Applesauce is often used as a replacement for all or part of the oil in quick breads, and apple butter can be too. In Double Chocolate Apple Butter Bread, a combination of apple butter and vegetable oil keeps this bread moist and adds just a tiny hint of flavor. That is, it mostly tastes like a chocolate bread.
Wait, What is Apple Butter?
If you are making this bread, you probably have some apple butter with a label on it that says what it is -- apples, sugar and sometimes spices. Apple butter contains no actual butter. The difference between apple butter and applesauce is that apple butter is slow cooked so that the apples are caramelized and the mixture is very dark and intensely flavored. I've found I appreciate more as I age and my senses dull. You can buy it at most grocery stores or make it yourself in a slow cooker.
Slow Cooker Apple Butter
Here's a "quick" slow cooker recipe for it. Peel and chop 6 pounds of apples and put them in the slow cooker. Toss with ¾ cup granulated sugar, ¼ cup brown sugar, half tablespoon cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon nutmeg, ⅛ teaspoon cloves and ¼ teaspoon of salt. Slow cook on low for 9 hours, then use an immersion blender to puree. Slow cook for another 30 minutes, then add 1 tablespoon of vanilla and let cool. Store in jars in the refrigerator or put in another type of container and freeze.
Double Chocolate Apple Butter Bread Notes
Spices are optional in this bread, which is truly more of a quick bread than just a cake in disguise. I originally left out cinnamon and allspice in favor of a clear chocolate flavor, but I tried the bread again with the spices and appreciate the extra flavors. You only need a very small amount. The chocolate chips, in my opinion, are not optional. Even though the bread is sweet, the extra sweetness from the chocolate chips makes a good thing better. Go with mini chocolate chips if you can. Because they are so small, the mini chocolate chips scatter more evenly giving you what seems like more chocolate in each bite!
Tips for Success
- Use an 8 ½ by 4 ½ inch loaf pan. If your loaf pan is wider, you may need to cut 10 minutes off the time.
- Check your loaf as early as 45 minutes. The bake time is 50 to 60 minutes, but ovens and the type of loaf pan you use may affect the time.
- Measure the flour by weighing it or fluffing it up and spooning it into the cup. Do not pack it.
- I've always made this with natural cocoa powder rather than Dutch. Natural cocoa powder is acidic and reacts with the baking soda, but since this recipe also has baking powder you could probably get away with using Dutch. I just haven't tested it.
- For baking, I always use whole milk yogurt.
Recipe
Double Chocolate Apple Butter Bread
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour (220 grams) Weigh or measure with a light hand -- do not pack
- ½ cup unsweetened natural cocoa powder (45 grams)
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon each of cinnamon and allspice (optional)
- ⅓ cup apple butter or pumpkin butter (The weight should be around 105 grams)
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup granulated sugar (200 grams) Do not lower the sugar or you'll lose moisture
- 2 large eggs
- 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup full fat plain yogurt (220 grams)
- ¾ cup mini chocolate chips
- ¼ cup chopped pecans (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour an 8 ½ by 4 ½ inch metal loaf pan.
- Mix the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices together in a bowl and set aside. Make sure they are very evenly mixed.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk the apple butter, oil and sugar together until smooth. Add the eggs one by one, then whisk in the vanilla and the yogurt until smooth.
- Add the flour mixture and stir with a heavy duty scraper until it is fully blended, then stir in the mini chips.
- Scrape the (thick!) batter into the loaf pan and sprinkle nuts (if using) across the top.
- Bake on center rack for 50 to 60 minutes or until a pick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let cool in the pan for about an hour, then remove from pan and let cool completely before serving.
Anna says
Wow, I think I've only tried pumpkin butter once, but I can imagine it would work beautifully in this. Thanks for the review!
Lily says
Made this last night using pumpkin butter from Trader Joe's. So tasty!
Caralyn @ glutenfreehappytummy says
wow that sounds incredible!
The Squishy Monster says
YUM! I could definitely go for 3 slices of this =)
Katrina says
Mmm, that looks good. Last year I made some apple butter. That would be fun to try this bread.