Apple Walnut Bread

Pin It I love fall and all of the awesome things that go with it!  Apple picking is near the top of my favorite things about fall list.  This bread is an awesome way to use some of those apples when you don't feel like an apple pie.  It is also relatively healthy.  This makes a delicious breakfast or a yummy snack on a fall day.  Great for sharing too!

Shared at Weekend Potluck Strut Your Stuff Saturday and Sweet Confessions

Apple Walnut Bread
Original Recipe from Skinny Taste
1 large apple, peeled and finely diced
1/2 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp agave syrup or honey
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 cups applesauce
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 egg whites
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour *or all purpose
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
pinch of salt
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
brown sugar for the topping **optional

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a small bowl combine apples, lemon juice, agave and 1/2 tsp cinnamon.  Toss to coat and set aside.
3. In a large mixing bowl beat egg whites, applesauce, oil, sugar and vanilla until it starts to thicken.
4. Sift together flour, baking soda and remaining spices.  Slowly add to wet mixture and mix until just moistened.  Don't over mix or your bread will be dense and tough.
5. Fold in apples and walnuts.
6. Pour into a greased 9x5 loaf pan.  Sprinkle top with brown sugar.
7. Bake 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.  Allow to cool before slicing.

Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies

Pin It Albert has a sweet tooth, but he is super picky about his treats.  I usually just buy refrigerated cookie dough at the store and bake them about once a week so Albert has something to snack on.  Well he decided that store bought cookies have too many chocolate chips in them and that they get stale quicker than homemade cookies.  (He's crazy, I know).  Well my track record with chocolate chip cookies is not great.  They usually turn out hard as a rock and they don't spread out.  I always just use the recipe on the back of the chocolate chip bag.  I have had this problem my entire life despite constantly trying to improve them.  Well, I'm happy to say that I finally found a recipe that turned out perfect!  These are moist, chewy and the perfect thickness for a good cookie.

Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies
*Recipe from Lovin' From the Oven
2 cups all-purpose flour
 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
 1/2 teaspoon salt
 3/4 cup butter, melted
 1 cup packed brown sugar
 1/2 cup white sugar
 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
 1 egg
 1 egg yolk
 1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup chopped walnuts

1. Cream melted butter, brown sugar and white sugar in a mixer.  Add vanilla and eggs and mix well.
2. Sift the dry ingredients and slowly add them to the mixer.  Mix until just combined.
3. Stir in chocolate chips and walnuts.
4. Dough will be very sticky.  Cover and refrigerate for about 1 hour.
5. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
6. Using a medium cookie scoop, place cookies on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
7. Bake 15-17 minutes or until golden brown.