off. But that's ok, just place it back on the bread.



This makes two loaves, so you can freeze one or give one to a friend!

Apple Bread

3 cups flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
2 eggs
1/2 cup applesauce
3 Tbsp. apple juice
1/3 cup canola oil
1 tsp. vanilla
3 cups chopped, peeled tart apples

Streusel:
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 Tbsp. chopped nuts
1/3 cup cold butter, chopped

In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, baking soda and cinnamon. In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs, applesauce, juice, oil and vanilla.

Stir the applesauce mixture into the flour mixture just until all dry ingredients are moistened. Fold in the apples. Pour into two loaf pans coated with nonstick cooking spray.

For the streusel, combine the flour, sugar and nuts in a small bowl. Cut in the butter with a pastry blender or your fingers until crumbly. Sprinkle over batter.

Bake at 350 for 40-55 minutes (40 for 9" pans, longer for 8" pans) or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes in pans before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Makes 2 loaves; 12 slices each.