The song that popped into my head while dealing with this bread?
"Magic," by Pilot (a song well before my time, yet still completely appreciated).
No, there wasn't any voodoo involved, and no rabbits were harmed in the making of this treat. It's magical for two reasons. First of all, one loaf spent a month in the freezer and came out about 27 times better than the loaf consumed fresh out of the oven. I kid you not. It's as though the cold temperature enhanced the spices and encouraged canoodling amongst all the flavors.
The second reason I consider this bread to be of the magical persuasion is because the pink hue seemed to migrate to the top center of the loaf. Why? Beats the heck out of me, but I like it. To me, that was the best-tasting portion of the bread, even though it very well could've been no different from the rest of the loaf flavor-wise.
Can you see that concentrated berry color? Oh, oh, it's...
Magical Mixed Berry Bread
(makes 2 loaves)
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups mixed berry applesauce
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Combine the dry ingredients (minus the sugar) in a small bowl and mix well. In a large bowl, thoroughly blend the oil, sugar, and applesauce until smooth. Add the dry mixture to the wet mixture and stir just until incorporated. Spoon the thick batter into two greased 9x5" loaf pans.
Bake for 40-50 minutes, using a toothpick to test for doneness.
We just finished up our holiday breads, wrapped in plastic and then in foil, stored in the bottom of the fridge the flavors were greatly enhanced ... especially the banana.
ReplyDelete:)
I've never frozen any desserts. With three children in the house there just isn't enough to save. It doesn't help I don't have any self control. :-(
ReplyDeleteBtw, we made the mistake of telling our babygirl that she sings wonderfully, now she belts out songs whenever the mood strikes,very loudly sometimes. She always sings in the bath (loud)wich gets the Twins hollering at her to be quiet! Then they holler for me to tell her to be quiet! LOL!
~ingrid
This looks delicious - I love freezing baked goods, it's good to know that this tastes even better that way!
ReplyDeleteThere are some nice flavors in that bread! Matt got me a stereo for the kitchen for Christmas so not I have something to se=ing along with!
ReplyDeleteThis bread sounds really tasty. It still shocks me that freezing bread doesn't destroy it.
ReplyDeletewow, 27 times better is a significant difference! cinnamon, chocolate and berry applesauce sounds like a delicious combination, but the migrating hue factor is just plain perplexing.
ReplyDeletesounds and looks good... i love berries!!! :) happy chinese new year... :)
ReplyDeleteThe pink hue is interesting. Sounds delicious from the ingredients you used!
ReplyDeletesounds good and i love that it's pink in certain parts...
ReplyDeletemy son sings in the shower without fail every evening...
ooh, so scientific. Yum, haha
ReplyDeleteInteresting that cocoa powder is an ingredient! I'm game to try this one:) I wish that I could get mixed berry applesauce in France! I'll have to improvise and mush some berries in!
ReplyDeleteYou're right, some things seem to taste better when they've kept a while. A friend of mine freezes marinated chicken before cooking..he says it tastes better. I love the color in your photos!
ReplyDeletewell then you must have a magical freezer for something to come out tasting better than the original. My freezer bites.
ReplyDeleteBut I do like the fact that a bit of cocoa powder went here with the applesauce. Good idea.
"Encouraged canoodling amongst all the flavors,"...teehee.
ReplyDeleteThe very fact that this cake tasted better coming out of the freezer than it did fresh out of the oven is reason enough to make it sometime. I have no idea why cold cake appeals to me at the moment, but it certainly does!
Ahh interesting about the frozen one tasting better. Maybe it's like curries always tasting better after a few days. Although I was always told that freezing suspended any processes -but apparently not!
ReplyDeleteThe bread sounds tasty. I've never heard that something tasted better after being put in the freezer, but I guess there's a first time for everything.
ReplyDeleteI had a little forty five of that song when I was a kid. LOVED it.
ReplyDeleteAnd I love this bread. Its right up my flavor alley. Thats so funny that the pink concentrated itself in the middle. Simply magical Grace.
I'd have this for breakfast!
ReplyDeleteI sing when I bake too bad josh has to listen:) I love freezing baked goods, luckily we have two freezers!
ReplyDeleteGrace, I am attempting this for the fourth time...I have an award for you, stop by and pick it up. There was more...I sing and I sing bad. My attitude is their ears must be bad.
ReplyDeleteOMG I need some Magic...seriously woman..send it over or I'll pick it up on my broom.
ReplyDeleteI dance in the kitchen :), I'm convinced that my neighbors would complain if I sang lol. Ya know, I've never tried the freezer thing, but I know the fridge works wonders for some sweet treats! :) I could go for this berry bread treat...oooh and cinnamon and cocoa?? Neatooo!
ReplyDeleteyum! These look super moist and very delicious!
ReplyDeleteBread.Pink.Cinnamon == all of my favorite things in life capture in one loaf! You're magical, Grace.
ReplyDeletethere is something magical... or a little bit psychadellic... about this bread! it sounds delicious, though :)
ReplyDeleteI love the pink center, this looks really good Miss Grace..
ReplyDeleteOMG Grace, this look so delicious. I love the texture too.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Elra
Magic by Pilot? Oh yeah, way before my time too (cough cough). I'll now be singing that song for days....
ReplyDeleteHey Grace ... I tried to leave a comment on your Australia Tim Tam post (YUM), but couldn't find the comments section anywhere. Sooo ... great lookin' cookie snacks! I haven't seen them at the store, but will keep an eye out. :-)
ReplyDeleteI have a secret to confess: I sing to most of my produce,this was it coaxes them in to being the best they can be. Singing is magical. Also those tim tams sound soooo good. I wish they offered all the other flavors.
ReplyDeleteThat just looks absolutely divine. And I want a caramel creme cookie.
ReplyDeleteI love that pink hue! My lone cup of tea needs a piece of this bread.
ReplyDeleteOk, I've got a loaf of quick bread in the oven right now, but now I'm wishing it was this kind instead of what I'm making!!
ReplyDeleteI've never seen mixed berry applesauce, but I did make a batch once with the skin on, and it was a splendid shade of pink! Of course, that leads to the royal pain of straining the stuff...
ReplyDeleteOK you just inspired me to finally take the pumpkin bread out of my freezer. Let's hope it is magic too! :)
ReplyDeleteI have an Australian friend in Paris who is quite the Tim Tam slammer!
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of mixed berry applesauce before but that's like especially made for cakes, love it!
ReplyDeleteThe loaves look delicious and interesting fact about how the freezer enhanced the flavours, will keep that in mind ;)
Oooh, I like it. It looks nice and fluffy. And, yes, very magical. :)
ReplyDeleteYour bread looks soooooo yummy. Thanks for the freezer tip.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it fun to sing while your cooking or cleaning or...singing makes every thing more fun.
ooooooooh this looks fun! wouldn't it be yummy with some cream cheese swirled into it?
ReplyDeleteSome breads are so much better after aging or whatever fancy word they call that. Glad to know this is one of those types of bread.
ReplyDeleteI love that song. And the word "canoodling". :) That bread looks delicious.
ReplyDeleteMy goodness yes - the colour certainly has migrated to the top of the bread! Sounds magically tasty :)
ReplyDeleteBeen looking at cookie recipes w/applesauce, so I'm all over this. I'd dig the center right out of it and you'd have to chase me to get it back. Yep.
ReplyDelete