Fresh out of the oven...

Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Bread

Nothing says Fall like this bread.  Warm, spicy cinnamon notes combined with the wholesome goodness of oatmeal and applesauce.  I used to make this all the time because it's such an easy recipe.  But we don't always have instant apple cinnamon oatmeal in the house (we try to stick to old fashioned oats for breakfast).  So I was very pleased to find two packets in the pantry this morning.  That's been happening a lot lately.  I just love when you have all the ingredients for a dish and you don't have to run to the food store special for it.  A mother's dream :)  That and a slice (or 2) of this bread with a slather of butter.  It's comfort on a plate.

Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Bread 

¼ C butter, softened

1 C sugar

1 C chunky applesauce

1 ½ t cinnamon

2 packets instant apple cinnamon oatmeal

2 eggs

1 t baking soda

1 ½ C flour

Grease loaf pan and preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Using a mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Mix in applesauce, cinnamon and 1 packet oatmeal.  Stir in eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Mix in baking soda and flour.  Pour into loaf pan and sprinkle 2^nd packet oatmeal over batter.  Bake 43 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.  Cool 5-10 minutes in pan and then invert onto wire rack to cool completely.    

  

     

Sunday Treat

Lower sugar maple and brown sugar muffins

That's a mouthful...

of these muffins that is!  Moist, soft, and slightly sweet, they have the same base as my apple cinnamon oatmeal bread.  The only difference is that I substituted lower sugar maple and brown sugar oatmeal for the 2 packets instant apple cinnamon oatmeal.  One packet is mixed into the batter and one packet is sprinkled on top of the muffins before baking at 350 degrees for 16 minutes. 

Today we enjoyed them hot out of the oven, slathered with butter.  That is what lazy Sundays are all about...pigging out on muffins right after lunch.  Now time for a nap, hopefully.     

Apple Bread

 

This bread reminds me of my apple cinnamon oatmeal bread.  It contains less sugar though and is healthier overall.  I like how this recipe yields 2 loaves because if your family is anything like mine, we devour quick breads in a matter of seconds.      

I made a plain loaf and a topped loaf so we could compare the two.  I simply halved the topping recipe and came up with this:

1 T butter, melted
2 T sugar (I cut back on the sugar)
1/2 t cinnamon
1/8 t nutmeg
2 T quick oats (I did not have toasted oat bran)

 And the winner is...

The oat topped loaf!  The buttery, crunchy crumble really elevated this nutritious bread.  It is a must!  Slather with butter and two slices of this bread will put an instant smile on your face :)

FYI: My loaves baked in 35 minutes, not 50-60 minutes like the blog states.  

Chai-Spiced Apple Oatmeal Bread

My husband bought me whole cardamom pods at a local spice shop so I knew I had to make this bread.  We couldn't wait to shell the pods and grind up the seeds.  Fresh cardamom smells amazing!  It is one of the most fragrant spices I've had the pleasure of putting my nose to :)  That along with cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg really make this bread shine.  My only complaint is the texture.  I think it needs some tweeking since it fell apart out of the loaf pan and had an underdone ribbon running throughout.  The flavor is delicious, but I don't think I'll be serving this bread to company.

View the recipe here.