Apple Chai Loaf

A warming apple loaf spiced with Chai Addict

There’s something particularly comforting about the smell of apples and warming spices baking away in the oven — especially on a cold Melbourne day.

This Apple Chai Loaf comes courtesy of our lovely friend Josh from @justjosheats, who was craving something warm and hearty after a particularly wintery Melbourne blast.

Made with fresh apples, cinnamon, warming spices and Chai Addict, it’s soft, fragrant and just the thing to enjoy with an afternoon cup of chai.

And if you really want to lean into the chai? Josh has a few delicious suggestions for that too. 😉

Recipe adapted by Josh from a recipe by Chef Shane Smith.

Ingredients

• 180g plain flour

• 1½ tsp baking powder

• ½ tsp ground cinnamon

• ¼ tsp mixed spice

• 2 tsp Chai Addict

• 65g caster sugar

• 45g brown sugar

• 2 apples, diced

• 1 apple, thinly sliced for topping

• 130ml buttermilk

• 1 medium egg

• 1 tbsp maple syrup

• 90ml sunflower oil

• 2 tbsp sugar, for topping

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 190°C (170°C fan) and line a 2lb loaf tin.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, maple syrup, sunflower oil, egg and Chai Addict.

3. Add the caster and brown sugars and whisk to combine.

4. Sift in the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and mixed spice. Gently mix until just combined — try not to overmix the batter.

5. Dice two of the apples and gently fold them through the batter.

6. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf tin and smooth the top.

7. Thinly slice the remaining apple and arrange the slices over the top of the loaf. Sprinkle with the remaining sugar.

8. Bake for approximately 50 minutes, or until golden brown and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.

9. Allow the loaf to cool in the tin for 5 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack.

Make It Even More Chai Addict-y

Josh's additions and preferences:

• Keep the peel on the apples for a little extra texture.

• Add a handful of your favourite nuts with the diced apples.

• Increase the cinnamon to 1 tsp.

• Add 1 tsp ground cardamom for even more warming spice.

• For an extra chai hit, mix Chai Addict with a little sugar to make a chai soak and drizzle it over the loaf while it's still warm.

• Or combine Chai Addict with icing sugar to make a simple chai glaze and drizzle over the cooled loaf.

Serve yourself a generous slice, make a chai and enjoy. 🍎☕

You can also Watch Josh Make It

Made it? Tag @chaiaddict_melb and @justjosheats so we can see your creation!