Foodie Friday - Applesauce Pecan Bread

Today's Foodie Friday recipe is one of my favorite breads - Applesauce Pecan Bread. This recipe came from my good friend, Linda, and is a moist quick bread with a wonderful pecan/sugar streusel topping. 

Do you ever get in the rut of making the same old things??? I do.  I recently started scouring my cookbooks to find some old favorites I hadn't made for ages.  This bread was tops on the list.  I made a batch and it was a huge hit with Michael, and it  reminded me why I like it so much.

Here's what you'll need:  

Bread:

1 c. sugar

1 c. applesauce (unsweetened)

2 eggs

1/3 c. oil

3 T. milk

2 c. flour

1 tsp. soda

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 t. nutmeg

3/4 c. chopped pecans

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

(see streusel ingredients listed below)

Combine the sugar and the wet ingredients, mix well.  Add the remaining dry ingredients and blend until smooth.

For the streusel combine:

1/4 c. brown sugar

1/2 t. cinnamon

1/4 c. chopped pecans

Stir until blended and broken up.

Pour the batter into 3 greased mini loaf pans.  It will fill them 2/3 full or so.

Sprinkle the streusel topping evenly over the bread batter.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 55 minutes.  Check with a toothpick or knife to make sure they are done.  The recipe calls for baking it 1 hour, capping it loosely with foil for the last 15-20 minutes.  I don't find it necessary to cap it with foil, but depending on your oven you may need to.  As ovens vary, watch for doneness from about 45 minutes on.

When done, remove from oven and let cool briefly. 

They really raise to a nice height. Run a knife around the edges and remove from the pan to finish cooling on a wire rack.

I haven't made this for quite a while and had forgotten how good the streusel topping was and how much it adds to the flavor of the bread.  It is especially awesome when still warm from the oven

...with a little butter  :)

It's the perfect bread to have hot from the oven

with a cup of coffee

and a good friend to share it with :)

Happy Friday!!