Apple Pie Bread

Apple Pie Bread

Servings 14

1/2 cup softened butter
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup buttermilk or sour milk
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups shredded, peeled apples about 4 medium apples
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
1/2 cup raisins optional

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease the bottom and 1/2 inch up the sides of a 9x5x3 inch loaf pan; set aside.

In a large bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer on medium-high speed for 30 seconds. Beat in sugar until combined. Add buttermilk and baking powder; beat until combined. Add eggs and vanilla; beat until combined. Add flour and salt; beat until combined. Stir in apples, nuts and raisins. Spoon batter into prepared pan and spread evenly.

To make the streusel-nut topping, combine brown sugar with flour in a small bowl. Using a pastry blender, cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in nuts.

Sprinkle topping over batter. Bake 1 hour or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pan. Cool completely on wire rack. Wrap and store overnight before slicing.