Date and Apricot Quick Bread
I was thinking about making a fruit cake for this holiday season. I’ve read somewhere that the fruit cake is the most unwanted sweet gifts during the holiday season. So I know fruit cakes is not for everybody but I happen to love (well-made) ones. This weekend I was in a mood for a fruit cake, but I realized I would have to start soaking dried fruits first and it would be at least several days before I could actually bake one. So I decided to make a quick bread with lots of dried fruits and nuts. I packed dates, apricots, golden raisins, and walnuts in this bread. A hint of orange gives the whole bread even more flavorful. This is going to be perfect for tomorrow’s Sunday brunch!
Date and Apricot Quick Bread
1 cup dates (cut into four pieces)
1 cup apricots (cut into four pieces)
1/3 cup golden raisins
8 tablespoons salted butter, softened
2/3 ~ 3/4 cup sugar
1 large egg
2 tablespoons of orange rum
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 ~ 1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 cup walnuts (chopped into small pieces)
1. Place dates, apricots, and raisins in a bowl and pour over 1 cup of boiling water. Mix and set aside for 1 ~ 2 hours. Drain. Add two tablespoons of orange rum and mix well. Set aside.
2. Preheat oven to 350F.
3. Cream butter. Add sugar and mix well.
4. Add an egg. Stir in flour, baking powder, baking soda, and spices and mix.
5. Add fruit with liquid and walnuts and mix.
6. Pour into a 5X9 pan and bake for about 60 to 70 minutes until a skewer inserted in middle comes out clean.
デーツ＆アプリコットブレッド
ブレッドと呼んでますが、甘目、バナナブレッドみたいな感覚だと思ってください。
でもふわっとしたケーキとはまた違うので、やっぱりブレッドと呼びたいのです。
ぎっしりとデーツ、アプリコット、ゴールデンレーズン、くるみが詰まって、美味し～い。
本当はフルーツケーキを作ろうと思ったのですが、それには、ドライフルーツを洋酒に漬けないといけないことを忘れていて、
でも、すぐに食べたいことから、こんなブレッドが出来上がり。
ほんのり忍ばせたオレンジラム酒がいい味を出してくれます。
おやつにはもちろん、来週朝通勤用に持っていく予定で～す。
朝は本当は甘いものを控えようと思っているのですが、これはフルーツやナッツがたっぷりだからいいよね、というのが言い訳（笑）。
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