This post is created in partnership with Stemilt. Stemilt is a family-owned and operated fruit grower here in Washington State, dedicated to sustainability and social responsibility. Thanks for supporting the brands that keep the Flourishing Foodie delicious, and as always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I've never tried an apple loaf cake that I didn't like. I love incorporating apples into baked goods. The soft, delicate texture. The sweet and tart flavor. They pair so well with cinnamon, cardamon, and cloves and are, in my opinion, the epitome of Fall baking. 

People often think about incorporating apples into pies and crumbles, but they make a perfect addition to sweet loaves as well. Because apples become so soft once baked, they don't distract from the delicate crumb texture of a cake. Their flavor is sweet and tart, which can be a welcomed addition to a delicious loaf. 

Here in the Pacific Northwest, the air becoming colder and the leaves on the trees beginning to turn color, are both signs that it is apple picking time, which has become a tradition in our house. Each year at the beginning of October, we all pile into the car and head to our favorite apple orchard, where we pick way too many apples we know what to do with. If you happen to stop by our house for dinner in the next few months, chances are, we are having something with apples. The freezer will be full of pies and tarts, and the fridge full of apple sauce. We like to dry apples, make apple fruit leather, and most importantly, make apple cinnamon loaf cake.  

Baking is one of my favorite hobbies. I love experimenting with recipes, making slight adaptations on my favorite ones, and creating new ones myself. I have a lot of recipe successes followed by just as many fails, but I get excited when I have come up with something worth writing about, a recipe that hits all the right notes. 

I am so excited to share with you this apple loaf cake. It is tender, moist, and delicate. It has the perfect amount of sweetness, small pieces of soft and tender apples mixed throughout the loaf. The warm crumble on top is nutty, slightly sweet, and crunchy. It complements the cake in a way I couldn't have imagined. And bonus, the whole thing is vegan. Whether you live in the Pacific Northwest or not, if you have access to apples, I encourage you to make this loaf. You won't be disappointed.

Click here for the recipe.