Apple Crumble Loaf

Enter : Apples.   Have I mentioned I love fall.  I love fall!   Here is one of the reasons, my co-worker Jeff's fiance's (Kate) family owns an Apple Farm (http://www.willisfarm.com/main.cfm).  Jeff and Kate work there every weekend, helping her Dad sell apples to the hundreds of people that make their way through this farm.   The great thing about this,  is every Monday morning Jeff comes into work with a bag of apples for me.   The even greater part is that every week there are new varieties of apples to try and experiment with.  So in return for all these apples I am expected to bake anything I can figure out with apples.   My first attempt at something this year was apple muffins, these were a disappointment, very bland and not worth blogging about. I will search out a better recipe.   My second attempt was this loaf and I actually made two.  One to share and One for Jeff and Kate.   The first series of apples he gave me was Macintosh, Gingergolds and Wealthies.   I used a combination of these in both loafs.

(Recipe is for 1 loaf - Adapted from Woman's Day)

INGREDIENTS:

Streusel 

• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup rolled oats
• 1⁄2 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 1⁄2 cup butter, melted
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon

Apples

• 2 medium apples, peeled, cored and cut into 1/2 inch peices
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 2 tbsp granulated sugar. 

Cake

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1⁄2 tsp salt
• 2 large eggs
• 1 stick (1⁄2 cup) butter, melted and cooled
• 1⁄2 cup skim milk

INSTRUCTIONS:

1) Heat oven to 350°F. Coat a 9 x 5 x 3-in. loaf pan with non stick spray.
2) Make the Streusel: Put all ingredients in a medium bowl and stir with a fork until crumbly.

3) Toss the apples with 1/2 tsp cinnamon and 2 tbsp granulated sugar

3) Make the cake: Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl and stir together.

4) Add eggs in a medium bowl and whisk together. Whisk in butter and milk. Add to flour mixture and fold just until dry ingredients are moistened. Spoon half into prepared pan; spread to cover bottom.
5) Sprinkle with half the apples, then top with half the Streusel. Add remaining batter on top of the streusel, spreading to cover. Sprinkle the remaining apples, then the remaining Streusel.

6) Bake 1 hour, or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack 10 minutes. Run a knife around sides; invert cake onto rack to turn cake out and then revert right side up. Let cool completely. Store tightly covered up to 1 day at room temperature or 4 days in the fridge. 

Loaves with fruit in side are fantastic.  They are always so fragrant and moist. This loaf was great, it had everything.  Layers of moist cake, cinnamon apple and crunchy streusel all in one bite.  It was a good thing I made two loafs and gave one to Jeff because I didn't really end up sharing my loaf very much.  Ooops, maybe next time or next week,  I should have enough apples to make it again.   

MEG's/JEFF's RATING : D-EEEEE-LICIOUS