Spiced Apple Loaf Food

SPICED APPLE-PECAN LOAF WITH PECAN PRALINE TOPPING

Steps:

• Position the rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350°F. Generously butter a 9x5-inch loaf pan. Whisk the flour and the next 4 ingredients to blend in a medium bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat the butter, sugar and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Mix in the flour mixture. Add the apples, 2/3 cup pecans and raisins and stir until just combined. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan, smooth the top. Bake until the top of the loaf is set, about 25 minutes. Meanwhile: stir the pecans, brown sugar and melted butter to blend for topping. Remove the pan from the oven and spoon the topping carefully over the top of the loaf. Return the pan to the oven and continue baking until a tester inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean, about 25 minutes, longer. Cool the loaf in the pan on a rack about 10 minutes. Carefully turn the loaf out and cool completely. (Bread can be baked 3 days ahead. Cover tightly with plastic wrap.) For Mini Loaves: Brush 3 (5.72 x 3.94 x 1.88) inch aluminum loaf pans generously with butter. Divide batter among pan; smooth top. Bake until the top of the loaves are set, about 25 minutes. Carefully top the loaves with the pecan mixture, dividing evenly. Continue baking until a tester inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean, about 20 minutes longer.

SPICED APPLESAUCE BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan.
• In a large bowl, combine the applesauce, sugar, oil, eggs and milk; beat well. Sift in the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and salt; stir until smooth. Fold in the pecans. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.
• Bake in preheated oven for 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean.

FRESH APPLE SPICE BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350. Generously grease bottom of 9x5 loaf pan.
• Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, and spices. Cream the butter and gradually add the sugar, beating until light and fluffy.
• Beat in eggs one at a time. Slowly mix in flour mixture. Stir in apples and nuts (or raisins).
• Pour into prepared pan and bake at 350 for 50-60 minutes or until bread is nicely browned and springs back when lightly touched in the center.
• Cool 10-15 minutes in the pan before removing. Cool completely on a rack before slicing.

SPICED APPLE LOAF

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to gas 4 or 180.
• Line a 2lb loaf tin with greasproof paper.
• Peel and core the apples, cut into chunks, place in a pan and cover with water, bring to the boil and simmer until the apples are just starting to soften. Drain and add a little sugar to taste (I prefer the apples to be quite tart). Leave to one side to cool.
• Put all dry ingredients into a large bowl together and mix roughly.
• Next add all wet ingredients at same time, mix until all of the flour mixture is taken up.
• Pour into the loaf tin and cook for 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 hours until browned.
• When the cake is cooked, LEAVE IT IN THE TIN until cool, then wrap in foil.
• This cake is best left until the next day to eat (if you can wait that long!).

SPICED APPLE BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan. Set pan aside.
• In a large mixing bowl, add butter, sugar, eggs and oil and beat, using a hand mixer, until smooth. Lightly beat in diced apples.
• In a separate mixing bowl, combine dry ingredients (flour, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, baking soda, baking powder and salt) and stir.
• Add the flour mixture to the bowl with the "wet" ingredients and use a rubber spatula to stir together. Stir until just combined and no flour streaks remain.
• Transfer batter to prepared loaf pan and bake for 45-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
• Let bread cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then turn bread out onto a wire cooling rack to finish cooling.
• Slice once cool, and serve.

APPLE & SPICE TEALOAF

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Butter a 900g/2lb loaf tin and line with a strip of baking paper, or use a loaf tin liner (see tip, below). Beat together the butter and sugar until pale and creamy, then beat in the eggs one by one. Grate half the apple and mix it into the batter with the vanilla, dried fruit and ground almonds. Mix the baking powder, flour and spices together with a pinch of salt, then fold into the mix until even. Spoon into the tin and level the top.
• Thinly slice the remaining apple half, toss with the lemon or orange juice, poke the slices a little way into the batter, then sprinkle with 1 tsp more sugar. Bake for 45 mins, then turn the oven down to 140C/fan 120C/gas 1. Cover the cake with foil, then bake for another 45 mins until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Cool in the tin.
• To finish the cake, melt the marmalade or jam in a small pan, sieve to remove any lumps, then brush it over the cake to glaze the top. Serve cut into thick slices, and spread with a little butter, if you like. Will freeze for up to 1 month.