Applesauce Nut Bread

By Texaschef11

Ingredients

• 6 tbsp butter, room temperature
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups unsweetened applesauce
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp freshly ground nutmeg
• 1/2 cup chopped, toasted pecans or walnuts
• coarse sugar, for topping

Preparation

Step 1

No need to preheat the oven, just lightly grease an 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 inch baking pan (not a 9×5).
In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Beat in eggs one at a time, followed by the applesauce.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt and spices. By hand, or with a mixer on low speed, beat flour mixture into applesauce mixture. Stir in toasted nuts and pour into prepared pan. Top with coarse sugar, if desired.
Place pan in a cold oven and turn oven on to 350F.
Bake for 80-90 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the top of the loaf is browned.
Cool for 5 minutes in the pan, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Makes 1 loaf.