Illinois Harvest of the Month

Brown Butter Apple Loaf

Brown Butter Apple Loaf

Sweet and moist, this apple loaf is sure to please!
This is an autumn and winter family recipe for apples and local grains.
  • Prep Time20 min
  • Cook Time1 hr
  • Total Time1 hr 20 min
  • Yield1 loaf
  • Serving Size2 slices
  • Energy522 cal
  • Cuisine
    • American
  • Course
    • Breakfast
    • Bakery
  • Diet
    • Vegetarian

Ingredients

  • 4 ounces (1/2 cup) unsalted butter
  • ½ cup packed brown sugar
  • ½ cup white sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 4½ ounces (1 cup) all-purpose flour (See Recipe Notes)
  • 2¼ ounces (1/2 cup) whole wheat flour (See Recipe Notes)
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 4 ounces (1/2 cup) creme fraiche
  • 3 tablespoons apple cider
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or pure vanilla extract
  • 3 apples, peeled, cored and diced (See Recipe Notes)
  • ½ cup chopped, toasted pecans

Method

1

Preheat the oven to 350 °F. Grease a loaf pan with butter or cooking spray.

2

Place the butter in a medium skillet and melt over medium heat.

3

Continue cooking, swirling occasionally to prevent burning, until the butter is bubbling and golden brown with a nutty aroma.

4

Combine the butter in a large mixing bowl with the sugar, brown sugar, and eggs. Whisk to combine.

5

Add the flours, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon, and stir with a wooden spoon until just combined.

6

Follow with the creme fraiche, apple cider, vanilla, apples, and pecans; the batter will be very thick.

7

Transfer the batter to the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top.

8

Bake loaf for 1 hour.

9

Allow to cool for 20 to 30 minutes before removing from loaf pan.

If you do not have a scale to weigh the flour, use the spoon and sweep method. 

You can substitute sour cream, buttermilk, or plain yogurt for the creme fraiche.

Use a mix of tart and sweet apples, such as Granny Smith, Braeburn, Gala, Golden Delicious, Honey Gold, Jonathan, McIntosh, and/or Honeycrisp.

  • Nutrition Facts

  • Serving Size2 slices
  • Amount per serving
  • Calories522
  • % Daily Value*
  • Total Fat27.7 g35.51%
  • Saturated Fat13 g65%
  • Trans Fat0.6 g
  • Cholesterol112.5 mg37.5%
  • Sodium644.3 mg28.01%
  • Total Carbohydrate60.6 g22.04%
  • Dietary Fiber2.6 g9.29%
  • Total Sugars35.6 g
  • Protein7.1 g14.2%
  • * The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

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