Prep Time: 10 mins
Total Time: 10 mins
Yield: 3loaves
About This Recipe
“I got this recipe from FabulousFoods.com. It makes the most amazing smelling muffins, and is great as a gift for the hostess who has everything.”
Ingredients
For Mix
2cupsshortening
4cupssugar
7cupsflour
4teaspoonssalt
4teaspoonsbaking powder
2teaspoonsbaking soda
2teaspoonscinnamon
2teaspoonsnutmeg
To Make the Applesauce Loaf
2eggs
1cupapplesauce
1/2 cupchopped nuts
Directions
To Make the Master Mix————.
In a very large bowl combine all dry ingredients and mix together well with a fork or whisk.
Cut in shortening with a pastry blender, or use two butter knives, scissor style.
A wire whisk also works well and is easier on the arm muscles than knives are.
When shortening is completely cut in, the mixture will have a crumbly texture.
Be sure to turn the mixture so that entire batch is mixed completely.
Store in a tightly covered container for up to 4 months.
Each batch of mix makes enough for 4 loaves or approximately 13 1/2 cups.
Feel free to double this recipe if your family enjoys this treat as much as mine, or if you need lots of gifts, but you will need two large mixing bowls to do so.
To Make an Awesome Applesauce Loaf————.
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Grease and flour (do not use cooking spray) a loaf pan.
In a large bowl, mix together 3 1/3 cups of master mix with 2 eggs and 1 cup applesauce.
Mix together thoroughly.
Add 1/2 cup nuts if desired and mix thoroughly.
Pour into loaf pan and bake for 40-50 minutes, or until top crests and loaf is a dark golden brown.
To Make Awesome Applesauce Muffins————.
Grease and flour muffin tins, or line them with paper muffin cups.
Fill tins 3/4 full.
Bake at 350° F for 20-30 minutes or until light golden brown.
To Give the Mix as a Gift————.
This mix makes a wonderful gif for neighbors, family and friends.
To make the presentation you see in the photo at right, use an ordinary jelly jar, washed and dried, a dried apple, two short cinnamon sticks, some raffia, and a bit of twisted paper to decorate the lid.
Untwist the twisted paper and hot glue to the lid, trim excess.
Glue cinnamon sticks together, crossing each other slightly, and tie with a bit of raffia.
Glue sticks to the apple and glue the apple to the lid.
Using a computer print program such as Print Artist or Print Shop Deluxe, create a fun label for your gift jar with instructions for baking the loaves or muffins.
Put 1/2 cup of chopped pecans in a sandwich bag and tie with raffia.
Print out the Applesauce Loaf recipe or the master mix recipe on an index card and attach a small raffia bow to the upper left hand corner.
Reviews
“I just put the dry ingredients together as an informal gift for a friend, and I discovered that the jar size needs to be large.There is just a little extra mix left over after filling a quart jar.I had some smaller disposable containers that I put the rest in.”
“Thanks for this versatile recipe!I tweak the additions each time I make a batch, just for variety, and they always come out really good.”
“This was really tasty! I mixed the ingredients (for the mix part) in my food processor to make it easy. I give it four stars because it was a little dry but I’m going to try adding a little more applesauce next time. I think I might try chunky apple sauce too to give it some apple-y texture. Great mix though! I will be making again.”
“I’ve had this recipe for over a year but forgot to rate it. We love it, the ingredients are something we always have on hand. It is such a snap to mix up that the kids can help me make it to work on their measuring skills. I keep a few jars of the dry mix on hand in the pantry for times when I’m in a rush, this way I can have a loaf mixed and ready for the oven literally before the oven even has a chance to preheat!”