There is no more comforting flavor combination than apples and cinnamon. I love baking with both, allowing the enticing aroma to weave its way throughout my house with its delicious scent. The aroma of apples and cinnamon baking is a childhood memory I always cherish as it reminds me of the times I baked as a little girl with both my Mother and my Grandmother in their kitchens. I recently posted that we returned to Umbria this year to find very cool, wet weather and one way I know I can warm up is to head into my kitchen to bake.

I bought a huge bag of Pink Lady and Fuji apples at the market in Perugia on Saturday and used half to make my delicious Roasted Applesauce. I baked the apples brushed with cinnamon, and the aroma in my kitchen was truly intoxicating.

It is somewhat odd, but applesauce is almost impossible to find here in Italy, and I like to have it on hand for my morning oatmeal, or for baking so I often make a big batch at home to enjoy. I used some of the rest of my apples to bake a couple of sugary, cinnamon apple loaves.

I made two, one to freeze for later and one to enjoy this week. I added a layer of the cinnamon and sugar mixture inside the loaves, and then topped the loaves with some as well which really gave these loaves a delicious cinnamon flavor.

I used a mixture of Fuji and Pink Lady apples, but any good baking apple will work well. This recipe makes two (9 x 5) inch loaves, so you can freeze one for later if you desire. I used half all-purpose flour, and half whole wheat pastry flour to make the recipe a little healthier, but feel free to use 3 cups of all-purpose flour if you prefer.

Buon Appetito!
Deborah Mele 

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Sugar, Spice and Everything Nice Loaf

Yield: Makes 2 Loaves

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

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Ingredients

• 1 Cup Light Flavored Oil (Canola, or Light Olive)
• 1 1/2 Cups Sugar
• 4 Large Eggs At Room Temperature
• 2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract
• 2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
• 1 Teaspoon Salt
• 2 Teaspoons Ground Cinnamon
• 1 1/2 Cups All-purpose Flour
• 1 1/2 Cups Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
• 4 Cups, Peeled & Diced Apples

Topping:

• 3/4 Cup Sugar
• 2 Teaspoons Ground Cinnamon
• 1/2 Cup Finely Chopped Walnuts

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. and lightly grease two 9 x 5 inch loaf pans.
2. In a large bowl, beat together the oil and sugar until blended with an electric mixer, then add the eggs, one at a tine, beating well between each.
3. Add the vanilla and beat until mixed.
4. In a separate bowl, stir together the baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and two flours.
5. Slowly add the flour mixture into the wet ingredients on low just to mix.
6. Stir in the chopped apples.
7. In a small bowl, stir together the sugar, cinnamon, and walnuts.
8. Spread half the batter between the two pans spreading it evenly.
9. Sprinkle half the sugar and cinnamon mixture, divided evenly on top of the batter.
10. Spread the rest of the batter on top of each pan, then use the remaining sugar mixture to sprinkle it over the top.
11. Bake the loaves for about an hour or until a cake tester comes out clean.
12. Cool for 10 minutes, then run a knife around the edges and turn the loaf out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
13. Slice & enjoy!

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