Some Saturday mornings I wake up and want a special treat. That’s when I turn to quick bread recipes.
It’s called a quick bread because they’re baked in a loaf pan but baking soda, not yeast, is the leavening agent. Therefore, they can be whipped up instantly. While they’re called bread, the texture is similar to a cake. Here are a few recipes that will be divine this fall.
Pumpkin is enjoying its yearly rise in popularity. Two pumpkin recipes I love are Janette Suber’s (Sale City, GA) Old-Fashioned Pumpkin Bread and Sue Roberts’ (Shelbyville, KY) Chunky Apple Pumpkin Bread.
Janette shared a simple, old-fashioned, no-frills pumpkin bread that’s delicious.
“This is by far the best pumpkin bread recipe I have ever had the pleasure of tasting,” shares Janette. “It was passed to me by my aunt who said it was her great-grandmother’s recipe.”
The smell of this moist pumpkin bread will fill your kitchen with the comforting smells of fall. I loved the flavor ground pecans gave this bread. There’s not too much crunch. A delicious sugary crust forms on top after it’s baked. This makes two loaves. Enjoy a loaf yourself and share one with a neighbor.
Sue puts her twist on pumpkin bread by adding chunks of sweet apples and walnuts.
“This bread was the specialty of a wonderful lady at our church,” explains Sue. “She always brought it to a potluck. I am so happy to have it. She passed away a year ago and I am so grateful that she shared it with me.”
Quite tasty, I’m glad she shared this pumpkin bread too. It has the perfect balance of fall spices. I love the pumpkin flavor with bits of apple in each bite.
Another quick bread that spotlights apples is Family Favorites’ Iced Cinnamon Apple Raisin Bread.
“This was my mom’s recipe that she would make every fall after visiting the apple orchard,” says Family Favorites. “The aroma as it bakes is unbelievable!”
Filled with cinnamon, chopped apples, and raisins, apple lovers will love this. The icing takes this over the top. It’s a foolproof recipe anyone can make. If you find yourself with a lot of apples and wonder what to make with them, you must give this recipe a try.
Teresa Jacobson (New Orleans, LA) shared her quick bread recipe for Sweet Potato Banana Bread that’s full of flavor.
“This is so moist and flavorful,” says Teresa. “I love banana bread and this is a nice change from the usual. It’s a great way to sneak in some healthy sweet potatoes for a picky eater too.”
I tested this with walnuts but can’t wait to try it with spiced nuts next time as Teresa suggests. I imagine they’d add even more flavor to the bread. This recipe uses bananas and mashed sweet potatoes which makes the bread extremely moist and tender. It’s not overly sweet so the glaze on top adds sweetness to the bread.
“Very similar to pumpkin bread, but a different twist,” is how Jenni K. (Carlton, MN) describes her Winter Squash Bread.
The top of the bread forms a sugary crust, while the inside remains tender and delicious. In the Test Kitchen, we used roasted butternut squash, but acorn squash or any other winter squash would be amazing. The balance of spices and sweetness is just right. Filled with cinnamon flavor and a hint of nutmeg, brew a cup of coffee and enjoy.
I love quick bread because they’re made with readily available ingredients and can be whipped up in no time. Your family will be very appreciative to wake up to a weekend treat. You’ll be a rock star and they’ll have no idea how easy it was to make. Happy Pinching!