Bread is one of the most common foods in every home. It’s a versatile staple that can be eaten for any meal. Bread doesn’t have to be all about wheat and yeast; you can add other ingredients such as freeze-dried fruits, nuts, or your favorite frozen or freeze-dried vegetables to make it more nutritious and delicious. When you keep shelf-stable fruits and veggies in the pantry, you can bake a strawberry loaf in February or a zucchini bread in January without waiting for the season to come back around. (Here’s why freeze-dried fruits earn their spot in a baking pantry.)
November 17th is the National Bread Day. Whether you want to get bread for breakfast or as a side for lunch or dinner, here are four amazing bread recipes to keep your family yearning for more.
1. Strawberry Bread
A strawberry bread recipe is a delicious indulgence for any time of day. If you need to step out of the box with your bread recipe, try this one. (Here’s why freeze-dried strawberries belong in your pantry year-round.)
Time
Preparation – 30 minutes
Cooking – 45 minutes
Cooling – 10 minutes
Total Time – 1 hour, 25 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 cups freeze-dried strawberries
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups white sugar
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 cup of vegetable oil
- 4 eggs, beaten
- 1 cup chopped pecans
Method
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Thinly butter and dust two 9 x 5-inch loaf pans with flour. Shake out excess flour.
- Rehydrate the freeze-dried strawberries and place them in a medium-sized bowl. With a sieve, lightly sprinkle some sugar and set them aside.
- Put the flour, sugar, cinnamon, salt, and baking soda in a large bowl and mix them thoroughly.
- Whisk the oil and the eggs into the strawberries.
- Pour the strawberry mixture into the flour mixture and mix until the dry ingredients are moistened.
- Stir in the pecans and divide the batter into two.
- Put each portion of the batter into the greased pans, put in the oven, and bake for about 45 minutes. To test if it’s ready, insert a tester. If it comes out clean, the bread is cooked.
- Leave it on the pans for about 10 minutes, then on the wire rack for another 10 minutes. When it’s cooled, remove from the baking pans and slice as desired.
- Serve with a side of your choice. You can butter it or eat it plain.
2. Whole Wheat Beer Bread
This bread recipe is simple to make, and it gives you a very healthy option for your bread recipe.
Time
Preparation – 10 minutes
Cooking – 50 minutes
Cooling – 10 minutes
Total Time – 1 hour, 10 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups whole wheat flour
- 4 ½ tsp baking powder
- 1 ½ tsp salt
- ⅓ cup packed brown sugar
- One can or bottle of beer
Method
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Use a 9x5 inch loaf pan and lightly grease it with butter. Dust it with flour and shake out the excess.
- In a large mixing bowl, put the all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking powder, salt, and brown sugar.
- Pour in the beer and mix with your hands until it forms into a stiff batter. Knead with your hands. Put enough dough onto the prepared loaf pan.
- Put it in the oven and bake for 50 minutes. Insert a toothpick to check if it’s cooked; if the toothpick comes out clean, it’s ready.
- Let it cool and then slice it and serve.
3. Banana Bread
Banana bread is one of the revered banana recipes. Anyone can make banana bread, but it takes a special bread recipe to make perfect banana bread. Try this, and you’ll be the banana bread expert.
Time
Preparation – 15 minutes
Cooking – 1 hour, 5 minutes
Cooling – 10 minutes
Total Time – 1 hour, 30 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 cups freeze-dried bananas
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ cup butter
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- Two eggs
Method
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Use butter to grease a loaf pan and dust it with flour. Shake the pan to get rid of excess flour.
- In a large bowl, mix the flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Cream the butter and brown sugar in a separate bowl.
- Beat the eggs until they are fluffy.
- Rehydrate the freeze-dried bananas. Mash them until they are smooth with no lumps.
- Pour the beaten egg into the mashed bananas and blend.
- Pour the banana mixture into the flour mixture and stir. Drain the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Put it into the oven and bake for about 60 minutes.
- Check if it’s ready by inserting a toothpick into the center of the loaf. If it comes out clean, the loaf is ready.
- Leave it to cool on the pan for 10 minutes and then turn out onto a wire rack. Slice and serve with your preferred accompaniment.
4. Zucchini Bread
Zucchini is a healthy vegetable that can be used in stews and bread. Follow this Zucchini bread recipe for a moist and delicious treat.
Time
Preparation – 10 minutes
Cooking – 1 hour
Cooling – 10 minutes
Total Time – 1 hour, 20 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 cups dried zucchini
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 3 large eggs
- 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup of vegetable oil
- 2 ¼ cups white sugar
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
Method
- Using butter, grease and flour two loaf pans.
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
- Sift the flour, salt, baking powder, soda, and cinnamon in a bowl.
- Whisk the eggs, oil, vanilla, and sugar in a large bowl. Add in the sifted dry ingredients to the creamed mix, and beat well.
- Pour in the dried zucchini and the walnuts until they are well combined with no lumps.
- Pour the batter into greased pans. Put the batter in the oven and bake for 60 minutes.
- Test with a toothpick if the bread is cooked; if the toothpick comes out clean, remove the bread from the oven.
- Cool it on the rack for 10 minutes, slice, and serve.
Conclusion
These four bread recipes are easy to make and can be scaled up for a crowd. Add or reduce the ingredients, especially sugar and salt, to suit your preferences — and don’t be afraid to swap one freeze-dried fruit for another based on what’s already in your pantry. Looking for more freeze-dried baking ideas? Try our Freeze-Dried Fruit Desserts for Your December Celebrations. Do share your favorite bread recipe in the comment section below.