1 ½cupspecanstoasted & chopped (see notes for toasting instructions)
½cupbrown sugar
¼cupall-purpose flour
1teaspooncinnamon
4Tablespoonscold butterdiced
Bread
⅔cupgranulated sugar
½cupbutterroom temperature
2eggs
2-3teaspoonsvanilla extract
1 ½cupsall-purpose flour
1 ½teaspoonsbaking powder
½cupmilk
1-2large applespeeled and diced
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a loaf pan.
Pecan Streusel
In a small bowl, combine toasted pecans, brown sugar, flour and cinnamon. Stir.
Add diced cold butter and using a pastry cutter or fork, mash until it resembles coarse crumbs. Set aside.
Bread
Place sugar and butter in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat until smooth and pale yellow, 3-4 minutes.
Add eggs and vanilla extract and continue to beat until well mixed.
Add flour and baking powder, continuing to mix, then add milk and beat until combined.
To assemble
Pour half of the batter into prepared pan.
Sprinkle on half of the apples and press lightly into the batter.
Add ⅓ of the pecan streusel and press into apples.
Pour remaining batter on top of apples and streusel, evening out so batter is level.
Sprinkle with remaining apples, pressing into batter, and follow with the rest of the pecan streusel. Press gently into apples.
Bake for 50 minutes or until a toothpick in center comes out clean.
Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes then turn out of pan and let it cool the rest of the way.
Store covered with plastic wrap.
Notes
To roast pecans simply toss 1-½ cups pecans with 1-½ tablespoons butter. Spread out on cookie sheet and place in preheated 300-degree oven for 10 minutes. Stir. Return to oven for about 10 minutes. Watch so that they don't get too brown. Season with 1-½ teaspoons salt or to your taste preference and let cool.
FAQs to Know About Quick Breads
What makes a quick bread a quick bread?
Quick breads do not require kneading or a rise time. In lieu of the yeast in most breads, they use baking powder or baking soda.
Why did my quick bread fall in the middle?
It usually means there was too much liquid in the batter in relation to the dry ingredients. It could also be caused by the baking powder or baking soda being out of date or that the batter sat too long before baking.
Why is my quick bread doughy in the center?
Usually this means that the bread was undercooked or was left to long in the pan after baking. If this happens you can return the bread to a 350 oven and baked for another 10-20 minutes.