Although it still doesn’t feel much like fall here in Houston, the market is full of beautiful apples and it is that time of year where I am craving the flavors of autumn.  This quick bread is easy to make and will fill your kitchen with lovely fall aromas.  The grated apples add flavor and also insure that your bread is not overly dry.  I do not peel the apples, although you certainly could.  I actually like the added texture. I think placing a piece of parchment paper along the bottom of the loaf pan (along with the cooking spray) makes it extra easy to remove the loaf from the pan once it’s cooked.  Serve this bread while its still warm with some honey butter on the side …I found it the to be the perfect complement.

Yield: 1 8x 12 loaf

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups flour (I love Bob’s Red Mill Pastry flour)
  • 3/4 cup golden brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup grated apple
  • 8-10 thinly sliced quartered apples (about 1/8″ thick)
  • 1 stick unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1 egg
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla

for cinnamon sugar:

  • 1/2 cup  granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon

Directions:  Preheat oven to 350.  Line the bottom of your loaf pan with a piece of parchment paper.  Spray the pan with cooking spray.  Combine top 7 ingredients in a large mixing bowl and whisk to combine.  Whisk together butter, buttermilk, egg and vanilla until well blended.  Toss grated apples into flour to incorporate, then add wet ingredients to dry ingredients until just mixed. In a small bowl, make your cinnamon sugar.  Transfer half the batter into prepared loaf pan  and add 1/2 of cinnamon sugar mixture into pan, swirling it gently into batter with a knife.  Add remaining bread batter on top and then sprinkle with all but 2 tablespoons of cinnamon sugar (reserve  the rest for after baking).  Place apple slices on top of loaf.  Place low in oven for about 50 minutes and a toothpick inserted in center of bread comes out clean.  Allow to cool for about 10 minutes before inverting bread on rack to cool completely.  Use remaining cinnamon sugar to sprinkle on top of bread.  Allow to cool completely before slicing.  Enjoy!