Wednesday, March 31, 2010

April 1st HBin5 Bread Braid

Assignment: 1/2 recipe of Carrot Bread, pgs 157-158
1 loaf Olive Oil Spelt Bread, 96-97
We can make substitutions, but share what and how we substituted with the group in our blogs.

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Carrot Bread
Substitutions:
5 c AP, 1 1/2 c WWW (white whole wheat for whole wheat)
½ c spelt instead of wheat germ
Dried cherries
6 oz coconut milk
1 c coconut syrup (sugar free) in place of 1 c of the water
Blended the shredded carrots, water and coconut syrup together


After the way I felt about the red beet bread last month, I approached this recipe with concern. But I have made  quick carrot breads before and of course I love carrot cake. So I felt that luck would be with me on this one. And besides…with adding 1 cup of coconut, how could it be bad?

I loved the bread, as did my co-workers and neighbors!  But as my fellow HBin5 members pointed out it was difficult to taste the coconut. I had read their comments before I started this loaf, so I figured I’d be smart and add the coconut milk, and the coconut syrup. Even with that extra boost of coconut, I didn’t really taste the coconut. I think the wheat flour, even www, and the spelt flour just overwhelm the delicate taste of coconut.

But what to do with the dough. Come on baby, talk to me…what do you want to be? What would make you sing as you bake in the oven?

Suddenly I got the answer, cinnamon rolls AND monkey bread! Great. Wonderful. Inspired I said!

So I set out to make them. The cinnamon rolls were really nutmeg rolls. The recipe calls for 2 tsp of cinnamon which I did put in. But when I rolled out the dough for the cinnamon rolls, I decided that nutmeg would be better. I spread on real butter, brown sugar, crushed walnuts, and raisins and dried cherries. Rolled it up and sliced them up and put them in my springform pan.

This is the best nutmeg I've found.  It's very flavorful! 

Next was time for the monkey bread. I just took gobs of dough, rolled them around and put them in the bundt pan. Then I poured more coconut syrup around the dough balls.



Both the cinnamon rolls and monkey bread came out great. I did pour MORE coconut syrup on the monkey bread after I took it out of the bundt pan put the chunks of it in a container to take to work. That finally gave it more of a coconut flavor but still not as much as you would expect. No problem though. All of it was gone, gone, gone very quickly.

Monkey bread from the bundt pan on the left, nutmeg rolls on the right from the springform pan


mini monkey bread on left and cinnamon roll on the right.  I used giant muffin (silicone) pans for these. 

I will make the Olive Oil Spelt Bread on the 15th. It was way too close to Pesach (Passover) to make it for this braid. Since we don’t eat bread, pasta, drink beer or anything else with grains during this time of year it really limits my baking…but it’s only 8 days! So it’s matzah for now.

I’m looking forward to reading what my fellow HBin5 others did! If you would like to see also, just click here! http://www.bigblackdogs.net/

15 comments:

  1. Monkey Bread! What a great idea! I bet it was gone very quickly! Yum!

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  2. I now know that I should have made some cinnamon rolls with my Carrot Bread, yours look so good! Never seen Coconut Syrup before and I will have to keep my eye out for it!

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  3. Wow!!! This bread sounds wonderful. I followed the directions with the exception of putting raw turbinado sugar on the top of the loaf and I felt this bread was just so,so. It was a bit bland and lacking in flavor. You really made some changes. I wish I could trade you loaves.

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  4. YUM Monkey bread and cinnamon rolls- great ideas! And, they look wonderful. Bet your co-workers loved you!

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  5. monkey bread! great idea. I am not sure how I feel abuot the sound of nutmeg in rolls. Did you enjoy the taste?

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  6. Great options to make with the carrot bread. Have to make mine yet.

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  7. Another great rendition of the recipe - love it!

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  8. Wow, will have to try these ideas after Passover! My hubby has been wanting cinnamon rolls. Good to know I don't have to make a plain dough for them.

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  9. I love those syrups, great idea to punch up the flavor in this bread. You're co-workers were lucky!

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  10. I love the monkey bread idea AND the syrup. I may have to try these.

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  11. I learn so much participating in this braid. Adding coconut milk and syrup great idea, and great looking bread!

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  12. I made cinnamon rolls too but I love the idea of monkey bread. My kids would think that was hilarious and I remember eating it as a kid. Thanks for the great idea.

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  13. Your monkey bread is genious! I didn't even know there was a sugar free coconut syrup. I must find it!

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  14. Wow!!! i love how your carrot bread looks. and yes, you are right about the McCormick Nutmeg. I have that too in my kitchen.

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