November 18, 2021

Seasonal Quick Breads

Quick breads can be a cooks best friend. Usually made in one bowl with a few ingredients and baked in a loaf pan, they are good to have on hand for breakfast, with coffee or tea or as a light snack. They also freeze well. I cut generous slices and freeze on a cookie sheet. When frozen, remove and vacuum seal for individual servings.

When fall rolls around, I'm baking more using seasonal ingredients, including sweet potatoes, pumpkin, cranberries and squash. Toasted walnut, pecans and almonds also show up in meals on our table.

Here are some of my favorites seasonal breads.

Sweet Potato Granola Spice Bread

Sweet Potato Granola Bread

I love using cooked mashed sweet potatoes in breads. I was inspired by a recipe, Sweet Potato Spice Bread which we really enjoyed. Took a few liberties to incorporate Pat's Granola into this delicious quick bread.

Ingredients:

1 cup of all purpose flour

1-1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp each ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice

1 large egg

1/3 cup mashed sweet potato

1/3 cup honey

3 tablespoons olive or coconut oil

2 tablespoons molasses

1/3 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

1/2 cup crushed Ginger Spiced Pat's Granola

Directions:

In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, spices salt and granola. In another small bowl, whisk the egg, sweet potato, honey, oil and molasses. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in nuts.
Transfer to 2 greased 5-3/4x3x2-in. loaf pans. Bake at 325° for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.

Chocolate and pumpkin pair well together. Years ago I enjoyed a decadent pumpkin layer cake at a fancy New York restaurant (the name escapes me). The multilayer cake had ribbons of white and dark chocolate throughout. Here's a much simpler bread which is inspired by that memorable cake.

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread

Almost every year my family was gifted a large box of naval oranges and grapefruit from Florida. It was a much anticipated treat and we all enjoyed that fruit, especially on Christmas when my Dad made his famous fruit cup. I loved those large oranges and would cut them up into slices to carry for lunch.

When I started making Thanksgiving for my family, I began using fresh cranberries as sauce and in baking. Cranberry nut bread was my holiday staple for many years. However, I discovered I liked the flavor of orange with the cranberries and this quick bread has both of these ingredients.

Cranberry Orange Bread

Need more inspiration (recipes)? Check out:

40 Christmas Quick Breads Perfect for Gift Giving

These quick breads also make great gifts!

Whatever you make, make it with love. THAT gift is most appreciated.

Pat Bennett is the founder and President of Pat's Granola, a Cleveland based food and lifestyle company. Pat's Granola is sold online at www.patsgranola.com and is also available at selected Northeast Ohio businesses including: