Okay, here’s the article about zucchini applesauce bread, written in plain English like an old woman would tell it, with some simple HTML tags for formatting:
Alright, so you wanna make some of that zucchini applesauce bread, huh? It’s real easy, don’t you worry none. My grandma used to make it, and her mama before her, I reckon. It’s a good way to use up them zucchinis that get too big, you know, the ones that look like clubs. And the applesauce, well, that just makes it nice and moist. Keeps it from getting all dry and crumbly.
First thing you gotta do is get your stuff together. You’ll need some flour, about three cups, I guess. Not too packed down, just scoop it in. And some sugar, maybe a cup and a half, depends on how sweet you like it. Brown sugar is good, makes it kinda caramelly. And you need some eggs, three of ‘em, big ones if you got ‘em.
- Flour – about 3 cups
- Sugar – 1 ½ cups (brown is good!)
- Eggs – 3 big ones
- Oil – ½ cup
- Applesauce – 1 cup (the unsweetened kind)
- Zucchini – 2 cups, shredded
- Baking Soda – 1 teaspoon
- Salt – ½ teaspoon
- Cinnamon – 1 teaspoon (or more, if you like it spicy)
- Nuts – ½ cup chopped (optional, walnuts or pecans are good)
Then you gotta get some oil, maybe half a cup. Keeps it from stickin’ to the pan, you know. And a cup of applesauce. The plain kind, don’t get the sweetened stuff, it’ll be too sugary. And then your zucchini, gotta shred it up. Two cups, packed down good. Use the big holes on your grater, not the little ones, or it’ll turn to mush.
Now for the spices and stuff. You need a teaspoon of baking soda, that’s what makes it rise up nice. And half a teaspoon of salt, just to bring out the flavor. And cinnamon, a whole teaspoon, maybe more if you like it spicy. I always put in extra, my husband likes it that way. You can also throw in some nuts if you want, about half a cup, chopped up. Walnuts are good, or pecans, whatever you got on hand.
Okay, so you got all your stuff? Now you gotta mix it up. Get a big bowl, a real big one. First, you put in the eggs and the oil and the sugar, and you beat it all up good. I just use a fork, but you can use a mixer if you got one. Beat it till it’s all light and fluffy lookin’. Then you add in the applesauce and mix it some more. Then you dump in the zucchini and stir it around till it’s all mixed in good.
Now, in a different bowl, you mix up your flour and your baking soda and your salt and your cinnamon. Just whisk it all together, make sure it’s all mixed up good. Then you slowly add the dry stuff to the wet stuff, a little bit at a time, stirrin’ it all the while. Don’t just dump it all in at once or it’ll get all lumpy. Stir it till it’s just mixed, don’t overdo it or it’ll get tough. And if you’re using nuts, stir them in last.
Now you gotta bake it. Get yourself a loaf pan, grease it up good with some oil or butter, or it’ll stick. Pour the batter into the pan, spread it out even. And then you put it in the oven. Preheat that oven to 350 degrees, and bake it for about an hour, maybe a little longer. You’ll know it’s done when you stick a toothpick in the middle and it comes out clean. Or if it springs back when you touch it lightly.
Let it cool in the pan for a bit, then turn it out onto a wire rack to cool all the way. And that’s it! You got yourself some zucchini applesauce bread. It’s good warm, with a little butter on it. Or you can let it cool all the way and slice it up. It’s real good for breakfast, or for a snack in the afternoon. And like I said, it’s a good way to use up them big zucchinis. Don’t go throwin’ them away, they’re good eatin’!
A few extra tips now: Don’t squeeze the water out of your zucchini. You want that moisture in there. And if you don’t have applesauce, you can use mashed bananas, or even some pumpkin puree. Just about the same amount. And you can add other stuff too, like raisins, or chocolate chips, or even some shredded carrots. Just get creative, it’s your bread, you can do what you want with it.
So there you have it. Easy peasy, right? Now go on and make yourself some zucchini applesauce bread. Your family will thank you for it. And if they don’t, well, then more for you, I say! It’ll keep for a few days on the counter, wrapped up tight. Or you can freeze it if you want. Just wrap it up good in plastic wrap and then foil, and it’ll keep for a month or two.
That’s all there is to it, happy baking ya’ll.
Tags: zucchini bread, applesauce bread, baking recipe, easy recipe, moist bread, quick bread, homemade bread, zucchini recipes, applesauce recipes, dessert bread