Chocolate Loaf Bread

This is one of my favorite recipes to make when I want something sweet, but not too sweet. To be honest; I usually make it to have for breakfast with coffee in the mornings. 

The recipe makes two 8" x 4" loaves. While I probably could eat both in just a couple of days, I usually either give the extra loaf away or hold off on topping it with the chocolate glaze and freeze it for later. 

Well, let's get to it then!

What you'll need:

Loaves:

• 1/2 cup butter (no substitutions)
• 2/3 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips, melted
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 1/2 cups applesauce

Chocolate Glaze:

• 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 Tbsp. butter  (no substitutions)
• 5 tsp. water
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar (more for dusting if desired)
• 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
• Dash of salt

How you'll do it:

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add the melted chocolate, eggs, and vanilla; mix well. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Add to creamed mixture alternately with applesauce.
2. Divide batter among two greased loaf pans. Bake in oven for 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks. Cool completely.
3. For chocolate glaze combine chocolate chips, butter, and water in a saucepan.  Cook and stir over low heat until chocolate is melted. Remove from heat; stir in powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt. Drizzle over cooled loaves. Once chocolate glaze has cooled, dust loaves with reserved powdered sugar if desired. 

*** For even more of a chocolate explosion mix in 1/2 cup miniature chocolate chips to the batter before baking. ***