Applesauce Bread

## Book Reference

Double Fudge Brownie Murder

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F., rack in the middle position.
(This recipe can be used for Muffins (see **Hannah's 4th Note below**.)

## Ingredients

* 3/4 cups salted butter (1 and 1/2 sticks, 6 ounces) softened to room temperature
* 1 package (8 ounces) softened cream cheese (the brick kind, not the whipped kind)
* 2 cups white (granulated) sugar
* 2 large eggs, beaten (just whip them up in a glass with a fork)
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg (freshly grated is best)
* 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom (optional)
* 1 and 1/2 cups applesauce (I used Mott)
* 3 cups all-purpose flour (don't sift--pack it down in the cup when you measure it)
* 1 cup chopped nuts (I use pecans or walnuts)

**Hannah's 1st Note:** *You can mix this up by hand, but it's a lot easier with an electric mixer.*

## Directions

* Beat the softened butter, softened cream cheese, and sugar together until they're light and fluffy.
* Add the beaten eggs and the vanilla extract. Mix them in thoroughly.
* Sprinkle in the baking powder, baking soda, salt, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and ground cardamom (if you decided to use it). Mix until they are well combined.
* Measure out the applesauce and add it to your mixing bowl. Beat until it is well combined.
* Add the flour in one cup increments, mixing after each addition.
* Shut off the mixer and remove the bowl. Scrape down the sides with a rubber spatula and give it a final stir.
* Use the rubber spatula to mix in the chopped nuts by hand.
* Spray the inside of a loaf pan with Pam or another nonstick cooking spray. (My pan was 8 inches long, 4 inches wide, and 3 inches tall.) Alternatively, you can spray 3 small loaf pans with nonstick cooking spray and use those. (My small loaf pans are 5 inches long, 3-1/4 inches wide, and 2 inches tall.)
* Give your dough a final stir by hand, and use a large spoon to fill your prepared loaf pan(s). Smooth the top with a rubber spatula.
* Bake your bread at 350 degrees F., for 60 to 70 minutes, or until a cake tester, a long toothpick, or a thin wooden skewer inserted into the middle of the bread comes out clean. (My bread took the full 70 minutes.)
* If you used the 3 small loaf pans, bake them at 350 degrees F. for 25 to 35 minutes or until a long toothpick, or a thin wooden skewer inserted into the middle of the bread comes out clean.

**Hannah's 2nd Note:** *If the top of your loaf is browning too fast, tent a piece of foil over the top of the pan and finish baking with the foil in place.*

* Cool your Applesauce Bread in the pan on a wire rack until the bottom of the pan is warm but not hot to the touch. Then loosen the bread by running a knife around the inside of the pan.
* Tip the bread out of the pan and place it right side up on the wire rack.

**Hannah's 3rd Note:** *This bread is yummy if you toast and butter it. It's also wonderful to use for pork or ham sandwiches.*

**Yield:**  1 large loaf or 3 small loaves of incredibly tasty bread.

**Hannah's 4th Note:** *If you want to make these as muffins, preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. with the rack in the center position. Spoon the batter into greased muffin tins. Alternatively, you can spray the inside of the muffin cups with Pam or another nonstick cooking spray, or line them with cupcake papers. Bake the muffins at 375 degrees F. for 25 minutes or until the muffins are golden on the top. (Mini muffins should bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until slightly golden on top.)*

## Conversion Charts

See Baking Conversion Chart for non-USA baking conversions.