Praline-Apple Bread

The Beautiful Zestar Apple!

I have had this recipe hanging around for many years and while

shopping this week, I saw a new apple, (to me anyway!) named

a Zestar Apple.   I had never heard of this apple but I find

it is great for baking and eating.   Nice, crispy and holds its shape.  

Zestar!® was introduced several years ago by University of Minnesota, and is now gaining a very good reputation with growers.  It is a very high quality, late summer, early fall season apple that ripens in the Paulared™ season.  It has very crisp, juicy, firm flesh with an excellent sweet-tart flavor.  It is probably one of the best apples in its season and will probably gain in popularity when it becomes better known at farmer's and roadside markets.  For an early apple it is reported to keep extraordinarily well--- for 6-8 weeks in ordinary storage.  The tree is slow to moderately vigorous, spreading and productive.  Hardiness is very good.  Availability is improving.

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Praline-Apple Bread

1 1/2 cups pecans; chopped, divided

8 oz sour cream

1 cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

2 cups Self Rising Flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups Zestar Apples; core, un peel, chop

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup light brown sugar

Preheat oven to 350°F.     Spray a  9 X 5 loaf pan with cooking spray;

line with parchment paper for easy removal.

Bake 1/2 cup pecans in a single layer in a shallow pan 6 to 8 minutes or

until toasted and fragrant, stirring after 4 minutes.

Beat sour cream and next 3 ingredients at low speed with an electric mixer

2 minutes or until blended.

Stir together flour and next 3 ingredients. Add to sour cream mixture,

beating just until blended. Stir in apples and 1/2 cup toasted pecans.

Spoon batter into a greased and floured 9- x 5-inch loaf pan. Sprinkle with

remaining 1 cup chopped pecans; lightly press pecans into batter.

Bake at 350° for 1 hour to 1 hour and 5 minutes or until a wooden pick

inserted into center comes out clean, shielding with aluminum foil after 50

minutes to prevent excessive browning. Cool in pan on a wire rack 10

minutes; remove from pan to wire rack.

Bring butter and brown sugar to a boil in a 1-qt. heavy saucepan over

medium heat, stirring constantly; boil 1 minute. Remove from heat, and

spoon over top of bread; let cool completely (about 1 hour).

Note:   Granny Smith apples will make a fine substitution if Zestar Apples

are not available.

Yield: 1 loaf

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What a great loaf...moist and delicious.   As with most quick breads,

it will taste even better the next day!