The Culinary Connoisseur
Make it Quick!
12
Nov
Nov
Quick breads are breads that are prepared with leavening agents
such as baking soda or powder, rather than yeast. As a result, the bread does
not have a long rising time. These breads can vary widely in texture and
flavor, from light and fluffy to extremely dense, and they can be sweet or
savory.
such as baking soda or powder, rather than yeast. As a result, the bread does
not have a long rising time. These breads can vary widely in texture and
flavor, from light and fluffy to extremely dense, and they can be sweet or
savory.
Banana breads and similar loaf breads like zucchini bread
are quick breads, as are muffins, pancakes and waffles. Typically, a recipe
will include flour, butter or oil, and leavening, but it can also include
sugar, ingredients like fruit and vegetables, and liquids. Low fat quick breads
often use applesauce instead of fat, and they tend to be lighter in texture.
are quick breads, as are muffins, pancakes and waffles. Typically, a recipe
will include flour, butter or oil, and leavening, but it can also include
sugar, ingredients like fruit and vegetables, and liquids. Low fat quick breads
often use applesauce instead of fat, and they tend to be lighter in texture.
There are a number of different ways to prepare quick
bread. One of the most common ways involves mixing the wet ingredients and dry
ingredients separately, and combining them at the very end. The ingredients are
stirred until they just come together, and then the resulting dough or batter
is quickly baked.
bread. One of the most common ways involves mixing the wet ingredients and dry
ingredients separately, and combining them at the very end. The ingredients are
stirred until they just come together, and then the resulting dough or batter
is quickly baked.
Quick bread can also be made with the creaming method,
where butter and sugar are beaten together before wet and dry ingredients are
added. With biscuits, shortening is cut into the dry ingredients. In all cases,
the ingredients should not be worked too much, as the dough can get hard and
tasteless if it is handled too much.
where butter and sugar are beaten together before wet and dry ingredients are
added. With biscuits, shortening is cut into the dry ingredients. In all cases,
the ingredients should not be worked too much, as the dough can get hard and
tasteless if it is handled too much.
Quick bread is great if you are an inexperienced baker as
most recipes are simple and forgiving like ours below.
most recipes are simple and forgiving like ours below.
1 cup fresh cranberries
1/3 cup sugar
2 tablespoons grated orange zest
1½ cups plus 1 teaspoon flour
1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
2/3 cup honey
1/2 cup canola oil
1/2 cup orange juice
1 teaspoon grated orange rind
2 large eggs
Preheat oven to 350°. Coat a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan with
baking spray; line bottom of pan with parchment paper. Coat paper with baking
spray as well.
baking spray; line bottom of pan with parchment paper. Coat paper with baking
spray as well.
Combine cranberries, sugar, zest and 1 teaspoon flour in
a bowl, and toss well. Sprinkle bottom of pan with cranberry mixture.
a bowl, and toss well. Sprinkle bottom of pan with cranberry mixture.
Combine flour, cornmeal, and baking powder in a large
bowl; make a well in center of mixture. Combine honey and the remaining
ingredients in a bowl, stirring well, and add honey mixture to flour mixture,
stirring just until combined. Scrape batter into prepared pan over cranberry
mixture. Bake at for 50 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes
out with moist crumbs clinging. Cool in pan 10 minutes on a wire rack.
bowl; make a well in center of mixture. Combine honey and the remaining
ingredients in a bowl, stirring well, and add honey mixture to flour mixture,
stirring just until combined. Scrape batter into prepared pan over cranberry
mixture. Bake at for 50 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes
out with moist crumbs clinging. Cool in pan 10 minutes on a wire rack.
Place a plate upside down on top of bread; invert bread
onto plate. Remove parchment paper. Cool and serve.
onto plate. Remove parchment paper. Cool and serve.
1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
2/3 cup sugar
4 tablespoons canola oil
8 ounces almond paste
2 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon almond milk or rice milk
1/4 cup sliced almonds
1/3 cup confectioners’ sugar
Preheat oven to 350°. Spray a 9×5” loaf pan with baking
spray.
spray.
Combine flour and baking powder, stirring well with a
whisk. Place granulated sugar, oil and almond paste ingredients in a large bowl;
beat with a mixer at medium speed until well combined. Add eggs, 1 at a time,
beating well after each addition; beat in vanilla. Beating at low speed, add
flour mixture and 1/2 cup almond milk alternately to batter, beginning and
ending with flour mixture; beat just until combined.
whisk. Place granulated sugar, oil and almond paste ingredients in a large bowl;
beat with a mixer at medium speed until well combined. Add eggs, 1 at a time,
beating well after each addition; beat in vanilla. Beating at low speed, add
flour mixture and 1/2 cup almond milk alternately to batter, beginning and
ending with flour mixture; beat just until combined.
Scrape batter into prepared pan; sprinkle with sliced
almonds. Bake for 50 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center
comes out with moist crumbs clinging. Cool in pan on a wire rack 10 minutes.
Remove from pan; cool on wire rack.
almonds. Bake for 50 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center
comes out with moist crumbs clinging. Cool in pan on a wire rack 10 minutes.
Remove from pan; cool on wire rack.
Place confectioners’ sugar in a small bowl. Add remaining
1 tablespoon almond milk; stir with a whisk until smooth. Drizzle glaze over
top of bread; let stand until set.
1 tablespoon almond milk; stir with a whisk until smooth. Drizzle glaze over
top of bread; let stand until set.