Good Start Apple Streusel Bread

Let's face it- breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  Some of us love it, some of us hate it.  Fact is, this meal helps to regulate our metabolism, blood sugar, and cranky mood that hits around 10:30!  With so many sugary cereals, high fat 'healthy' muffins, and my personal desire to eliminate animal products (like bacon and eggs) from my diet, what's a girl to do for a great breakfast?  This bread is the answer!  It is low fat, high fiber, high protein, no oil, no added sugars, and vegan.  Some of you may think that equals no flavor, bland, and gross.  Trust me, give this bread a try and see how good healthy eating can be!


Good Start Apple Streusel Bread
Side note:  If you make this bread in a loaf or baking pan, it will be very thick!  A very small square is more than enough for a portion.  I would actually recommend baking this into muffins for portion control and so you can grab on the go!

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.  Muffins will need about 12 minutes, bread in the baking dish takes about 30 minutes.  Loaf bread will need between 30-40 minutes.  Check bread occasionally, you don't want to over bake it and make it tough!

Bread/Muffin Batter
Ingredients:

• 2 cups whole wheat flour (or all purpose flour)
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp nutmeg or pumpkin pie spice
• 1 tbsp ground flax seeds
• 1/2 cup splenda or 1/3 cup regular granulated sugar (you could also substitute agave nectar in place of the splenda or sugar.  Use 1/4 cup.)
• pinch of salt
• 1 large or 2 small gala apples, peeled and chopped finely
• 3/4 cup regular applesauce (be sure to get the natural, no sugar added kind)
• 3/4 cup soy or rice milk
• 2 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

1.  Place all your dry ingredients into a bowl and stir until fully incorporated. 

2.  Add applesauce, soy milk, vanilla and stir until just together.  Add in chopped apples and stir until they are dotted throughout the batter.  Be careful not to over stir, or your muffins/bread will become tough and gummy. 

3.  Pour batter into a loaf pan, baking dish, or muffin cups.  Only fill muffins 3/4 full so there is room for the topping. 







Walnut Streusel Topping
Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped very fine (you can pulse them through a food processor or chop by hand)
• 1/2 cup regular rolled oats
• 4 tbsp whole wheat (or all purpose) flour
• 4 tbsp splenda
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp nutmeg or pumpkin pie spice
• 1 tsp ground flax seed
• 1/4 cup vegan margarine, melted

Directions:

1.  Put all dry ingredients into bowl and stir until well mixed.

2.  Add melted margarine and stir or mix by hand until a thick, crumbly topping is formed. 

3.  Sprinkle over batter, making sure all batter is covered.  Bake. 







Enjoy!

After bread has baked and cooled slightly, enjoy warm!  We made this bread yesterday and enjoyed this morning for breakfast re heated in the microwave.  I think the taste is actually better, and it is still very moist because of the applesauce!  This is a winner for sure!