This is one of my favorites, in part because it's so modifiable and in part because it's so easy! I've done so many variations of this recipe, and each has come out really nice. It makes a dense loaf that holds together nicely, making it ok for sandwiches or eaten in slices as something in the dense cake family. This can also be done savory or sweet, and is "vegan" and "paleo" for those of you who are concerned about such things. I'm just excited about it because I'm not allergic to it!
Ingredients:
1.5 cups almond or hazelnut flour
3/4 cup tapioca starch or arrowroot starch
1/2 cup ground flax meal
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
3/4 cup water or milk alternative (milk alternatives lend a nice flavor if doing a sweet bread)
1 tsp cider vinegar
2 tsp maple syrup
OPTIONAL:
For pumpernickel bread: add in 2 tbsp cocoa powder, 1 tsp granulated onion, and 1 tbsp ground caraway seed (ground in a coffee grinder)
For rosemary olive bread: add 1 tbsp fresh rosemary, 1/4 c sliced and pitted olives, 1/2 tsp granulated onion, and sprinkle coarse flaked salt and olive oil over the top before baking
For cinnamon raisin bread (so so yummy!): add 1/3 c sugar, 1/2 cup raisins, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1.5 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp ground cardamon
For apple bread: add 1-2 diced apples, 1/2 cup raisins, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1.5 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp ground cardamon
Any dried fruit can be added in at about 1/2 cup total of dried fruit. Fresh fruit can be added; you may need to increase baking time or decrease the water by a little bit. You can get creative with the spices as well, including ground or candied ginger, cloves, allspice, or nutmeg. For savory breads, any dried or fresh herbs can be added in as well.
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Preheat oven to 375 degrees F
Mix together all dry ingredients
Whisk together all wet ingredients
Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the wet, mix well
Batter will be thick and sticky
Scoop batter into a greased bread loaf pan
Bake 45 min or until toothpick comes out clean
Cool and serve!
