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Apple, Cranberry, And Dark Chocolate Loaf

During the Autumn holidays we went for a drive down to Canberra. We had a little shopping to do, and we also wanted to check out the National Arboretum, which we have driven past several times, but have not actually visited. After a morning spent in a large shopping center, the Arboretum was just what we needed. Space and quiet for the kids to run around after being cooped up shopping.

While the trees are still being established, it was still spectacular to see all the different types arranged over the hills, and imagine what it will look like in a few years. The Arboretum also had an amazing playground which the kids ran wild in for an hour, as well as fantastic views across Canberra, several great sculptures, a bonsai area that fascinated the kids, and at the end of our visit, a cafe that makes all it’s food on site.

Apple Cranberry And Dark Chocolate Loaf-2

After 2 hours or so of exploring, the kids were ravenous so they had milkshakes and home made biscuits from the cafe, and I had a slice of Apple, Cranberry, and Dark Chocolate loaf. Oh my! Delicious, moist, and spicy with bursts of sweet apple and tart cranberries balanced out with the rich dark chocolate chunks. Country Boy and I studied it closely, trying to work out what was in it so that we could have a try at making one ourselves.

Apple Cranberry And Dark Chocolate Loaf-3

Since then I have been researching recipes online, trying to find one that I thought would be like the delicious Arboretum loaf. I couldn’t find one which was close enough, so I have made up my own. It’s also delicious! So if you’re near Canberra, definitely check out the Arboretum and it’s cafe (their Canberra cake is legendary), but if you’re not near by, make this loaf and enjoy it at leisure in your own home. It tastes like Autumn to me!

Apple Cranberry And Dark Chocolate Loaf-4

Apple, Cranberry, And Dark Chocolate Loaf
 
Print
Prep time
15 mins
Cook time
60 mins
Total time
1 hour 15 mins
 
Author: Jo @ Country Life Experiment
Serves: 1
Ingredients
  • ½ c brown sugar
  • ¼c sugar
  • 1t vanilla extract
  • 1 egg
  • ½ c apple puree
  • 100g melted butter
  • ⅓c sour cream
  • 1 apple - peeled and grated
  • 2 c plain flour
  • 2 t baking powder
  • 2t cinnamon
  • 1t nutmeg
  • 1 apple - peeled and finely diced
  • ⅓ c dried cranberries - soaked in hot water for 10 minutes and drained
  • ⅓ c dark chocolate chunks - roughly chopped
Method
  1. Preheat the oven to 170*c
  2. In a bowl stir together the sugars, vanilla, egg, apple puree, melted butter, sour cream, and grated apple.
  3. Stir in the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
  4. Stir in the diced apple, cranberries, and chocolate.
  5. Pour into a greased and lined loaf tin.
  6. Bake for 1 hour or until a knife comes out clean when poked into the center.
  7. Allow to cool before serving.
3.5.3229

If you’re planning a visit to the Arboretum there is a great area for flying kites, so bring some if you have them. You do need to pay for parking but it is only a couple of dollars an hour. The views, play area, and cafe make a great family friendly outing.

Apple Cranberry Dark Chocolate Loaf

 

Have you been to the National Arboretum? Ever tried something in a cafe, and then just had to have a go at making it at home?

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Hungry Chicken says

    July 2, 2016 at 8:39 am

    That is awesome!! I think I will make some for my boys to take as trail snacks.

    Reply
  2. Kim @ Land of Zonkt says

    May 14, 2016 at 8:54 am

    oh how delicious does that look. I’d say the sour cream is what makes it so moist. It looks divine.
    We are off to Canberra for our annual ski trip. We now stop for a night over in canberra to break up the long drive from sydney for the kids and it’s the best thing we ever did. So much to see and eat in canberra, it’s becoming my favourite thing to look forward to all year.
    I’m writing the arboretum down as it sounds like a great place to take the kids and I want this loaf too!
    Thanks for linking up to YWF

    Reply
  3. The Purple Ladle says

    May 10, 2016 at 10:43 pm

    what a gorgeous recipe! sounds very tasty – I have pinned to my best cake recipe board, would definitely like to make this one

    Reply
  4. Lauren @ Create Bake Make says

    May 9, 2016 at 10:00 am

    Oh my goodness this look lovely, I’ve never been to Canberra before but think I need to make a special trip just to check out the cakes!

    Reply
    • Jo@CountryLifeExperiment says

      May 13, 2016 at 8:44 pm

      Canberra is one of those towns where there is so much to see and do. It has a very good foodie scene.

      Reply
  5. knitbakecultivate says

    May 2, 2016 at 9:58 pm

    Oh yum this looks delish! I have been to Canberra but never to the Arboretum. Sounds like the kind of place my kids would groan at, but then have a great time. Glad the cafe was a hit. Often cafes at attractions tend to be of the greasy spoon variety. This one sounds like a gem!

    Reply
    • Jo@CountryLifeExperiment says

      May 7, 2016 at 3:35 pm

      It’s always a surprise to find a cafe at a tourist attraction that does something other than the usual deep fried, mass produced foods!

      Reply
  6. jan2132 says

    May 2, 2016 at 10:45 am

    Years since I was there and the café was good then. I must get back there. Another one hoping you got some rain. I regularly support Buy a Bale which is from Frontier Services of Victorian Uniting Church. So dry in so many places. Added money the last time for a bus to carry volunteer tradies to work on farms.

    A friend is ordained and works for same group in high country of Victorian alps. If there were roads, it would take her three or more days to drive around her parish. She has been heavily involved in previous years in chaplaincy work after disastrous fires. It is dry where she is too.

    Reply
  7. Anne@GritandGiggles says

    May 2, 2016 at 10:38 am

    Oh my, I think I might go off and make this now. I am pretty sure I have all the ingredients already. Sounds delicious.

    Reply
  8. Elisha says

    May 2, 2016 at 8:08 am

    That is now on the cooking list for the week. Delicious!! I may tweek a few recipes here and there but not invent them. No baking talents in this house Im afraid. The Arboretum sounds like a place I would love to go. Hopefully you guys got some rain on the weekend. It was crazy rain and storms here Sat night.

    Reply
    • Jo@CountryLifeExperiment says

      May 7, 2016 at 3:37 pm

      We had a little rain, and there is now a shimmer of green on the ground. Fingers crossed for more!

      Reply

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Hi, I’m Jo

I'm a city girl turned farmer's wife, school teacher, ideas woman, and mum to three country kids. Country Life Experiment is all about simple country living, growing and making our own food, and life on our family farm in rural Australia. Join me as I give country living a try. Read more...
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A lovely, easy Christmas with family, good food, a A lovely, easy Christmas with family, good food, a few presents, an afternoon swim and dinner on the veranda as the sun set. Time to stop and be thankful for the many blessings of the year. I hope you had a lovely Christmas too!
We have been mulling over how to fix up the drivew We have been mulling over how to fix up the driveway and lead up to our house for a while. Currently it’s just a dumping ground for old bits of metal and a big pile of mulch, but C would like to create a turning area and put in a garden. First up though, there’s a huge old stump that needs to go. What better excuse is there to have a fire on Sunday afternoon? C and the kids jumped on the quad bike and trailer, and hauled back a big pile of sticks and logs to help the stump burn. Once the fire was going, marshmallows were found and roasted. No better way to spend time together.
Team work makes the dream work. We were asked rec Team work makes the dream work. 
We were asked recently whether we “make” our kids work on the farm. The answer is of course not. Having said that, all three love to help out whenever they can. They all work hard because they want to; because they take pride in working hard and contributing in a meaningful way to our family life; because they love living on our farm and don’t remember life before we moved here. Whether it be planting trees or doing sheep work or feeding animals, they all want to be involved. As a parent, nothing is better than watching them grow in skill and confidence as they work along side you. We’re so glad that we get to spend time with our three, working together.
We’ve had an unexpected addition to the family ☘️🐑. She is a lot easier to look after than the other family members but she does try to escape her yard and head butt people. Poddy lambs are super cute but they tend to think they are a human. Clover the lamb is sure that Meg is her mum. Can’t think why… 🤔🤣
The perfect way to end a long winter weekend: toge The perfect way to end a long winter weekend: together, cooking damper around the remains of the bonfire.
It’s been a tough few weeks on the farm. We got It’s been a tough few weeks on the farm. We got through shearing without a hitch (thankfully 🙏) but we’ve had a run of the flu followed by Covid run through the family since then. The kids and I have tested positive (this is my second time getting it 🦠) though so far C has managed to avoid it. There has been a lot of lying on the couch feeling pretty ordinary. Han had to reschedule her driving test for a 4th time due to Covid, which is disappointing for her because she wants her freedom and for us because it would be so much more convenient if she could drive herself places. Just to add in to the mix, our hot water system has chosen now as a good time to die so we’re on cold showers until we’re all out of iso. This is not meant to be a whinging post but sometimes life just sucks a bit and it’s good to be real. Fortunately, the sight of the fire going with a stack of wood next to it cheers us up. Things will improve soon. Onwards we go…

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Hi, I’m Jo

City girl turned farmer's wife, school teacher, ideas woman, and mum to three country kids. Country Life Experiment is all about simple country living, growing and making our own food, and life on our family farm in rural Australia. Join me as I give country living a try. Read more...
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