Apple Spice Loaves

Ingredients

• 3-4 apples, McIntosh or any other variety, enough to total 2 Cups grated
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 cup molasses
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 3 cups flour
• ½ tsp salt
• 2 tsp ground ginger
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground cloves
• 1 tsp ground allspice
• 1/4 tsp ground cardamom
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 3 eggs
• 2/3 cup white sugar
• 2/3 cup demerara brown sugar
• 2/3 cup canola oil
• ½ tsp almond extract
• ½ tsp star anise extract (if available, or sub vanilla)

Directions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 350°F.

   Shred the apples on the large holes of a box grater. Add the water and apples in a saucepan and heat through.

   Stir in molasses and baking soda; set aside to cool.

2. 2

   Sift flour, spices, and baking powder until well mixed. Beat eggs with mixer for 2 minutes.

   With mixer running beat in sugar, then drizzle in the oil and extracts. Stir in cooled molasses/apple mixture.

3. 3

   Sift dry ingredients over wet in 3 batches and gently fold together.

   Generously spray mini loaf pans, muffin tins, round cake pans, or 9 X 13 glass pan.

   Bake 25-50 minutes depending on the pan you use. Begin checking at 20 minutes until a toothpick in the centre comes out clean.