La Kitchenette Souris: Apple Gingerbread Loaf

At first I wasn't too sure about this loaf, because it just seemed like a rather odd combination, and the whole "bran cereal" thing sounded strange.

But once I started making it, it really made a lot more sense, and is quite healthy!

Apple Gingerbread Loaf

1 cup boiling water

1 1/2 cups bran cereal (not just plain bran, but actual cereal)

1/2 cup butter

2 Tablespoons molasses

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed

2 medium apples, peeled & chopped

1 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon ginger

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon salt

Pour boiling water over cereal and butter in bowl, stirring until butter melts. 

Stir in molasses and cool.

Stir in eggs, brown sugar, and chopped apples.

Combine remaining dry ingredients in a large bowl. 

Stir bran mixture into dry ingredients until moistened.

Pour into greased and lined 9x5 inch loaf pan.

Bake at 350F until it tests done.

(In my oven, this was 66 minutes and it wasn't burned at all!)

Cool on rack for 10 minutes, then turn out to cool. 

♥

This is a lovely dessert to accompany a meal, or else just on it's own alongside a cup of tea.

Displaying it on a fancy plate, with a paper doily underneath, adds a charming elegant touch and makes an ordinary loaf cake feel like something special.

I definitely recommend you serve this warm, but it still tastes fine cold as well. A few seconds in the microwave works too.

A little whipped cream is also nice on top, and a sprinkle of cinnamon.