Cranberry Pecan Spiced Bread Recipes

DATE NUT SPICE BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter the bottom of an 8 1/2 by 4 1/2 by 2 1/2-inch loaf pan. Line the bottom with parchment paper, then butter and flour the pan.
• Combine the dates and orange liqueur in a small bowl and set aside for 30 minutes. Stir occasionally.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and brown sugar together on medium speed for 1 minute. Scrape down the bowl. With the mixer on low, add the egg, vanilla, and orange zest. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. With the mixer still on low, add the flour mixture alternately with the orange juice to the creamed mixture, beating only until combined. By hand, stir in the dates with their liquid, and the pecans.
• Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely.
• Meanwhile, in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the cream cheese, sugar, and orange zest on medium speed until just combined.
• Slice the bread and serve with the orange cream cheese on the side for spreading.

CRANBERRY-PECAN BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Generously butter 9 1/4 x 5 1/4 x 2 1/2-inch loaf pan. Combine cranberries and 3/4 cup water in small saucepan. Bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered until berries burst, about 8 minutes. Drain excess liquid from cranberries. Cool.
• Whisk 2 cups flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon salt in medium bowl to blend. Mix 1/2 cup yogurt and 1/4 cup orange juice in small bowl. Using electric mixer, beat butter and brown sugar in large bowl until fluffy. Beat in eggs, orange peel and vanilla extract. Mix in flour mixture alternately with yogurt mixture. Stir in cranberries and pecans. Transfer batter to prepared loaf pan.
• Bake bread until tester inserted into center comes out clean and top is brown, about 55 minutes. Transfer pan to rack. Cool 15 minutes. Remove bread from pan and cool on rack. (Can be made ahead. Wrap tightly and store at room temperature 1 day or freeze up to 2 weeks.)

CRANBERRY, RAISIN & PECAN KNOT

Steps:

• Mix the flour, yeast and salt and 1½ tsp of the caster sugar in a large mixing bowl. Put in the butter and rub it into the flour. Make a dip in the centre of the flour and pour in almost 300ml hand warm (cool rather than hot) water, with a round-bladed knife. Then mix in enough of the remaining water and a bit more if needed, to gather up any dry bits in the bottom of the bowl, until the mixture comes together as a soft, not too sticky, dough. Gather it into a ball with your hands.
• Put the dough onto a very lightly floured surface and knead for 8-10 mins until it feels smooth and elastic, only adding the minimum of extra flour if necessary to prevent the dough sticking. Place the ball of dough on a lightly floured work surface. Cover with an upturned, clean, large glass bowl and leave for 45 mins-1 hr or until doubled in size and feels light and springy. Timing will depend on the warmth of the room.
• Knock back the dough by gently kneading just 3-4 times. You only want to knock out any large air bubbles, so too much handling now will lose the dough's lightness. Shape into a ball, then cover and leave for 10 mins.
• Shape by flattening the dough into a rectangle, about 28 x 18cm, scatter on the cranberries, raisins and chopped pecans, then roll up tightly from one of the short ends. Roll into a 52cm-long sausage. Tie into a simple knot and lay on a baking parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover and leave for 40-45 mins, or until doubled in size.
• Put a roasting tin in the bottom of the oven 20 mins before ready to bake and heat oven to 230C/210C fan/gas 8. Put the risen bread in the oven, carefully pour about 250ml cold water into the roasting tin (this will hiss and create a burst of steam to give you a crisp crust), then lower the heat to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Bake for 20 mins or until golden. Remove and cool on a wire rack. If you tap the underneath of the loaf if should be firm and sound hollow.
• Finish by making a spiced sugar glaze with the remaining caster sugar, cinnamon and 1 tsp hot water. Brush over bread while it is still warm.

CRANBERRY-PECAN BREAD ( BREAD MACHINE)

Steps:

• Add all ingredients to bread machine in the order suggested by manufacturer, adding dried cranberries and nuts WITH Flour.
• Basic/White bread cycle, select Medium/Normal color setting.