This is the next best thing to coffee cake that I have ever found. You’ll use 2 bowls, 1 medium, one small, a baking pan and a knife to swirl in the cinnamony goodness. I added my own personal twists to the original Amish recipe that I found years ago in Ohio’s Amish country, but only minor, small changes.This simple bread is so delicious in its simplicity that I simply could not taint it! No kneading, just mix and bake! Perfect with a nice cup of steaming coffee, tea or cold milk at anytime of day. Preferred Season? To me,  Autumn seems best 🙂

Ingredients

Batter:

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

1/2 tsp each of salt, cardamom or nutmeg

1 egg

1 cup buttermilk or 1 cup milk plus 1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 medium apple; peeled & chopped fine

Cinnamon/sugar mixture:

2/3 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:

Cream together butter, sugar, Then add egg. flour, salt, spices and baking soda. Slowly add milk until just combined. Put 1/2 of batter (or a little less) into greased loaf pan. In separate bowl mix sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle 3/4 of cinnamon mixture on top of the 1/2 batter. Sprinkle on half the apples and press in slightly. Add remaining batter to pan; sprinkle remaining cinnamon topping and apples, press slightly. Swirl batter horizontally (short side) with a knife—about 6-7 passes. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 min. or until toothpick tester come clean. Sprinkle course sugar over top when cake partially cools or vanilla glaze when cake completely cools–optional, but nice 🙂

Cool in pan for 20 minutes before removing from pan and inverting onto your favorite plate or cake stand. Makes 1 loaf. Ingredients can easily be doubled.