Apple jack around here is simply hard cider, or scrumpy with no further efforts at increasing the alcoholic level. You can buy hard cider at any package store, or many markets who carry alcoholic drinks. I guess apple brandy is sometimes called Apple Jack too, saw that when I googled it, but that's a new one on me. It doesn't make any difference how you raise the proof in the end run, it accomplishes the same thing and if I were going to look for the closest equivalent it would be apple brandy.

When I make this quick bread, I usually substitute dried cherries for the maraschino cherries. I would thoroughly drain some of those cherries use them instead. I also like Linda's idea of serving them on pound cake or on hot milk sponge cake. CHERRY-APPLE NUT BREAD 1/3 cup softened butter or margarine 2/3 cup sugar 2 eggs 1 cup applesauce 1/4 cup milk (skim is OK) 2 cups flour 1 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. baking soda 1 Tbs. grated lemon rind 2/3 cup chopped walnuts 1/3 cup whole maraschino cherries Cream butter and sugar together. Add eggs one at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition. Add applesauce and milk and mix. (Mixture will look curdled but donâÂÂt worry.) In a separate bowl, mix flour and all other ingredients except nuts & cherries. Add flour mixture to egg mixture and stir only until blended. Sir in nuts and cherries. Pour into greased 9 X 5 X 3 loaf pan and bake in preheated 350 degree oven for one hour or until it tests done. Let cool in pan for 5 minutes, then turn out onto rack and cool thoroughly before slicing. Store tightly wrapped in refrigerator. OK to freeze. Yield: 1 large loaf. Note: Can be baked in mini-loaf pans. Just adjust baking time.

Catherine, you would have to add substantially more rum than 1/4 teaspoon to get the rum flavour. I would think at least an 1/8 to 1/4 cup. To do that you would have to reduce some of the liquid in your cake. And it would change the texture somewhat. Why not just substitute real vanilla extra for the rum. I'd prefer the vanilla flavour over rum extract anyway. Ann

joanm, I am glad you asked this question because I had the same problem. I have rum extract but cannot find brandy extract. Thanks, Alexa. I was wondering if one could use the real thing. Linda