Carrot Spice Loaf

It’s carrot cake season! This delicious, moist, one bowl carrot cake spice loaf bread is the perfect treat for breakfast…or snack…or dessert! Top your slice with a little spread of cream cheese for a little creamy tang and a drizzle of honey for an extra kick of sweetness. 

Ingredients- 

• 4 tablespoons of butter, melted

• 2 Tablespoons of oil (vegetable, olive, avocado or canola work)

• 1/2 cup white sugar

• 1/4 cup dark brown sugar

• 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

• 2 large eggs, room temp

• 1 cup finely ground peeled carrots (I use a food processor)

• 1/2 cup apple sauce

• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon

• 1/4 tsp ground ginger

• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

• 1/2 tsp fine table salt

• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

• 1/3 cup sour cream 

• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

• Topping- Sugar in the Raw 

Steps-

 1. Preheat oven to 335°F 

2. Grease and line a 9×5 loaf pan with parchment.

3. Whisk butter, sugar, oil  and vanilla until smooth.

4. Whisk in the eggs one at a time.

5. Whisk in the ground carrots and apple sauce.

6. Stir in baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt.

7. Mix in flour alternating with the sour cream in 2 installments, just until combined 

8. Fold in the nuts and then pour the batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle the top with a couple tablespoons of Sugar in the Raw.

9. Bake 45 minutes or until a Toothpick comes out mostly clean (a few moist crumbs are fine).

10. Let it sit in the pan on a cooling rack ~10 minutes, then carefully lift the cake from the pan. Enjoy warm or room temp! I even love to slather my slice with cream cheese!