ingredients

• 5-6 apples, diced into small cubes

• 1 tbsp lemon juice

• 1/4 cup apple juice

• 4 tbsp brown sugar + 1 tbsp for topping

• 3 tbsp white sugar (I've successfully used 1:1 sugar substitutes like monkfruit sugar before too)

• 1 cup water

• 1 tbsp cinnamon

• 2 tsp baking powder

• 1 tsp baking soda

• 1/2 tsp kosher salt

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

steps

1. Combine the apples, lemon juice, apple juice, brown sugar, white sugar, water, and cinnamon in a small pot. Simmer on medium-low heat.

2. Mix while simmering until liquid thickens and coats the back of a spoon (~25-30 minutes). Apple pieces should be completely cooked and fall apart easily when mashing with a wooden spoon.

3. Either let the mixture cool before blending into an applesauce, or you can transfer to a large mixing bowl like I did and mash into applesauce with a wooden spoon and let it cool.

4. Preheat oven to 350F.

5. In a separate mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients: flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Whisk until well combined.

6. Add the dry ingredients into the applesauce mixture. Fold together with a spatula until just combined and no dry flour clumps remain.

7. Prepare a loaf pan with either oil or an oil spray.

8. Pour the batter into the loaf pan. Top with a sprinkle of brown sugar and cinnamon if desired.

9. Bake for 30 minutes.

10. Let cool ~20 minutes before turning out and slicing. Enjoy!