Thursday 16 October 2008

Spiced Cranberry & Orange Bread

It has been a hectic week and I was in the mood making some bread to help get rid of the built up stress. I was walking back from uni and thoughts of cinnamon and raisin bread kept running through my head. I started to gather my ingredients and went to get the raisins, only to find…I’d run out of raisins. Humph. I had a rummage around and found some dried cranberries and so decided to make a spiced cranberry bread instead. I added ground ginger, mixed spice and the grated rind of an orange as I adore the flavour of orange and cranberry together.

Feeling happier I set about making my bread, breathing in the orange and spices. It was then able to sit happily on my windowsill while I got on with an essay before being baked and devoured as a reward.

I was a little worried that I had overcooked the crust slightly, but upon slicing I found it to be perfectly soft and tender within, the egg keeping it moist and springy. The zesty orange is the first flavour to hit your palate, closely followed by a sweet tangy cranberry and a subtle spicy after-note. The bread is not overly sweet so I won’t feel at all guilty having it for breakfast tomorrow, lightly toasted with some jam.

This is also my entry to Zorra’s 3rd World Bread Day. Click here for all the info.

Spiced Cranberry & Orange Bread
Ingredients

250g strong plain flour
45g caster sugar
1tsp dried yeast
40g butter
1 egg
125ml milk
1 tsp mixed spice
½ tsp ground ginger
1 orange
50g dried cranberries

Method
Add the flour, yeast, mixed spice, ginger and sugar to a bowl. Grate in the rind from the orange. Cut the butter into small pieces and rub through the flour mixture until its evenly blended in.
Heat the milk until warm to the touch but not hot. Beat the egg into the milk and pour over the flour mix.
Bring it together with your fingers until it forms a soft dough. Add the cranberries and kneed until well distributed.
Cover the bowl with cling film and leave to prove for 1 hour until.
When the hour is up, turn the dough out onto a well floured surface and knock it back by kneading gently.
Shape the dough into a log and place into a 450g/1lb loaf tin. Leave it a warm place to rise and double in volume for 1½ - 2 hours.
Preheat the oven to 200C. Bake the loaf for 22-25 minutes until a deep golden brown in colour and hollow sounding when tapped.
Allow to cool for a few minutes before transferring to a wire wrack to cool.
Serve with jam or a light spreading of cream cheese.

Update: The complete roundup of all 246 entries can be found here.

11 comments:

Deborah said...

I'm pretty stressed out today - I should make some of this to relieve it!

Snooky doodle said...

yumm this looks good. I love sweet bread. gorgeous !!!

Johanna GGG said...

cranberry and orange is such a great combination - looks fantastic bread. I often like both cream cheese and jam on post together!

Johanna GGG said...

oops - I meant on toast not post (as you probably worked out)

Gigi said...

i am oozing stress! i should stay home and bake the night away!

Beth (jamandcream) said...

I might try and make this at Christmas - very festive

Shari said...

Mmm, I'd love a piece right now!

Sara said...

This looks really delicious!

Rosie said...

What a wonderful combo of flavours for your bread and this is one I must try out :) It looks gorgeous!!

Rosie x

zorra said...

What a wonderful tasty reward!

Thx for your participation in WBD'08.

Unknown said...

This recipe sounds great and I have bookmarked it.U have got nice recipes.