Apple Bread II

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 ½ teaspoons baking soda

¼ teaspoon salt

½ cup butter

¾ cup brown sugar

2 eggs, room temperature

2 cups applesauce

¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon

⅓ cup chopped dried apples

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon white sugar

Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan.

Sift the flour, baking soda, and salt together in a bowl. Beat the butter and brown sugar together with an electric mixer in a large bowl until light and fluffy. The mixture should be noticeably lighter in color. Add the first egg, allowing it to blend into the butter mixture before adding the other. Blend the applesauce and 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon into the mixture. Pour the flour mixture into the butter mixture, mixing until just incorporated. Fold in the dried apple pieces; mixing just enough to evenly combine. Pour the batter into prepared pan. Stir 1 teaspoon cinnamon and the white sugar together in a small bowl; sprinkle over the batter.

Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 1 hour. Cool in the pan 10 to 15 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack.