Saturday, September 13, 2008

Maple Walnut Mini Loaves


Two days ago, I went to Home Goods and got this. Mini anything is so cute, and I wanted to make something immediately, except I couldn't think of the perfect recipe to christen my new pan. It was between the basics: pumpkin bread, banana nut bread, blueberry loaf, blah blah blah. Then I spotted Maple Walnut Muffins in Mostly Muffins by Barbara Albright and Leslie Weiner. It was the perfect recipe for the fall chill we're starting to get in Massachusetts.
They baked for the full 20 minutes that the recipe called for; I thought they would take a little bit longer, but good thing I checked! I haven't tried them yet, but I'm sure that's what I'll be having for breakfast tomorrow morning. I'll let you know how they turn out although, I have to say, they smell maple syrup-y deliciousness.

Maple Walnut Mini Loaves
original from Mostly Muffins
adapted by Zoe

1 cup all-purpose flour (the original calls for 2 cups AP and no whole wheat)
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 T dark-brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup toasted chopped walnuts
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
1/3 cup sweet butter or margarine, melted and cooled
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/2 tsp vanilla
optional- 1/2 tsp maple extract (I didn't use this)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease 4 mini-loaf pans.

In a large bowl, stir together flours, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; stir nuts into dry ingredients to coat. In another bowl, stir together buttermilk, syrup, butter, egg, vanilla, and maple extract if you're using it, until blended. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients; add buttermilk mixture and stir just to combine.

Spoon batter evenly into the 4 pans, and spread the batter so it reaches all the corners of the pan. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.


Remove pan from the oven and place on a cooling rack. Cool 3 or 4 minutes before removing the loaves from the pans. Wait until the loaves are completely cool before storing in an airtight container.

These freeze very well, and are best eaten, warm, the day they are made.


Update: Just had a slice of this- it's so good. Moist, with a nutty whole wheat flavor and the distinctive sweetness of maple syrup. Although there is definite maple flavor, next time I will add the maple extract to give it that extra je ne sais quoi.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

These look yummy! Perfect for fall! I love the flavor of maple.

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