Applesauce Bread

Description

There’s a reason an apple a day keeps the doctor away — it’s high in fiber and antioxidants. This bread’s so tasty, you’ll forget it’s good for you!

1 1⁄2 cups whole-wheat pastry flour

1 1⁄2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1⁄2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1⁄4 teaspoon ground allspice

1⁄4 teaspoon ground cloves

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1⁄2 teaspoon salt

2 large eggs

1⁄2 cup raw brown sugar (turbinado) or packed light brown sugar

1⁄4 cup canola oil

1⁄4 cup plain low-fat yogurt or buttermilk

1 cup applesauce

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1⁄2 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped (or 1/2 cup raisins, plumped for 5 minutes in warm water and drained)

Preheat the oven to 350F degrees with a rack in the middle. Lightly oil a loaf pan and line with parchment paper. Oil the parchment paper.
Sift together the flours, baking soda, spices and salt. In a large bowl, beat together the eggs and sugar until the mixture is thick. Beat in the oil, yogurt or buttermilk, applesauce and vanilla.
Whisk in the flour mixture without overbeating, and fold in the walnuts or raisins.
Scrape into the loaf pan and bake 45 to 50 minutes, until the bread is firm, and a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean.
Let cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Turn over onto a rack to cool completely.