Triple-Chocolate Quick Bread
Country Woman
Meet the Cook: Every year around this time, I'll make this bread for my family (my husband and I have two children - one 4 years old and one 4 months old). I've given it also as a homemade gift. It's pretty wrapped in colored foil or put in a tin.
-Karen Grimes, Stephens City, Virginia
SERVINGS: 20
CATEGORY: Dessert
METHOD: Baked
TIME: Prep: 20 min. Bake: 35 min. + cooling
Ingredients:
- 1-1/2 cups miniature semisweet chocolate chips, divided
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1-1/2 cups unsweetened applesauce
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- GLAZE:
- 1/2 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 to 3 tablespoons half-and-half cream
- 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch salt
Directions:
Ina microwave-safe bowl, melt 1 cup chocolate chips; set aside to cool. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and cooled chocolate; mix well. Add applesauce and vanilla; set aside. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in the remaining chocolate chips.
Spoon into four greased 5-3/4-in. x 3-in. x 2-in. loaf pans. Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing to wire racks.
For glaze, melt chocolate chips and butter in a small heavy saucepan; stir in cream. Remove from the heat; stir in confectioners' sugar, vanilla and salt. Drizzle over warm breads. Cool completely. Yield: 4 mini-loaves.