Fig, Applesauce & Almond Loaf

I had everything needed to make this recipe vegan. I found it in my Cooking Light, October 2010 issue and had ripped it out to make. Yesterday was kind of a lazy, get a few things done kind of day so I decided to give this loaf a try. It's delicious and super moist. We ate it warm from the oven without anything added. However, the original calls for cream cheese and jelly smeared on it.

Streusel:

• 2 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tablespoons coarsely chopped almonds
• 1 tablespoon chilled Earth Balance margarine, cut into small pieces
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Bread:

• 1 cup dried figs
• 1/2 cup boiling water
• Cooking spray
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 2 egg replacements (I used EnerG)
• 3/4 cup natural unsweet applesauce
• 1/3 cup plain soy yogurt
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (if you have almond extract use it - I didn't)
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup whole-wheat flour
• 1/3 cup chopped almonds, toasted
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Preheat oven to 350°. Make the streusel: combine the streusel ingredients in a small bowl, stirring with a fork until crumbly; set aside.

To prepare bread: combine figs and 1/2 cup boiling water in a small bowl; let stand 30 minutes. Coat 2 (8-inch) loaf pans with cooking spray; dust with 1 tablespoon flour.

Place egg replacements (made according to package directions) in a medium bowl. Add applesauce, yogurt, oil, and vanilla extract; stir well. Add sugar; stir well.

Combine flours and remaining ingredients in a large bowl, stirring with a whisk.

Drain figs, and coarsely chop.

Add figs and applesauce mixture to flour mixture, stirring until just combined. Divide batter between prepared pans.

Sprinkle streusel over batter.

Bake at 350° for 55 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans for 15 minutes on a wire rack; remove from pans.

Cool completely on wire rack.

Enjoy!