What do you bake when it's not quite the fruity season, but you are craving something fruity??? When you are wanting something almost cake-like . . . but are feeling too lazy to go through all of the faff that is involved in baking a decent cake???
You bake an Apple and Carrot Loaf, that's what!!! All spicy and moist and filled with lovely tart apples and sweet carrots . . .
Hmmm . . . And what could be better than an Apple and Carrot Loaf???
Why an Apple, Carrot and Walnut Loaf . . . all spicy and moist and filled with the tart flavours of apple, sweet carrots and the crunch of toasted walnuts!
But hey . . . you can go one step further you know . . . and make it even more scrummy!
How about glazing it with a sweet/tart apple glaze while it is still warm from the oven !!!
Oh my . . . this smells heavenly when it is baking. You almost can't wait for it to come out of the oven . . . it smells so good! And then once you get it out of the oven, you almost can't wait for it to cool down enough so that you can slice it . . . and then . . .
You want to sit down with a cup of your favorite brew and cut the loaf into thick slices . . . and then slather lovely softened sweet butter alllllll over them . . . mmmmm . . .
Every mouthful brings joy . . . sweet . . . moist . . . crunchy and nutty . . . pure bliss.
The loaf is so spicy and moist and nutty . . . the butter so sweet and rich . . . every mouthful is oh so very scrummy yummy nummy!
Mmmmm . . . this is something to enjoy on a quiet afternoon, with your feet kicked up and a nice hot cuppa sitting next to you.
* Glazed Apple, Carrot and Walnut Bread*
Makes one 8 by 4 inch loaf
Printable Recipe
Moist, simple and delicious! Very nice plain, or spread with softened butter or cream cheese.
250g plain flour (2 cups)
150g light muscovado sugar (1 cup packed)
1 TBS baking powder
a pinch of salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
(about 1/3 of a nutmeg)
healthy pinch each ground ginger and allspice
100ml cloudy apple juice (1/3 cup)
75g of butter, melted (1/3 cup)
2 larger free range eggs, beaten
1 large tart cooking apple, peeled and grated
1 large carrot, peeled and grated
a handful of toasted walnuts chopped
For the glaze:
4 TBS cloudy apple juice
2 TBS caster sugar
Preheat the oven to 180*C/350*F/ gas mark 4. Butter an 8 by 4 inch loaf pan and line with baking paper. Set aside.
Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and allspice in a large bowl. Set aside.
Whisk together the apple juice, melted butter and eggs. Set aside.
Squeeze as much liquid out of the apple and carrot as you can with your hands. set aside.
Add the liquid ingrediets to the dry ingredients, and fold together just to combine and evenly moisten the dry ingredients. Fold in the apple, carrot and nuts. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan. Level the top and then bake in the heated oven for 1 to 1 1/4 hours. It should be well risen, nicely browned and a toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean.
Leave to cool in the tin while you make the glaze. Stir together the juice and sugar until the sugar dissolves. Spoon evenly over the hot loaf. Let sit a few more minutes to absorb, then turn out onto a wire rack, rightside up, to finish cooling. Serve cut into slices, and or not spread with butter. Store in a tightly covered container.
Note: I am having a few camera issues at the moment and so until I get them sorted I thought I would share a few of my older posts that my newer readers might not be familiar with. Hoping to get the camera sorted soonest!
