Apple Butter Bread with Cinnamon Glaze

Apple butter is a spreadable preserve made by slow-cooking apples with warming spices such as cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and allspice. The apples are cooked for a long time over low heat, caramelizing them, concentrating their flavor, and turning them into a spreadable fruit. The only thing apple butter has in common with regular butter is its spreadability. 

Ideas to Use Apple Butter 

• Spread it on toast
• Stir it into oatmeal
• Top your pancakes and waffles with it
• Use it instead of pumpkin or applesauce in recipes
• Set out a bowl with a cheese plate
• Swirl it into cakes or cupcakes
• Brush it on chicken or pork during the last few cooking minutes

Apple Butter Bread with Cinnamon Glaze

Cook's Notes: The recipe makes one loaf and comes from thebatterthickens.com
Bread Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 3/4 cup buttermilk
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon ground allspice

Note can substitute the cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice with 2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice mixed with 1 teaspoon of cinnamon.

• 1 cup apple butter
• 3/4 chopped pecans (optional!)

Cinnamon Glaze:

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1-2 tablespoons milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Bread Directions: 

• With an electric mixer cream the butter and brown sugar. Add the egg and beat well. In a glass measuring cup combine the buttermilk and baking soda. Set aside. 
• In a separate bowl, mix together the flour with spices. Add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture alternately with the buttermilk mixture, beginning and ending with the flour.
• Stir in the apple butter and chopped pecans if using. Pour into a greased 9-in x 5-in x 3-in loaf pan. Bake at 350 for 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Depending on your oven, you may need to cook for more or less time. Do not over bake or your bread will turn out dry. Cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
  

Glaze Directions: 

• Mix together the powdered sugar, butter, cinnamon, vanilla, and enough milk to reach your desired consistency. I usually use 1-2 tablespoons. 
• Drizzle over the bread and allow to cool completely.
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