It's Just Like Dating: Amaretto Mascarpone Apple Bread

When I stumbled upon this recipe, I took a look at the ingredients and the photo and got really excited. Marscapone? Amaretto? Cinnamon? Wow, this is too good to be true. I imagined an experience that paralleled tiramisu but with a whole new set of flavors. As required by all good food bloggers, there was a photo and the bread looked delicious.

I gathered all the ingredients and started mixing them. Huh, 1/4 cup of sugar? I guess I didn't pay too much attention to the quantity of ingredients. How can anything taste good with only 1/4 cup of sugar? Yikes, this could be the first warning sign of a bad recipe. When do I add the applesauce? Hmm, the recipe author "forgot" to mention that in the directions. Maybe applesauce was included as part of the "apples" when she said "Stir in mascarpone and apples until combined."

When I added the flour, the batter seemed too dry and I figured this is where I should add the applesauce. All ingredients in and mixed together and I first tasted the batter. It didn't taste so good. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't good enough for me to lick the bowl clean.

At this point I realized that this recipe was much like starting to date someone new. At first I was wowed by the ingredients. I spent several days thinking about how good it was going to be, just like I do when I meet a guy I really like and go on a first date. Once I actually got a good look at the recipe, I found the quantities and directions a little odd. But we're all a little odd in some ways aren't we? Then my excitement about the recipe was tampered by how everything tasted when mixed all together, much like getting bored by the third or fourth date or realizing he's not a good match for you.

When I took the bread out of the oven, a rich creamy almond smell from the amaretto hit me. "Ooooo yum" this may be good and actually work out! I took a bite, as good as I imagined! So maybe, taking it out of the oven is like a really awesome follow up date, and the guy is worth a few more dates to see where things go.

After a few good weeks/months of dating, it's time to introduce him to your friends - but with baked goods you don't have to wait that long. Taking the bread to my friend's party tomorrow will be the true test of how good the recipe is! Hopefully it won't be out shined by my drunken pumpkin bread. Stay tuned for that recipe!

Amaretto Mascarpone Apple Bread
Adapted from Vampituity

Ingredients
Nonstick cooking spray
1-2/3 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup butter
2.5 egg whites
1/3 cup applesauce
2/3 cup Mascarpone*
1 medium-sized apple (McIntosh recommended if you can ge them), peeled and cut into 1/4" pieces (about 1 cup)
1/4 cup Amaretto liquor

Icing
1/2 cup confectioner’s sugar
1 1/2 tablespoon Amaretto liquor

Preparation
Preheat oven to 350° F.
Coat 8-1/2" x 4-3/4" loaf pan with cooking spray.

Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, ground cinnamon and salt. Set aside for later use. At medium speed, beat granulated sugar and oil until combined. Beat in egg whites, 1/4 cup of Amaretto, 1/3 cup of applesauce and flour mixture until combined. Stir in mascarpone until combined. Fold in the apples. Spread mixture evenly in loaf pan. Bake 45 to 55 minutes or until knife inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool 15 minutes.

Mix confectioner’s sugar and with the Amaretto. Drizzle over loaf. You may need to add more or less confectioner's sugar to get your desired effect. This ratio comes out as a lovely sugary coating, but not like thick kind you put on cinnamon rolls. Any bit that dribbles down the side onto the plate will mopped up by the cake to make an extra sugary bottom. Delish.

*Claudio's in Philly offers a good deal on the marscapone cheese - 8 oz for $3.99. At DiBruno's they were charging $14.99 for a 16 oz container. I heart the Italian Market just as much as I heart dating analogies.