Sweet Apple Bread in Jar

I love this idea. It's perfect for an unexpected guest, gift, or when you want that homebaked taste, but don't have the time. I have adapted this recipe from an article in Hobby Farm Home Magazine, one of my favorites.

Sweet Apple Bread - In a Jar

Bake @ 325 degrees for 50 minutes

2/3 cup unsalted butter

2 cups sugar

2/3 cup brown sugar, packed

2 cups apples,chopped

2/3 cups raisins

2/3 cup water

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

1 1/2 cups white flour, all purpose

3 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon nutmeg

1/3 cup pecans (or walnuts), chopped

1/3 cup oatmeal, quick oats

Find 8 wide mouth canning jars. (They must be wide mouth or else the bread will not come out very pretty!)

Sterilize the jars, lids and rings by boiling in water for 10 minutes. Leave the lids and rings in the hot water. Grease the inside 2/3 of the jar by using a pastry brush and oil.

Combine butter,sugar and eggs in your mixer or a large mixing bowl. Once creamed together, add the apples,raisins and water. In a different bowl, combine your flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg. Add the nuts and oatmeal. Now, combine with your wet ingredients

Fill the jars 1/3 of the way full. Don't try to get scientific, just eye-ball it! Bake at 325 degrees for 50 minutes, or when knife inserted comes out clean.

Wipe down the rim and edges of the jar with a damp towel and put on the lids and rings tightly. The jars should seal, but you can be sure by pushing on the lid, it should not move.

Now, you have Sweet Apple Bread in a jar...How cool! :)

To give as a fun gift for a friend, add a label or cover the lid with a cute fabric scrap. Make a little tag telling them just what's inside the jar!...and maybe how sweet of a friend they are :)