Prep Time: 25 minutes (includes cooling time)

Cook Time: 60 minutes (for bread and pudding)

This dish is good for dessert after any meal. Apples and cinnamon make such a delicious combination of flavors. My mom used to make this at Thanksgiving and I so enjoyed this as a child and it was one of the family traditions I have continued. You can use any kind of apples, but Granny Smiths are the ones mom used to always use. Remember-- always make sure you use the best ingredients. Don't substitute for lesser quality, and you will never have a flop.

Ingredients for Apple Cinnamon Bread:

2 Medium Granny Smith apples peeled and chopped

1 Tablespoon water

3/4 Cups of unbleached flour

1 Cup whole wheat flour

1 1/2 Cups of brown maple sugar

3/4 Teaspoon baking soda

3/4 Teaspoon sea salt

1/2 Teaspoon baking powder

1 Teaspoon of nutmeg

1 Tablespoon of cinnamon

1/2 Teaspoon vanilla 2 Ener-G egg replacer

1/4 Cup of refined rice bran oil

1/2 Cup applesauce 1 Cup walnuts, chopped

1/2 Cup of applesauce

1/2 Cup raisins or cranberries(optional)

Ingredients for topping:

3 Cups of coconut milk

1 Tablespoon of cinnamon

1 Teaspoon of all spice

1 Teaspoon of vanilla extract

1 Tablespoon of maple syrup

2 Tablespoon of brown rice or date sugar

1/2 Cup of chopped walnuts

Cooking Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F, grease a 9x5 loaf pan.

2. Place peeled and chopped apples in a microwave safe bowl.

3. Add the water and microwave for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes.

4. Combine apples to all the remaining bread ingredients and mix thoroughly.

5. Pour mixture into the greased loaf pan.

6. Bake for 40 minutes (until a knife put into the cake comes out clean).

7. Take out of oven, place on a wire rack and let stand for 15 minutes.

8. Cut bread into cubes about 1 inch thick and place in a baking dish.

9. Combine the ingredients for the bread pudding in a bowl.

10. Pour the pudding mixture over the cubed bread.

11. Bake for about 20 minutes at 350 degrees or until the liquid begins to bubble.

12. Remove from heat and let stand. Don't worry if there is still some liquid in the pan, it will become absorbed once you let the dessert sit.

This is great with vegan ice cream on the side or as a topper.

Image from Flickr.com