Triple Chocolate Loaves

Made in four small loaf pans, these loaves make wonderful hostess gifts when wrapped in pretty colored foil or placed in a small tin. This recipe is not in the From Oma's Kitchen Cookbook.

½ cup/ 125ml butter, softened

1 cup/ 250ml brown sugar

3 eggs

1 cup/ 250ml chocolate chips, melted

2 cups/ 500ml applesauce

2 tsp/ 10ml vanilla

3 cups/ 750ml all-purpose flour

1 tsp/ 5ml baking powder

1 tsp/ 5ml baking soda

1 tsp/ 5ml salt

¾ cup/ 180ml chocolate chips

Glaze: ½ cup/ 125ml chocolate chips

2 Tbsp/ 30ml butter

1 tsp/ 5ml corn syrup

½ tsp/ 2ml vanilla or peppermint extract

Pinch salt

Preheat oven 350F/ 180C.

Grease four small loaf pans.

In the mixer, cream butter with sugar. Add eggs one at a time. Add melted chocolate; mix well. Add applesauce and vanilla. Combine flour, baking powder, soda and salt; add to creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in chocolate chips. Spoon batter into greased loaf pans. Bake for 35 – 40 min. or until toothpick inserted into center of loaf comes out clean. Cool on rack for 10 – 15 min. Remove and glaze when still warm.

For glaze: Melt chocolate chips, syrup and butter in microwave. Add vanilla and salt. Drizzle over loaves. Cool completely before cutting. Enjoy!