Caramel Apple Bread

Are you sick of it yet?

The constant nagging on my part?  Where I make you eat apples and pumpkins, like, everday?

No?

Ok, good.

I've got a ton of recipes left with these exquisite fall flavors.  So many, in fact, that I know I'll never get through them all in one fall season.  But, since I've got a crazy obsession with going to the grocery store on the daily for a bag of apples and a can or two of pumpkin puree, you're probably going to have to sit through at least a few more.

I tried apple bread for the first time last year at the Hubba's work party last winter.  Truthfully, I'd never heard of it until then.  But, I'm glad I'm familiar now.  I was waiting for fall to come to try my hand at a loaf or two.

As I do often, I like to start off a round of recipe development by scouring the internet and hardcover cookbooks for inspiration.  I usually try to find a few recipes that seem popular with the general public and compare them.  I also take into consideration the time and difficulty, as well as the price of ingredients.  Mostly, because I know that the chance of me enjoying the experience is dependent on those three factors.  I like quick, easy and affordable, but I don't believe that I should go so extreme as to sacrifice flavor.

After I select a few prototypes, I go to work and experiment with flavors and measurements.  I think I've been able to identify my favorite flavors well enough to estimate the amount of herbs and spices in a recipe to adjust to my tastes.  It may take a few times, but usually I come out with a recipe that suits my palate perfectly.

This apple bread was no different.  I found a recipe I like and tried some variations until I hit the jackpot.  Plus, as a bonus, I found a caramel glaze to take this recipe over the top.

This will be a familiar bread in my home for sure!




Caramel Apple Bread
(adapted from Pass The Sushi)

2 apples
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup milk
4 eggs
3 cups flour
3/4 cup pecans, chopped
1 tbsp ground cinnamon
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt

Caramel Drizzle:
2 tbsp butter
1 tbsp milk
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup powdered sugar



Preheat oven 350F.

In a large bowl, combine all of the ingredients for the bread, starting with wet ingredients and adding the dry in increments.  Pour into 2 greased loaf pans.

Bake 45-50 minutes.

While apple bread bakes, melt butter and brown sugar in a saucepan over medium heat.  Bring to a boil for 1 minute while stirring to prevent burning.  Add milk and bring to a boil again.  Remove from heat.

Add the powdered sugar to the glaze after it has cooled, preferably right before applying it to the bread.  Drizzle glaze slowly over the top of the bread.

Garnish with additional chopped pecans, if desired.





Listening to:   Seven Mary Three - Cumbersome