Apple Fritter Loaf Cake

Preheat oven to 350-degrees. Line a 9x5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper and spray with baking spray. Set aside.

PREPARE CAKE BATTER: In the bowl of a stand mixer, affixed with the paddle attachment, add the butter and beat on medium-high speed until smooth and creamy. Add the sugar to the butter and beat until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time to the sugar mixture, beating the egg in completely before adding the second egg. Add vanilla extract and applesauce to the mixture and beat until all ingredients are well incorporated. Turn mixer to low speed and slowly add half of the dry ingredients to the sugar mixture and half of the milk, and mix until barely combined.

Next, add the last half of the dry ingredients and the rest of the milk to the batter. Mix until just combined. Remove bowl from the mixer and set aside.

PREPARE MIDDLE APPLE LAYER: Peel and dice the apple into little pieces. Set apple aside. In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar and cinnamon together. Set aside.

PREPARE CINNAMON-SUGAR TOPPING: In a small bowl, combine the white sugar and cinnamon and mix until combined. Set aside.

PREPARE CAKE: In prepared loaf pan, pour 1/3 of the cake batter into the bottom of the pan. Add the diced apples evenly across the batter, and gently push the apples into the cake batter. Add the brown sugar-cinnamon mixture on top of the apples and gently push into the apples and batter. Pour remaining batter over the top of the apples and brown sugar, evenly dispersing the batter to ensure the apple and brown sugar mixture is completely covered by batter. Pour cinnamon-sugar mixture evenly on top of the cake and gently push into the top of the batter.

Bake cake in 350-degree oven for 45-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out mostly clean, without raw batter on it. Do not over bake, as cake will continue to bake after it is removed from the oven and setting on the counter. Once cake has completely cooled, cut into desired sized slices.