We've been doing a few recipes using apple butter lately. This season's current run on recipes using the smooth and autumnal spread kicked into ultra high gear in the wake of our first batch of homemade apple butter. It's the best I've ever tasted. This afternoon after one of those long and seemingly endless days at work, I came home and opted for a taste of our product. Just a dab, on a pita chip. When I opened the lid of the container, the aroma of the freshly made apple butter hit me with an unanticipated force. "I have to make something with this," I said to myself. Enter, oven center: Raisin Apple Butter Bread.
This warm and comforting taste of fall started on our lone honey crisp tree and ended up on our cutting board. Stops in between included a day or so in our slow cooker followed by a few days of being stored in our kitchen refrigerator.
The bread is everything you love about fall. The warm aromas of apple, raisins, and cloves evoke an acute awareness of the season, like the falling leaves and sudden appearance of sweaters as they make their way out of cedar chests. Continuing down that same road, it's a few weeks away but this bread has Thanksgiving written all over it, inside and out. Grab some apple butter, crank up the oven and get your flour and mixing bowl out. This is one bread you have to try. Happy fall. -Dan

Raisin Apple Butter Bread
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ⅓ cup butter softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 ¼ cups apple butter
- ½ cup raisins
- ⅛ cup hot tap water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Grease a 8x4x2-inch loaf pan.
- Mix flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, nutmeg, and cloves in a bowl.
- Beat the butter and sugars with an electric mixer in a separate large bowl until smooth.
- Add the egg and continue beating until smooth.
- Using a small food processor, add raisins and hot tap water. Process until finely chopped
- Add apple butter to raisin mixture and process for an additional minute.
- Fold apple butter and raisin mixtutre into egg, butter, and sugars mixture.
- Mix in the flour mixture until just incorporated.
- Pour into prepared loaf pan.
- Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about an hour.
- Cool in the pans for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack.
Marilyn
I have never had an apple bread before!! It looks delicious!! I love Fall!!
Dan from Platter Talk
We are right there with you, Marilyn!
Donna
Oh yum, this sounds absolutely delicious - everything I love about Fall! And how good is homemade apple butter??? We eat it on everything, and now I need to try it on some of this delicious bread 🙂
Dan from Platter Talk
Thanks for the great comments, Donna. We are pretty excited about the arrival of autumn in our kitchen as well!
Suchi @elegantmeraki
One can never have enough bread recipes!! I love this unique combination!
Dan from Platter Talk
Agreed, Suchi! Thanks for stopping by Platter Talk!
Cindy Gordon
I love apple butter! So I am pretty sure this raisin apple butter bread will be a WINNER with me!
Dan from Platter Talk
Cindy, we are so excited for fall and to make new dishes with one of our favorite condiments from the season. Thanks so much for dropping by Platter Talk.
Molly Kumar
The bread looks so good, moist and filled with flavors. There's nothing like fresh homemade bread. Bookmarking to try soon.
Dan from Platter Talk
Thanks so much Molly, I think you'll enjoy this! Thanks for stopping by Platter Talk!
Shashi @ runninsrilankan
I was given some apple butter recently and had no clue what to do with it - now I know - this bread sounds delicious!
Dan from Platter Talk
Thanks, Shashi! Alternatively, use it as a spread on pitas, toast, bread, roll, etc, etc. It's so nice to hear from you and I hope you are staying warm!
Susie Gall
I KNOW I am in love without even trying it - APPLE BUTTER BREAD - YES!!
Dan from Platter Talk
Thanks, Susie!
Patty Haxton Anderson
Sounds great and looks delicious Dan.
Linda (Meal Planning Maven)
I'm already thinking what wonderful holiday gifts both your wonderful bread and apple butter would make! Beautiful photos as always!