Sweet Quick-Breads

By rachelhowden11 on September 22, 2014

Since it’s fall, it’s the perfect time to make quick breads! I tested out the oven in this temp apt. by trying out a bunch of different flavors and I’m quite happy with the way they all turned out. I think the maple stout bread is especially interesting tasting. I also love the flavors of the apple bread (yummy topping) and the strawberry pineapple (it’s hard to pick a favorite!)

I made these in mini bread pans but I put the recipes below for a full regular bread pan size. If you use regular mini pans, each recipe would make 2 and if you use super mini pans like I did the recipe makes 3 or 4. These are delicious as a breakfast or a small snack and make for great holiday gifts. They are quite moist so they last for a while sitting at room temp sealed up or you can freeze them for later.

Apple Bread

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 cups apple, chopped
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Topping:

• 1/4 cup oats
• 1/4 cup honey almond butter
• 2 tbs brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tbs honey (plus more for drizzling)

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 ° Prepare one loaf pan (or 2 small loaf pans). With cooking spray or butter.
• Mix flour, baking soda, salt, walnuts, and apples in a large bowl.
• Whisk oil, sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, and cinnamon together in a small bowl. Add to the flour mixture and mix until just moistened. Pour into bread pan(s)
• For topping, mix oats, almond butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon together. Crumble over the top of the bread in the pan before baking.
• Bake in oven until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean ~1 hour. Drizzle with honey before serving.

Peanut Butter Banana Bread

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups mashed ripe banana
• 1/3 cup plain yogurt
• 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
• 3 tbs butter, melted
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp ground allspice
• Cooking spray

Glaze:

• 1/3 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tbs milk
• 1 tbs creamy peanut butter

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350° F
• Combine banana, yogurt, peanut butter, melted butter, and eggs. Beat with a mixer till smooth. Add granulated and brown sugars; beat until blended.
• Combine flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and allspice in a small bowl. Add flour mixture to banana mixture; beat just until blended. Pour batter into a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan coated with cooking spray.
• Bake at 350° for ~1 hour until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.Ccool 10 minutes in pan. Remove bread from pan; cool.
• To prepare glaze, combine powdered sugar, milk, and peanut butter in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk. Drizzle glaze over bread.

Ginger Pear Bread

Ingredients:

• 1 cup chopped pears
• ½ cup white sugar
• ½ tsp ground ginger
• ¼ tsp ground cloves
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1-2 tbs fresh ground ginger (optional, if you love ginger J)
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease an 8×4-inch loaf pan.
• Toss chopped pears with sugar, ginger, and cloves in a large bowl. Set aside and let the sugar dissolve in the pear juices.
• Stir vegetable oil, vanilla extract, and eggs into the pears. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Add the flour mixture to the pear mixture and stir gently just to combine. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 40 minutes.

Cherry Almond Chocolate Quick Bread

Ingredients:

• 1 tbs unsalted butter, softened
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tbs baking powder
• 3/4 tsp table salt
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1 cup dried cherries
• ½ cup maraschino cherries (optional)
• 1 cup buttermilk (can also substitute with 1 cup milk + 1 tbs white vinegar, let sit 5 min)
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp pure almond extract
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1/2 cup sliced almonds
• Confectioners’ sugar for dusting

Directions:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×5” loaf pan.
• In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Whisk until well blended. Stir in the chocolate chips and cherries.
• In a medium bowl, combine the buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla. Add the almond extract and whisk until blended. Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients. Add the melted butter. Gently fold until blended.
• Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly.
• Sprinkle the almonds evenly over the batter, gently patting them in so they adhere.
• Bake, rotating halfway through, until the top is golden and a wooden skewer or toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 50 to 55 minutes. Dust with confectioners’ sugar before serving.

Lemon Thyme Bread

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup milk
• 1 tbs minced fresh thyme or 1 tsp dried thyme
• ½ cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ tsp baking powder
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1 tbs lemon juice (~juice of ½ lemon)
• 1 tbs grated lemon peel

Glaze:

• ½ cup confectioner’s sugar
• 1 tbs lemon juice

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350° F
• In a microwave-safe bowl, combine milk and thyme. Microwave, uncovered, on high 1-2 minutes or until bubbly; cover and let stand until cooled to room temperature.
• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with reserved milk mixture. Stir in lemon juice and peel.
• Pour into a greased 9×5-in. loaf pan. Bake 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack.
• In a small bowl, combine glaze ingredients until smooth; drizzle over bread.

Maple Stout Bread

Ingredients:

• 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 6 tbs butter, softened
• 3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup stout beer
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• ¼ cup maple syrup

Glaze:

• 5 tbs powdered sugar
• 1 tbs maple syrup

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350°F
• Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt, stirring well with a whisk. Place butter and brown sugar in a large mixing bowl; beat with a mixer at high speed until well blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla.
• Combine beer, sour cream, and 1/4 cup syrup, stirring well with a whisk. Beating at low speed, add flour mixture and beer mixture alternately to the butter mixture; beat just until combined.
• Scrape batter into a 9 x 5-inch metal loaf pan coated with baking spray. Bake for 45 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs clinging. Cool 10 minutes in pan on a wire rack. Remove from pan; cool completely on wire rack.
• Mix powdered sugar with 1 tablespoon syrup; stir until smooth. Drizzle glaze over cooled bread.

Spiced Peach Carrot Bread

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup chopped pecans
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 3/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1 1/2 cups peeled and chopped fresh, ripe peaches
• 3/4 cup freshly grated carrots
• 2/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake pecans in a single layer in a shallow pan 8 to 10 minutes or until toasted and fragrant, stirring halfway through. Cool 15 minutes.
• Stir together flour, sugars, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, salt and nutmeg in a large bowl; add peaches, carrots, vegetable oil, milk, eggs, and toasted pecans, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened. Spoon batter into a lightly greased 9- x 5-inch loaf pan.
• Bake at 350° for ~1 hour or until a long wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack 5 minutes. Remove from pan to wire rack, and cool completely.

Strawberry Pineapple Bread

Ingredients:

• 5 oz frozen or fresh strawberries, chopped
• 5 oz can crushed pineapple
• 2 eggs, beaten
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• ¾ cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350° F. Lightly grease a 5×9-inch loaf pan.
• In a bowl, mix the strawberries, pineapple, eggs, oil, and sugar. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Mix the flour mixture into the bowl with the fruit until evenly moist. Fold in walnuts. Pour into prepared loaf pan. Top with sliced strawberries or chopped walnuts.
• Bake loaf in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 1 hour. Cool on wire racks.

Lavender Bread

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup milk
• 2 tbs dried lavender (or 3 tbs fresh chopped lavender)
• 6 tbs butter, softened
• 1 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ tsp baking powder
• ¼ tsp salt

Glaze:

• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 1 tbs milk
• ½ tbs lavender

Directions:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 9×5 inch loaf pan.
• Combine the milk and lavender in microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 1-2 minutes. Allow to cool.
• In a medium bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg until the mixture is light and fluffy. Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt; stir into the creamed mixture alternately with the milk and lavender until just blended. Pour into the prepared pan.
• Bake for 45 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a wooden pick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean. Cool in the pan on a wire rack.
• Mix glaze ingredients together and drizzle over cooled bread.

Chocolate Orange Bread

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• The zest of one orange
• 1 cup buttermilk
• ¼ cup candied orange peel, minced (optional)
• ½ cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Mix the dry ingredients together in a large bowl and set aside.
• Cream the butter and sugar together until fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time. Add the vanilla and the orange zest.
• Alternate between adding the buttermilk and the dry ingredients, mixing just to combine.
• Fold in the candied orange peel and chocolate chips.
• Bake for 55 – 60 minutes, or until a tooth pick comes out clean.
• Zest more orange peel over the top of the loaf for garnish

Pumpkin Cream Bread

Ingredients:

• 1 8oz package cream cheese
• ¼ cup white sugar
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ cups white sugar
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• ½ cup butter, melted
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/3 cup water

Directions:

• Blend cream cheese, 1/4 cup sugar, and 1 beaten egg. Set aside.
• Combine flour, 1 1/2 cups white sugar, baking soda, salt, and spices. Set aside.
• Combine pumpkin, butter or margarine, beaten egg, and water. Add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture, mixing just until moistened. Reserve 2 cups of the pumpkin batter. Pour the remaining batter into a greased and floured 9 x 5 inch loaf pan. Pour cream cheese mixture over pumpkin batter, and top with reserved pumpkin batter. Cut through batter several times with a knife for a swirl effect.
• Bake at 350 degrees F for 70 minutes, or until tester comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, and then remove from pan to cool completely.

Sweet Potato Pecan Date Bread

Ingredients:

• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 2 eggs
• 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp salt
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/3 cup water
• 1 cup cooked and mashed sweet potatoes
• ½ cup chopped dates
• ½ cup chopped pecans (more for garnish)

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350° F.
• Combine sugar and oil; beat well. Add eggs and beat.
• Combine flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Stir flour mixture into egg mixture alternately with water. Stir in sweet potatoes, dates, and chopped nuts.
• Pour batter into greased 9×5 inch loaf pan (or 2 small loaf pans). Sprinkle top with chopped or whole pecans. Bake at 350 degrees F for about one hour.

Categories: Bread, Breakfast, Dessert

Tags: almond, apple, banana, carrot, cherry, chocolate, ginger, lavender, lemon, maple, orange, peach, peanut butter, pear, pineapple, pumpkin, quick bread, stout, strawberry, sweet bread, sweet potato, thyme