It is that time of year to bake treats. This will be a lovely addition to a breakfast spread or just as a sweet treat.
Ingredients
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 3/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup milk
2 cups peeled and chopped apples (choose your favorite variety)
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2-3 teaspoons milk or cream
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan.
- In a small bowl, mix together the light brown sugar and cinnamon. Set aside.
- In a larger mixing bowl, cream together the granulated sugar and butter until light and fluffy.
- Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, then stir in the vanilla extract.
- In another bowl, whisk together the flour and baking powder. Gradually add this to the wet mixture, alternating with the 1/2 cup of milk, starting and ending with the flour mixture. Mix just until combined.
- Pour half of the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Add half of the chopped apples on top, followed by half of the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
- Pour the remaining batter over the apple layer, then top with the remaining apples and cinnamon-sugar mixture. Lightly press the apples into the batter.
- Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. If the top is browning too quickly, you can cover it loosely with aluminum foil for the last 15 minutes of baking.
- Let the bread cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.
- For the glaze, mix together the powdered sugar with 2-3 teaspoons of milk or cream until you reach a drizzle-friendly consistency. Once the bread is cool, drizzle the glaze over the top.
Variations & Tips
If you have picky eaters at home, feel free to finely dice the apples so they blend more seamlessly into the bread. For a nutty addition, consider folding in 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts or pecans into the batter. You can also switch up the fruit; pears or peaches would make delightful substitutions. For a healthier twist, try using whole wheat flour or reducing the sugar by a third—trust me, it will still be plenty sweet and delicious!