Apple Cranberry Bread

A lightly spiced yeast bread filled with apples, cranberries, and pecans.

I had a hard time with this recipe. I really did. After my success with the Good Old American White Rolls, I was beginning to think that my fear of yeast breads was completely unfounded and maybe I got a little over confident. Nothing like a little baking fail (or two or three) to bring you back to reality.

How does the saying go? If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. And so I did, with a few adjustments and a little humility, and I was so happy when I pulled this little beautiful loaf of apple cranberry bread out of the oven.

The biggest thing I learned with this bread is that as important as following a recipe is, it’s even more important to understand the whole process of bread making and when you need to adapt. For example, sometimes dough doesn’t need as much flour as it calls for, and sometimes it needs more. I finally remembered this from my culinary school days and instead of just blindly dumping all the flour in, I added a little at a time and watched what happened and how the dough reacted before deciding to add more.

Dough typically should be sticky, but not so sticky that it and comes off on your hands when handled. I ended up only using just over 2 cups of the prescribed 3.

I think I’ve already mentioned how I’m a little prematurely sugared out this holiday season. This loaf of bread is the perfect solution for bakaholics like me. It’s not dessert but you still get a chance to turn on the oven and get dusted in flour baking something seasonal and satisfying.

Apple Cranberry Bread

Servings: 10 servings

Prep Time: 20 minutes mins

Cook Time: 35 minutes mins

Rise Time: 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

A lightly spiced yeast bread filled with apples, cranberries, and pecans.

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Ingredients

• ▢ 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast (1 envelope)
• ▢ 3 cups bread flour (375 grams)
• ▢ ½ cup old fashioned oats (100 grams)
• ▢ ¼ cup packed light or dark brown sugar (210 grams)
• ▢ 1 ½ teaspoon salt
• ▢ ½ teaspoon all spice
• ▢ ½ teaspoon nutmeg
• ▢ ½ cup water (120 ml)
• ▢ 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (30 grams)
• ▢ 1 large egg
• ▢ 1 cup apple , peeled and diced (1 medium,125 grams)
• ▢ 1 cup cranberries , chopped (110 grams)
• ▢ ½ cup pecans , chopped (50 grams)

Instructions

 

• In a small saucepan, combine the water and butter and heat until butter is melted. Remove from heat and let cool for 5 minutes (to about 120-130°F).
• Meanwhile, in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine the yeast, 1 ½ cups of the bread flour, oats, brown sugar, salt, all spice, and nutmeg. Add the water and butter mixture, followed by the egg and mix until combined. Add enough of the remaining 1 ½ cups flour to make a soft dough.
• Knead with the dough hook or by hand until smooth and elastic, about 5-7 minutes by mixer (it will take longer by hand). Place dough in a greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm place until doubled and an indentation remains after inserting your finger into the dough, about 1 hour.
• Punch down the dough and knead by hand a few times. Pat or roll the dough into a rectangle approximately 7x14 inches. Scatter the diced apples, cranberries and pecans over the dough. Starting with the short end, tightly roll the dough up. Pinch the edges and ends together and place in a greased 9x5 inch loaf pan.
• Place the loaf in a warm place and let rise again until an indent remains when you lightly press the dough with your finger, about 30 minutes.
• Bake at 350°F for 35-45 minutes until golden brown. Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes before placing on a wire rack to cool completely.

Calories: 253kcal, Carbohydrates: 40g, Protein: 7g, Fat: 7g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 22mg, Sodium: 360mg, Potassium: 134mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 7g, Vitamin A: 106IU, Vitamin C: 2mg, Calcium: 18mg, Iron: 1mg

Cuisine: American

Course: Snack

Author: Annalise

Have you tried this recipe?I’d love to hear about it! Leave a review below or take a photo and tag it on Instagram @completelydelicious with #completelydelicious.

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Red Star Yeast. All opinions are my own.