Apple Crumble Loaf

Now that autumn is here, apples are on sale all the time and you know what that means - it's time to bake some apple-y goodies. I've had this Apple Crumble Loaf from Sweet Twist of Blogging bookmarked for practically forever and now was definitely the time to make it.

This bread was different from other apple ones I've made before because it not only has streusel on top, but it also has a layer of it running through the middle. Plus, it also has the apples in layers rather than mixed throughout the loaf itself.

I did run into one problem while making these. The recipe says to use melted butter when making the streusel. Against my better judgment, I did so and ended up with streusel goop, not at all the "crumbly" texture I was going for. Now is it just me or does this happen to you too?


I didn't want to waste it after I'd made it, but I also still really wanted that crumbly look, at least on the top of my loaves. So, I made another half batch of the streusel using chilled butter, and voila! I think this is more what it was supposed to be like.


Now you put it all together - batter, apples, streusel, more batter, more apples, and more streusel. We're talking six layers of goodness here.


Into the oven they went and baked up beautifully.


Well, okay, there was one casualty. I may have put a little too much batter into one of the pans and it overflowed. No worries though, since I had put all the pans onto a cookie sheet. This just meant that I got to eat the scraps which is always a good thing.


Now, slice these up and look how pretty it is.


And it tastes as good as it looks too.


Apple Crumble Loaf (Sweet Twist of Blogging)

Streusel:
1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. rolled oats
1/2 c. packed light brown sugar
1/2 c. butter (softened, not melted)
2 tsp. cinnamon

Apples:
2 medium apples, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/2" pieces (I used Fuji apples)
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
2 Tbsp. sugar

Cake:
2 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 c. sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. cinnamon (I'd double this next time)
1/2 tsp. salt
2 large eggs
1/2 c. butter, melted and cooled
1/2 c. skim milk

Heat oven to 350F. Grease a 9x5x3" loaf pan or three mini loaf pans.

For the streusel: Put all dry ingredients into a medium bowl. Cut in the butter until the mixture is crumbly.

Toss the apples with the cinnamon and sugar.

For the cake: Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl and stir together. Beat the eggs and whisk in the butter and milk. Add to the flour mixture and fold just till ingredients are moistened. Spoon half into prepared pan; spread to cover bottom. Sprinkle with half the apples, then top with half the streusel. Add remaining batter on top of the streusel and spread to cover. Sprinkle with the remaining apples, then the rest of the streusel. (Note: If you're doing this in mini loaf pans, use about 6 Tbsp. of batter + 1/3 c. apples + 1/4 c. streusel for each layer.)

Bake for 1 hour, or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack for 10 min. Run a knife around the sides; invert the loaf onto a rack and then revert side up. Let cool completely.

12 Weeks of Christmas Cookies #6 - Apple Brownies

These past few weeks, I've been baking up a lot of things with pumpkin - cornbread, blondies, and even brownies. After all, 'tis the season. But, then I thought, why should pumpkin get all the credit? It's time to put apples back in the spotlight. So, I decided to make Apple Brownies.


I found the recipe on the site, Gourmet Mom-on-the-Go. However, I did modify the recipe slightly to add even more flavor. Instead of using only cinnamon in the batter, I also added some cardamom. I don't know if that makes a big difference, but the bars certainly taste delicious so it doesn't hurt. If you don't have any on hand, don't worry about it. Cinnamon alone would still make great bars or you could swap in a little nutmeg or your own favorite spice instead of the cardamom.

In addition, I added some cinnamon sugar to the top of the brownies. This, to me, is a definite must and I highly recommend it because, as I've said before, cinnamon-sugar makes everything better. Although, I'm kind of thinking that I might like these with a powdered sugar glaze too. Or, heh heh, a cinnamon powdered sugar glaze. Now we're talking.

But, whether you sprinkle them, glaze them, or frost them, these bars will be absolutely amazing. They're cakey and extremely moist due to all the apples in the mix. They literally will melt in your mouth, I'm not kidding. Now you know this little secret - brownies do not have to be chocolate. Nope, apples can make some really good brownies too.

By the way, don't forget to enter my giveaway for a $45 CSN gift certificate HERE. The giveaway will end on 11/14 so you still have a week to get your entries in.



Apple Brownies (adapted from Gourmet Mom-on-the-Go)

1 c. butter
2 c. sugar
2 eggs
2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. cardamom
3 large or 4 small apples, peeled and diced
cinnamon-sugar (for sprinkling)

Preheat oven to 350F. Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, flour, baking powder, cinnamon, cardamom, and apples. Mix well. Pour into a greased 9x13 pan. Sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar. Bake for 45 min. or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

This recipe is linked to:
A Prairie Story's Recipe Swap Thursday
Friday Favorites
Family Friendly Fridays
Friday Potluck
Foodie Fridays
Vegetarian Foodie Fridays
What's Cookin' in the Kitchen Fridays
Moms Crazy Cooking "This Week's Cravings - Thanksgiving Cookies and Desserts"
Delicious Dishes
Tailgating Time

Week 6 Twelve Weeks of Christmas:

Homemade Applesauce

I love apples, all kinds of apples, and I love them in every way, shape, and form - pie, cake, brownies, breads, out of hand, you get the point. But, I confess that sometimes I buy more apples than I can eat. Which was the predicament I found myself in today. Since I don't have anyone else to cook for and no immediate person to give goodies to, I decided against using them in baked goods. Plus, I was craving something healthy. So I decided to make . . . .

APPLESAUCE!!!

This has truly been a year of firsts for me - baking my own bread, making my own jam, and now cooking up a pot of applesauce. It's been a wonderful and fun learning experience. Not to mention, it'll do wonders for my food storage someday.

I used gala and fuji apples, since that's what I had in my fridge. But, I would imagine that any type of cooking apple would work in this recipe. I also omitted the sugar since I prefer my applesauce as natural as possible. Trust me, you really don't need it. Spices, on the other hand, are a must for me. I added in some cinnamon, a dash of ginger, and a little cardamom.

I was amazed by how quickly the applesauce came together. In less than half an hour, I had this beautiful bowlful of applesauce all ready for snacking.


Oh yum. Goodbye store-bought applesauce.


Sarah's Applesauce (adapted from Allrecipes)

4 apples - peeled, cored and chopped
3/4 c. water
1/4 c. sugar (I omitted this)
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
dash of ginger and cardamom (optional)

In a saucepan, combine apples, water, sugar, and cinnamon. Cover and cook over medium heat for 15-20 min., or until apples are soft. Allow to cool, then mash with a fork or potato masher.



This recipe is linked to:

A Moderate Life's "Hearth 'n Soul Hop"
My Sweet and Savory's "My Meatless Mondays"
All the Small Stuff's "Tuesdays at the Table"
Dr. Laura's Tasty Tuesday