Looking for fun holiday quick bread recipes!

[Caryliz]

We make lots of quick breads in this house, but I have to confess we don't stray much (or haven't strayed much) from the Core 4: banana bread, pumpkin bread, zucchini bread, and cranberry-orange bread. I'm looking for some fun new recipes to try, especially for the holidays since we're expecting lots of visitors and whole-wheat, low-sugar quick breads are my favorite brunch/dessert/kaffeeklatsch kind of item to have in the freezer in preparation for the festivities. What favorites do you have that you think we should try?

Thanks mamas!

[ollyoxenfree]

My favourite quick bread for the holidays is lemon loaf. I like the lighter, fresh citrus flavour after all the dense, rich treats like chocolate, mincemeat and fruitcakes. I enjoy all those heavier treats too, but a delicious slice of lemon loaf is a refreshing change. 

This recipe uses 2 lemons and it isn't low sugar, but you could adjust: 

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp freshly grated nutmeg

1/2 cup butter

1 to 2 Tbsp. grated lemon rind

2 Tbsp. lemon juice 

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1/2 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup milk

Preheat oven to 350F. Grease a 9x5 loaf pan. 

Sift flour and other dry ingredients together into medium bowl. 

In a large bowl, beat butter until creamy with electric mixer. Beat in sugar until pale in colour (1 to 2 min.). Beat in 2 Tbsp. lemon juice. Don't worry if mixture looks curdled. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. 

Gradually beat in one-third of flour mixture, then half of the milk. Repeat, ending with remaining flour. Beat just until blended.

Place in loaf pan.

Bake 60 to 75 minutes, until cake tester comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool 5 minutes. 

Glaze

1/4 cup sugar

2 to 3 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice

Mix sugar and lemon juice together until sugar is dissolved. 

Drizzle glaze over top of loaf while still in the pan. Cool completely and remove from pan. 

[Caryliz]

Oooh - this one looks really nice. I think I will just reduce the sugar (since it's getting a glaze anyway) and try it this weekend! I agree that something lemony is a nice alternative after lots of heavier fare.

Thanks! 

[sarahn4639]

I just made this and I was rather sceptical, but it's quite yummy, not a ton of flavor, but it's nice.  So if you like a more flavorful bread, I'd add a bit more cinnamon and maybe a bit of nutmeg or cloves.  It does specify to make it into muffins though, I made some jumbo muffins and they did just fine so it may work as a bread too.....   I'm also watching because I *love* quick breads and I want some more variety to go in the freezer for when the baby comes!

[pear-shaped]

Are you interested in savory breads too? I don't have a recipe, just an idea- how about olive bread? You could do it with olives and rosemary or olives and sun-dried tomatoes.

[blumooned]

My very favorite holiday bread is cranberry-orange, but you're already doing that one!

One year, I made cherry-chocolate chip; it was fantastic!!  I just used a basic quick bread base (which, I'm guessing you have) & added frozen sweet cherries & chocolate chips - yummy!  Add some almond extract to bring out the cherry flavor.

Other ideas:

cranberry pecan

cherry almond

date nut

[SpuglyRoo]

I'll second the date nut bread, it is awesome cold spread with a little cream cheese.  Or what about raisin bread, applesauce bread, or cinnamon swirl bread? All tasty options.

[Caryliz]

Originally Posted by SpuglyRoo 

I'll second the date nut bread, it is awesome cold spread with a little cream cheese.  Or what about raisin bread, applesauce bread, or cinnamon swirl bread? All tasty options.

Ok, so I know this sounds lame, but I actually *don't* have a quick bread base that I use, since all 4 of my go-to recipes are pretty different. Soooo - recipes?! I already make anadama bread, but a raisin or cinnamon swirl quick bread sounds great!

Originally Posted by pear-shaped 

Are you interested in savory breads too? I don't have a recipe, just an idea- how about olive bread? You could do it with olives and rosemary or olives and sun-dried tomatoes.

Cool idea! Anyone ever tried doing this?
 

[pear-shaped]

I got the idea from a friend who made an olive bread that was really delicious.  I don't have her recipe, but it would be hard for you to use anyway because it's all metric. And, um, not in English. But I just discovered that there's an olive quick bread recipe in the Joy of Cooking. If you don't have that cookbook, I could post the ingredients for you, if you're interested.

[Chicky2]

MMMMM our fav. is sweet potato cranberry bread.  I can post it if you wish.

[Caryliz]

Originally Posted by Chicky2 

MMMMM our fav. is sweet potato cranberry bread.  I can post it if you wish.

 Yes, yes yes! DS would LOOOOOOVE that one.

[Caryliz]

Originally Posted by pear-shaped 

I got the idea from a friend who made an olive bread that was really delicious.  I don't have her recipe, but it would be hard for you to use anyway because it's all metric. And, um, not in English. But I just discovered that there's an olive quick bread recipe in the Joy of Cooking. If you don't have that cookbook, I could post the ingredients for you, if you're interested.

 That would be lovely! And actually, I don't mind "all in metric" as I've translated those before, but the "not in English" part could be problematic (LOL!) I've never thought about savory quick breads beyond, say, cornbread with veggies or hot peppers or cheese added...but this is opening up whole new idea zones for me. Like, we have a bakery nearby that makes this killer rosemary olive (yeast) bread, but at $6 a loaf it's an occasional treat. If I had a quick bread version it would be fun to make for an hors d'oeuvres party, or to have in the freezer to pull out and have with a quick soup supper...thanks for offering!

[HollyBearsMom]

Confetti bread is really good too.  Basically a zucchini bread that you add shredded carrots and summer squash in addition to the zucchini. So pretty!

[texmati]

Out of season, but these really are to die for.

[sarahn4639]

Yes Please!!

Originally Posted by Chicky2 

MMMMM our fav. is sweet potato cranberry bread.  I can post it if you wish.

[SpuglyRoo]

You've inspired me!  After writing about date nut bread I realized I've never made it myself and so I fixed that today since I had dates on hand.  It turned out excellent, I have the recipe here.  I never thought of savory quick breads before either, I may have to start doing some experimenting. 

[pear-shaped]

"Mediterranean Olive Bread" from the Joy of Cooking

Whisk together:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup whole-wheat flour

2 1/2 tsp. baking powder

3/4 tsp. dried rosemary or 1 tsp. chopped fresh

1/2 tsp. salt

Whisk together in another bowl:

2 large eggs

1 cup milk

1/4 cup olive oil

Add the flour mixture and mix just until moistened. Fold in:

1/3 cups finely chopped walnuts

1/3 cup pitted olives

Bake in a 6-cup loaf pan at 350F for 40-45 mins.

I think it sounds pretty good, though I'd probably add some cheese, but I'm a cheese fiend.

[GoGoGirl]

My mom makes a cranberry cheddar bread that she gives out for Christmas presents every year.  I can get the recipe if you're interested.  She also makes a banana bread with coffee and tons of chocolate chips that's to die for.  It's actually the thing I always make when I cook for new moms. 

[Caryliz]

Originally Posted by GoGoGirl 

My mom makes a cranberry cheddar bread that she gives out for Christmas presents every year.  I can get the recipe if you're interested.  She also makes a banana bread with coffee and tons of chocolate chips that's to die for.  It's actually the thing I always make when I cook for new moms. 

Yessss!!!! I rearranged our freezer last night to fit a few more things in and found to my surprise that we have like 16 frozen bananas in there waiting to be transformed into something yummy - and I love the idea of coffee and choc chips in the loaf. How very grown-up sounding

Originally Posted by pear-shaped 

"Mediterranean Olive Bread" from the Joy of Cooking

Whisk together:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup whole-wheat flour

2 1/2 tsp. baking powder

3/4 tsp. dried rosemary or 1 tsp. chopped fresh

1/2 tsp. salt

Whisk together in another bowl:

2 large eggs

1 cup milk

1/4 cup olive oil

Add the flour mixture and mix just until moistened. Fold in:

1/3 cups finely chopped walnuts

1/3 cup pitted olives

Bake in a 6-cup loaf pan at 350F for 40-45 mins.

I think it sounds pretty good, though I'd probably add some cheese, but I'm a cheese fiend.

This DOES Look fabulous!  We have 14 people (yes, I'm crazy) staying with us over the holiday long weekend and I'm already thinking I'll have to get some of these into the freezer in preparation for that extravaganza!
 

[Peppermint Leaf]

Originally Posted by GoGoGirl 

My mom makes a cranberry cheddar bread that she gives out for Christmas presents every year.  I can get the recipe if you're interested.  She also makes a banana bread with coffee and tons of chocolate chips that's to die for.  It's actually the thing I always make when I cook for new moms. 

I do a Cranberry Almond Loaf -- but would love to try it with cheddar --- post the recepie