Chocolate-Applesauce Bread

Applesauce adds moisture to this chocolate quick bread studded with peanuts. The batter comes together quickly and the bread bakes for about an hour -- while everyone sits around the tree. Round out breakfast with mugs of coffee and cocoa.

Makes: 16 servings

Prep: 15 minutesBake: 1 hour to 1 hour 5 minutes

 

Ingredients

• 1/2  cup  (1 stick) butter, at room temperature
• 1-1/3  cups  granulated sugar
• 2    eggs
• 1-1/2  cups  unsweetened applesauce
• 3  cups  all-purpose flour
• 1/4  cup  unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1-3/4  teaspoons  baking soda
• 1/2  teaspoon  salt
• 1/2  teaspoon  ground cinnamon
• 1/8  teaspoon  ground nutmeg
• 2/3  cup  milk chocolate chips
• 1/2  cup  dry-roasted unsalted peanuts, chopped
•   Garnish:
• 1  teaspoon  confectioners' sugar
• 1  teaspoon  unsweetened cocoa powder

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Coat nonstick loaf pan (11-1/2 x 5-1/2 x 3 inches) or 2 loaf pans (8-1/2 x 4-1/2 x 2-3/8 inches) with nonstick vegetable cooking spray.
2. Beat butter and sugar on medium speed in large bowl until smooth and fluffy, 2 minutes. Add eggs; beat 1 minute. Beat in applesauce (mixture will look curdled).
3. Mix flour, cocoa, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg in large bowl. Make well in center. Add applesauce mixture, chocolate chips and peanuts to well; stir into flour mixture until just combined and flour mixture is evenly moistened. Spoon mixture into prepared pan(s).
4. Bake in 350°F oven 60 to 65 minutes, until toothpick tests clean. Let cool in pan(s) 15 minutes. Turn out onto rack; let cool completely.
5. Garnish: Dust with sugar, cocoa.

Nutrition Facts

• Servings Per Recipe 16 servings
• Calories287,
• Total Fat (g)11,
• Saturated Fat (g)6,
• Cholesterol (mg)44,
• Sodium (mg)226,
• Carbohydrate (g)43,
• Fiber (g)2,
• Protein (g)5,
• Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

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From  Magazine