It feels strange to write a ‘best of 2020’ post when this year was anything but the best. In fact, it’s really been the absolute worst.
But we made it through, and we feel all the more fortunate for it.
I saw something recently that said that 2020 wasn’t the year to get everything you wanted, it was the year to appreciate everything you have, and that is certainly true.
From the tornado back in March to the Christmas morning bombing and everything in between, Nashville has been through a lot this year and us along with it. On a more personal note, we lost our cat Kalypso back in April and that is probably the thing this year that hurts us the most. We miss you, sweet girl.
This applesauce bread recipe is the best quick bread! It’s unbelievably tasty and cozy spiced. Step it up with an easy icing drizzle!
There’s zucchini bread for the summer and pumpkin bread for the fall…but here’s a cozy quick bread that works for anytime. This spiced and iced Applesauce Bread recipe! This one is perfectly spiced with cinnamon, allspice and cloves, and studded with oats. It’s so tasty and perfect for special occasions! Suffice it to say, it went over very well in our house. Take it over the top with an easy icing drizzle. It’s great for an occasional treat or as a way to use up applesauce. Here’s how to make this impressive loaf!
Ingredients in applesauce bread
This applesauce bread is an easy quick bread, just like zucchini, pumpkin, and banana bread. But the fruit puree here is applesauce! We got the idea from brainstorming ways to use applesauce after making our family favorite applesauce cookies. Turns out: applesauce works in quick breads too! Here’s what you’ll need for this tasty bread:
All purpose and whole wheat flour: A mix of flours adds a nuance to the flavor a pinch of nutrients.
Granulated and brown sugar: Using two sugars also adds nuance to the flavor.
Eggs, baking soda, baking powder, & salt: The regular players for a quick bread.
Cinnamon, allspice, and cloves: The perfect mix of spices.
Applesauce: We like unsweetened, but you can use sweetened if it’s all you have.
Neutral oil: We like oil in our quick breads because it doesn’t require melting like butter: one less step! It also makes it dairy free and easily vegan.
Vanilla: A hefty dose of vanilla gives it a smooth flavor.
What to expect with this applesauce bread
While it’s not as rich as banana, applesauce adds a nice lightness and moistness to breads and also works as a substitute for oil. Here are a few things to expect with this applesauce bread:
The texture is light and moist, not rich and oily. It’s not quite as dense or oily as a typical quick bread: the texture is lighter here.
Oats add interest to the texture. There’s just a 1/2 cup, but it adds a nice intriguing lightness as well.
Bake time depends on the pan size. Keep in mind: bake time varies whether you use an 8-inch or 9-inch pan. You’ll want to pull the bread when it feels solid and atoothpick comes out with a few crumbs clinging on. Don’t wait until it’s fully clean, or you risk overbaking!
Step it up with powdered sugar icing!
This applesauce bread is delicious as is and perfectly sweet: it’s a total treat bread! (It’s not really in the healthy category, like you could argue with this Healthy Pumpkin Bread.) So if you really want to take it to treat status, drizzle it with our easy powdered sugar icing! It takes literally one minute to stir together. Here are some notes:
For less sugar, use a half recipe! You can use just a half of the recipe for a glaze that’s lightly sweet. Or use a full recipe for maximum wow factor.
Mix-ins for applesauce bread
Of course, you can customize this bread even further with mix ins! If you like chunks in your bread, there are lots of options. Here are a few ideas of mix-ins for applesauce bread:
Walnuts
Pecans
Hazelnuts
Almonds
Chocolate chips
Dried cherries or cranberries
Shredded coconut
Vegan variation
Do you eat vegan, or cooking for someone who is? Because this applesauce bread is made with oil instead of butter, it’s naturally dairy free. As we noted above, we prefer using oil in our quick breads because it makes them even quicker: you don’t have to melt butter! Here’s the only thing you need to do to make this bread vegan:
Use flax eggs! A flax egg is simply ground flax seed mixed with water. When it sits, it forms a gel like substance that you can use in vegan baked goods like muffins, cookies, and quick breads. We’ve found it works well, like in our Vegan Banana Bread and Vegan Zucchini Bread. It changes the texture a bit, but it’s still just as delicious.
Applesauce bread storage
This applesauce bread stores very well! You’ll find on the day of baking it has a crisp crust, but as you store it it becomes softer. (It’s delicious both ways!) We like to keep it at room temperature because it’s so beautifully moist and you can eat it right away. But here are a few options for storage:
How long does applesauce bread last at room temperature? 4 to 5 days, covered in aluminum foil..
Can you refrigerate applesauce bread? You can! Keep in mind that it does dry out a bit in the fridge. It also tastes a little better at room temp, so if you refrigerate it be sure to let it come to room temperature before enjoying.
Can you freeze applesauce bread? Yes! Slice it into pieces and wrap it in plastic wrap and then place it in a freezer safe bag or container. It stays good for about 3 months.
This applesauce bread recipe is…
Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease an 8 or 9-inch loaf pan.
In a medium bowl, mix the all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, oats, brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, allspice, and cloves.
In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs, applesauce, oil, and vanilla extract. Add dry ingredients and stir until just combined and a smooth dough forms.
Bake: Pour the batter into the loaf pan. Bake 55 to 65 minutes, until it feels solid and a toothpick comes out mostly clean with some clinging crumbs, or the internal temperature reaches 200 degrees Fahrenheit. The exact timing will depend on the size of the pan.
Cool the bread in the pan for 15 minutes. Then run a knife around the edge and invert the loaf onto a cooling rack. Serve warm or at room temperature. Or if desired, allow to cool fully to room temperature (about 1 hour), then drizzle with Powdered Sugar Icing (if desired, use a half recipe for less sweetness). Storage info: The bread lasts 4 to 5 days at room temperature wrapped in aluminum foil, refrigerated for 10 days, or frozen for 3 months (slice it into pieces and wrap it in plastic wrap then a freezer-safe bag or container).
Americans stockpiled groceries and other essentials when stay-at-home orders began to take hold in mid-March. Among the staples for which there was unprecedented demand were baking ingredients, such as flour. Despite having significant levels of inventory on-hand in anticipation of Easter, King Arthur Baking Co. was eventually wiped out of its 40 SKUs of flour.
Given their shelf-stability, other center store categories such as fruit spreads, jams, and jellies benefited from COVID-19 induced eating habits as shoppers began to stockpile.
Many retailers also sold through shelf-stable staples like rice and pasta, opening the door for specialty alternatives which in some cases, were all that retailers could get in stock. Fonio, an ancient grain that has provided sustenance for West African farmers for over 5,000 years, was one such product.
As consumers prepared more meals at home, many sought to replicate the restaurant experience and specialty foods helped fulfill their sense of adventure.
Comfort foods also became a mainstay as Americans hunkered down at home. Party-sized bags of chocolate, flavored potato chips, and sauvignon blanc topped Kroger shoppers’ grocery lists throughout the year, according to the retailer.
Also offering comfort were foods that provided a sense of nostalgia, prompting one retailer to launch a 90s nostalgia e-commerce site to offer foods such as Fruit Gushers and Chips Ahoy cookies.
Here are the best New Years drinks to ring in the new year! Try everything from sparkling New Years Eve cocktails to cozy brunch drinks.
Ready to ring in the New Year? New Years is the perfect time to celebrate with a signature drink! There are lots of options for classy cocktails: whether you love sparkling wine or want something a little more outside the box. And don’t forget about New Years Day: there are lots of great brunch cocktails for enjoying the morning after.
Here are all the best New Years drinks and cocktails to try! Try the classic champagne cocktail as a New Years Eve drink, or a round of Bloody Marys or mimosas for cozy New Years cocktail for brunch. And we’ve got just about everything in between. Let’s get mixing!
Here’s the easiest New Years drink with the most stunning result: the classic Champagne cocktail! Are you celebrating the new year? Because this is the drink for you. Adding a sugar cube to champagne makes a fountain of bubbles that positively sparkles! It takes any party to celebration status with just a few simple ingredients.
Want an easy drink that’s festive and sophisticated? There’s nothing better as a New Years cocktail than a Kir Royale! This famous French cocktail stars black currant liqueur and sparkling wine: and the berries and bubbles suit each other perfectly. The best cocktail recipes are simple perfection, and there’s nothing better than this 2 ingredient combination. Here are a few tricks to making the very best Kir Royale.
Another great New Years Eve drink? This Prosecco cocktail! It’s classy and sophisticated, pairing the citrus notes of Grand Marnier with lots of bubbles. Add an orange twist and it’s a fancy cocktail that takes only minutes to make! It’s almost an evening version of the flavors in a mimosa: strong on the citrus but with an “after 4 pm” vibe.
Here’s an effortlessly easy New Years Eve cocktail: Chambord and Champagne! These two go together like one of those famous pairings: tomatoes and basil, peaches and cream or peanut butter and jelly. Simply mix the raspberry liqueur with bubbles and you’ve got a sophisticated Chambord cocktail perfect for celebrations of all kinds. The bubbly sweet tart flavor is refreshing and unexpectedly nuanced for two ingredients.
Here’s a drink that’s made for New Years celebrations: a St Germain champagne cocktail! It’s sophisticated and refreshing: floral, botanical, tangy, and bubbly all at once. If you’ve never purchased a bottle of St Germain, now’s the time! This bottle of fancy liqueur should be part of your alcohol arsenal. Try this cocktail for holiday parties, New Year’s Eve, or celebrating getting that big promotion or anniversary.
Here’s one of the most sophisticated and refreshing New Years cocktails out there: a French 75! It’s got a mysterious name, but it’s made with a few simple ingredients. It’s tangy, bubbly, and a bit botanical, and it makes every occasion more festive! Really, any occasion is better with this drink in hand.
You don't only need bubbly for New Years drinks! Try this Pomegranate Margarita! Sweet tart pomegranate juice pairs perfectly with tequila and lime, balanced with the orange perfume of Cointreau. You can use either pomegranate juice or fresh-squeezed juice from the fruit, making it perfect for whatever you have on hand. It’s a great winter cocktail for when pomegranate is in season: but honestly: we drink it anytime.
Another New Years Eve drink without champagne: a Cranberry Martini! Here’s a tasty, sweet tart spin on the vodka martini that you’ve got to try: the Cranberry Martini! It’s refreshing, zingy and perfectly balanced, starring Cointreau orange liqueur and fresh lemon juice. PS if you think this drink bears a striking resemblance to the classic cocktail the Cosmopolitan, you’re right.
Another New Years drink without bubbles: the French Martini! This martini is hardly related to the classic dry martini at all. It’s a fruity and balanced, featuring a fancy French black raspberry liqueur (Chambord) and pineapple juice. Each sip is so intriguing and nuanced, it’s hard to put the glass down! This one’s become a favorite over here.
Let's move on to New Years Day cocktails! There's nothing better than the classic Mimosa: it wins the award for the best brunch drink! How to make a perfect mimosa? Use Prosecco instead of champagne for a sweeter, nuanced flavor! Use it with a heavy hand, and add a dash of orange liqueur. It’s tart, just sweet enough, and bubbly as all get out.
Here’s a sparkling cocktail that’s full of beautiful fresh flavor: the Bellini! The bellini is a classic cocktail that comes from Italy. The combination of bubbly Prosecco and sweet peaches couldn’t be more refreshing! And of course, it’s natural for brunch like its cousin the mimosa. In winter, use a storebought version of peach puree instead of homemade.
What's better as a New Years drink for brunch than a great Bloody Mary? We’ve spent a considerable amount of time tweaking this Bloody Mary mix recipe to perfection. Turns out, making the absolute perfect version of this classic cocktail requires a few secrets. Here’s how to make the best Bloody Mary: savory, spicy, tangy, and salty all at once.
When it comes to festive cocktails…well, this one might take the cake. Try this Pomegranate Mimosa! The combination of sweet tart pomegranate, orange perfume and airy bubbles is one of the most satisfying in our list of 200+ cocktail recipes. In fact, you can even serve it as a New Years Eve cocktail and call it Pomegranate Champagne Cocktail or Pomegranate Prosecco Sparkler!
Here's a fun New Years day cocktail: the Red Snapper! The name doesn’t betray this drink: though it’s both red and snappy. But it’s holding a secret: it’s essentially a classic Bloody Mary with gin. Switching out the vodka leads to a whole new drink: savory, spicy, tangy, spicy, with a hint of botanical on the finish from the gin. It’s a fun variation on the standard: and even more so to surprise everyone with this unique spin.
Last up in our New Years drinks: a brilliant brunch drink that works for any season. Try the Cranberry Mimosa! Tart cranberry is an ideal pairing for subtly sweet orange juice. Pair the two and the glass is full of fiery red color and crisp flavor. It’s bubbly, it’s refreshing, and it’s downright fun. It’s easy as pie to mix up and perfect for entertaining.
A few more drink options
Need a few more ideas? Here are a few more unique champagne cocktails that are a little outside the box…but still perfect for the New Year:
Add a sugar cube to bottom of a champagne flute. Add 5 dashes of bitters to the sugar cube. Use a vegetable peeler to peel off a small strip of lemon skin. Squeeze the lemon skin into the flute to release the oils.
Fill the glass with champagne and serve immediately: watch how the sugar cube makes the bubbles sparkle! Garnish with a lemon twist if desired.
Category:Drink
Method:Poured
Cuisine:Cocktails
Keywords: new years drinks, new years eve drinks, new years cocktails, new years eve cocktail
More cocktails
Looking for more drinks outside of these New Years cocktails? We’ve got 200+ cocktails for every occasion:
This shrimp pizza recipe is full of big flavor, starring buttery shrimp and 3 cheeses! It’s garlicky, creamy, and a total crowd pleaser.
We’ve made just about every pizza recipe, from classic Pizza Margherita to fusions style taco pizza. But here’s a new-to-us pizza that instantly jumped to the top of our list: this 3 Cheese Shrimp Pizza! Shrimp on a pizza isn’t what might first jump to mind. But let me tell you: it’s a must try! The garlicky, buttery shrimp against creamy ricotta cheese is one of the best pizza topping combinations we’ve had in a while. It’s so satisfying, you’ll be hooked. It’s like shrimp alfredo on a pizza crust instead of noodles…which is just as good as it sounds.
How to make the best shrimp pizza (basic method)
Shrimp on pizza isn’t usually our first choice. But after eating an incredible seafood pizza at one of our favorite pizza joints in town, we knew we had to try it! Our version isn’t much like theirs (so you’ll have to go try it!). But what it does have in common: juicy, buttery garlicky shrimp! Here’s what to do to make the best shrimp pizza recipe:
Saute the shrimp with garlic and butter. Get that shrimp perfectly sauteed before you use it as a pizza topping! Use the instructions below or our sauteed shrimp recipe.
Spread seasoned ricotta on the dough. There’s no need to make an alfredo sauce: just spread lightly seasoned ricotta straight onto the dough.
Top with mozzarella and Parmesan and bake! All you need is 5 to 7 minutes in a super hot oven. It’s best if you have a pizza stone! Speaking of…
Use a pizza stone if you can!
This shrimp pizza is best if you bake it on a pizza stone. Why? A pizza stone makes the absolute perfect crust texture! Here’s what to know:
Pizza stone: A pizza stone is what makes Italian pizza crust crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Here’s the best pizza stone we’ve found, plus care tips.
Pizza peel: Use a pizza peel to transfer the pizza onto the hot pizza stone in the oven. We recommend this Standard pizza peel or this Conveyor pizza peel.
Don’t have a pizza stone? That’s ok too! You can make your pizza right on a baking sheet.
Homemade pizza dough is best, or use these shortcuts!
In our professional opinion: it’s always worth it to make homemade pizza dough! The result is far, far better than what you can buy at the store. But of course: there’s not always time for that! We get it. Here are a few options for the dough for this shrimp pizza recipe:
Master pizza dough! This Best Pizza Dough has the absolute perfect flavor and texture. It is sublime. This one takes 15 minutes to make and 45 minutes to proof before baking.
Thin crust. Try this Thin Crust Pizza Dough! It’s easy to roll out into a thinner, crispier crust.
Pan pizza. Or, make it as a pan pizza in a cast iron skillet! This option takes a little longer but it’s easier to pull off.
Naan or flatbread pizza. Want to shortcut the process altogether? Try Naan Pizza or Flatbread Pizza.
Store-bought pizza dough. We do it in a pinch, too! Find a good quality brand (experiment to find your favorite).
The shrimp to buy for shrimp pizza
There are lots of options at the store when it comes to shrimp! It doesn’t matter if you accidentally grab the wrong one for this recipe: pizza is very forgiving! But here are a few things to look for:
Find medium shrimp. Medium is nice for a pizza topping: it’s also labeled as 41 to 50 count. You could also use small shrimp.
Use peeled shrimp. Often we recommend tail on, but you don’t want that for pizza! If you buy the wrong kind, just remove the shell before cooking.
Fresh or frozen. Both are essentially the same freshness because most shrimp are immediately flash frozen. Just make sure to thaw the shrimp in advance.
Wild caught. Look for wild caught: it’s the most sustainable!
What to serve with shrimp pizza
This shrimp pizza recipe is a perfect meal: it’s gooey, garlicky, cheesy and very filling! We like pairing it with a green salad or other veggie side to amp the meal’s veggie quotient. Here are some ideas:
1/4 teaspoon plus 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
2 garlic cloves
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup whole milk ricotta cheese
Fresh ground black pepper
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
Chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
Make the pizza dough: Follow the Best Pizza Dough or Thin Crust Dough recipe to prepare the dough. (This takes about 15 minutes to make and 45 minutes to rest.)
Place a pizza stone in the oven and preheat to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. (If you don’t have a pizza stone, you can make the pizza on a baking sheet.)
Prepare the toppings: If frozen, thaw the shrimp in advance. Mince the garlic. Pat the shrimp dry. In a medium bowl, mix the shrimp with the minced garlic and 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt. In a medium skillet, heat the butter on medium high heat. Cook the shrimp for 1 to 2 minutes per side until opaque and cooked through, turning them with tongs. When done, transfer the shrimp to a bowl.
In a small bowl, mix the ricotta with the 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt and fresh ground pepper.
Bake the pizza: When the oven is ready, dust a pizza peel with cornmeal or semolina flour. (If you don’t have a pizza peel, you can use a rimless baking sheet or the back of a rimmed baking sheet. But a pizza peel is well worth the investment!) Stretch the dough into a circle; see How to Stretch Pizza Dough for instructions. Then gently place the dough onto the pizza peel.
Spread the seasoned ricotta onto the dough then 1/4 cup of the mozzarella cheese. Add the shrimp, reserving the butter at the bottom of the bowl. Top with the remaining 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese. Add a sprinkle of the reserved butter (use about half).
Use the pizza peel to carefully transfer the pizza onto the preheated pizza stone. Bake the pizza until the cheese and crust are nicely browned, about 5 to 7 minutes in the oven (or 1 minute in a pizza oven).
Top with the chopped parsley. Slice into pieces and serve immediately (cutting it with a knife is easiest to cut through the shrimp).
Category:Main Dish
Method:Baked
Cuisine:Pizza
Keywords: Shrimp pizza, Shrimp pizza recipe
More great pizza recipes
We live for pizza over here! If you do too, here are a few more of our top pizza recipes to try:
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