Apple and Cheese Bread

Not all cakes and loaves need to be sweetened with sugar, nor do they need to be made with desserts in mind. Loaves lend themselves quite well to an afternoon tea or coffee break, especially if they are prepared to be savoury like in the case of this Apple and Cheese Bread!

Apple and Cheese Bread is meant to be rustic and homey. It’s just like the cake you would expect to see at your grandma’s house. It’s a cake without frosting or decoration, and that’s because it’s not needed. To serve, grab a slice, smear it with butter, and pour yourself a hot cup of tea. Best results are achieved when you’re home alone with a magazine or a good book!

My initial thought was to exclude this recipe from this bread and loaf series, but I decided to keep it because of John.e. I bake a lot! And, even though he has never turned down a cookie, square, or cake, he oftentimes requests that I bake something savoury instead of sweet. So, with that in mind, I prepared this Apple and Cheese Bread which is slightly sweetened with honey but is packed with fresh herbs to make sure the savoury part was dominant.

Another reason I did not want to include this recipe was because I wasn’t happy with the photos. I have this terrible habit of taking photos, cleaning up, and giving away baked items before pulling the photos off my camera and looking at them on my desktop. If at that point I’m not happy with the photos, it’s too late to reshoot them because I’d have to bake the bread again. Based on the photo representation, this bread looks under-baked, but I assure you, Dear Reader, that is how it should look. It is a super moist and dense bread, which is why I suggested enjoying it with a cup of hot tea.

I’m going to tell you all about this recipe and how you can make it in your home this holiday season. But first, I want to tell you about what you can expect from Lord Byron’s Kitchen this Christmas. Over the past seven Christmases, I have built a reputation for sharing series-type recipes. The most popular would be my annual 24 Cookies of Christmas, which was fashioned after an advent calendar. But, I have others that are only 12 days, which were fashioned after the 12 Days of Christmas.

Before we get to a list of ingredients and instructions for today’s recipe, let me tell you about this series and more! Welcome, Dear Reader, to my second Christmas series this holiday season! I’m calling this series Lord Byron’s 12 Holiday Breads and Loaves.

Just like every other series that I’ve shared over the years, this one will also see a new recipe shared each day for the next 12 days – even on Saturday and Sunday! You might be asking yourself, how many Christmas recipes could one possibly have or need? Well, I say you can never have too much of a good thing. And, I love having lots of choices. Who wants to prepare the same holiday recipes year after year?

SUBSCRIBE NOW SO THAT YOU NEVER MISS OUT ON NEW RECIPES!

So, welcome, Dear Reader, to Lord Byron’s 12 Holiday Breads and Loaves Series! Even though this is the second series for this holiday season, you can always look back at previous years if you just cannot wait until the next recipe is published. Also, some of my favourite recipe collections from previous years are my 75 Homemade Gifts from Your Kitchen, my 50 Make Ahead Freezer Friendly Christmas Recipes, and my 30 No-Bake Christmas Recipes post.

You really don’t want to miss one of these recipes, so if you have not yet subscribed to Lord Byron’s Kitchen, I encourage you to do so. That way, a new recipe will be emailed to you every day. You won’t have to bother to come looking for it! Like in previous holiday recipe countdowns, I like to mix up the recipes in the series so that there is something for everyone. Are you ready!!??

BAKED GOODS MAKE GREAT GIFTS!

This loaf is so perfect for gift-giving, which is just what I did with it. Not only is this loaf great for giving to a friend or loved one, but it’s so easy to package and transport. It might be just me, but is there anyone else out there who loves to receive kitchen-related products as gifts?

If you’d like to gift this loaf to a friend, here’s what you should do. First, buy a new loaf pan and another kitchen item such as a whisk or a spatula. Bring them home, and wash and dry the loaf pan. Then, bake the loaf right into the new pan.

Once baked and cooled, garnish the loaf in any way you deem suitable. Wrap the loaf pan up in some cellophane, tie a ribbon on it, and attach the whisk or spatula. Now, you’ve got a dessert and a gift all in one! I’d love to get something like that; so thoughtful, right!?

INGREDIENTS NEEDED TO PREPARE THIS RECIPE

The following is a list of the ingredients needed to prepare this recipe. For exact amounts and measurements, refer to the printable recipe card located near the bottom of this post.

• Apples – Please use Granny Smith apples for this recipe. They are tart and hold their shape well when baked.
• Apple Cider Vinegar – This is used to prevent the apples from browning.
• Flour – No need for anything special. Just use regular all-purpose flour. I have not tried this recipe with any other type of flour.
• Baking Powder
• Salt
• Sour Cream – Baking with sour cream is wonderful; it adds flavour and improves texture.
• Honey – For just a little bit of sweetness.
• Eggs – Make sure the eggs are at room temperature.
• Apple Juice – Even more apple flavour!
• Canola Oil – This replaces butter in cake-type recipes.
• Cheese – Use shredded sharp cheddar for best results.
• Fresh Herbs – I’m using thyme and rosemary. Summer savoury is a good option as well – so is lemon balm and sage.

HOW TO MAKE APPLE AND CHEESE BREAD

Prepare the apples by peeling them and cutting them into half-inch dice. Place them in a bowl and toss them well with the apple cider vinegar to prevent browning.

Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray. Set it aside. Sift the flour with the baking powder and salt into a large bowl. In a second bowl, whisk together the sour cream, honey, eggs, apple juice, and canola oil. Slowly whisk the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Add the apples, shredded cheese, thyme leaves, and chopped rosemary to the batter. Fold in using a spatula until just incorporated.

Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and bake for about 35-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean. Remove the loaf from the oven and allow it to rest in the pan for 10 minutes before turning it out onto a cooling rack to finish cooling.

SERVING YOUR BREAD

Here’s the thing about breads and loaves – they both come from humble beginnings. Even looking at it, you can tell that it isn’t pretty, it isn’t spectacular, and it surely isn’t show-stopping. But, that certainly doesn’t mean that your bread shouldn’t be served with style!

Like scones and biscuits, I think breads lend themselves quite well to what most people would call English Tea. I like to think of English Tea as an afternoon snack. And, afternoon snacks are terribly underrated! I like to partake whenever time permits. Hot coffee and a slice of this Apple and Cheese Bread, or any other sweet treat, is a great break from the 9-5 routine.

With the cooler weather approaching, I can’t think of a better way to serve this bread than putting out a full set of tea. Sure, it might seem I have too much time on my hands, but life is short, folks – enjoy it! Take the tea set out of your cabinet, dust it off, and take a well-deserved afternoon break!

QUESTIONS?

If I have not answered all of your questions in the text above, don’t hesitate to reach out to me! You can contact me by sending me a message in the comments section further down the page. I will try my best to answer as soon as possible! You might reach me even faster by following me on Facebook and sending me a private message. Scroll down to follow me and never miss another recipe!