Try these recipes for fresh and easy bread

Baking bread isn’t nearly as hard as most people think it is. Just get out your favorite kitchen bakeware and get started with these recipes.

 

Easy Banana Nut Loaf

Ingredients:

1 ? cups all ?purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

®-teaspoon salt

ª-teaspoon baking soda

®-cup (1 stick) butter, room temperature

® cup granulated sugar

1 large egg

1-teaspoon vanilla extract

2 large, ripe bananas mashed

® cup chopped dried apricots

® cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Preparation:

Grease bottom of a 9x5x3-i-inch loaf pan

In a bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda. In a mixing bowl beat together butter and sugar with an electric mixer (on medium speed). Beat until light and fluffy; beat in egg and vanilla extract.

With mixer at low speed, beat in flour, alternating with mashed bananas. Stir in chopped apricots or dates and the chopped nuts. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit or until golden brown. (An inserted toothpick will come out clean).

Cool bread in the pan on a wire rack for five minutes, turn bread out onto rack and cool completely. Wrap bread tightly in foil and store overnight before slicing and serving for best flavor.

 

Easy Raisin Nut Bread

Easy bread recipes continue with this delicious raisin, nut loaf.

Ingredients:

3 cups sifted regular flour

®-cup sugar

1 ® teaspoons salt

1 ® teaspoons baking powder

?-teaspoon baking soda

1-teaspoon ground cinnamon

®-teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 egg

1-cup milk

2/3 cup molasses

ª cup melted shortening, cooled

1-cup raisins

® cup finely chopped walnuts

Preparation:

In a large bowl, sift together flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, soda, cinnamon and nutmeg.

Beat egg slightly in a small bowl; stir in milk, molasses, and melted shortening and add to the flour mixture all at once.

Stir until just blended and then stir in walnuts and raisins. Pour into a well-greased 9x5x3-inch loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for one hour.

Cool the raisin bread in the pan on a wire rack for ten minutes. Loosen around edges with a knife, turn out onto rack and cool completely. Wrap in plastic wrap or foil overnight.

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Easy Butter Pecan Bread

Ingredients:

2 ª cups regular sifted flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

®-teaspoon baking soda

®-teaspoon salt

®-teaspoon cinnamon

ª-teaspoon nutmeg

1-cup light brown sugar packed

1 egg beaten

1-cup buttermilk

2 tablespoons melted butter

1 cup chopped pecans

Preparation:

Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices; blend in brown sugar.

Combine egg, buttermilk and butter; add to flour mixture, stirring to blend well. Stir in chopped nuts and turn batter into a greased 9x5x3-inch loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 to 50 minutes.

 

Easy Cheese Bread

Easy bread recipes must include this delicious cheese bread. Tasty with soups or chili or all on its own this bread is a must to make.

Ingredients:

1 pkg active dry yeast

ª-cup water

2 tablespoons butter

1-tablespoon sugar

® teaspoon salt, divided

?-cup hot milk

ª cup grated Romano cheese

2 ® cups flour

1 egg beaten

3 tablespoons milk

® cup minced onion

1/8 teaspoon pepper

2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese

ª cup grated parmesan cheese

Preparation:

Mix together yeast and warm water in a small bowl. Let sit until bubbly. Combine butter, sugar, ª tsp salt and the ?-cup of hot milk in a large bowl and let it sit until lukewarm. Stir in the dissolved yeast mixture, Romano cheese and enough flour to form soft dough. Knead in lightly floured surface for three minutes.

Place dough in greased bowl and turn to grease top. Cover and let rise in warm place 1-1 ® hours until doubled. Punch down and press dough into a greased 13×9-inch pan. Cover and let rise again until doubled in size (usually about 45 minutes). Using your fingers, press randomly into the dough to form dimples.

In a small bowl, mix egg, 3 tbsp milk, onion and ª tsp salt. Spoon over risen dough and sprinkle with cheddar and parmesan cheeses. Bake the bread at 425 degrees for 15-20 minutes, until firm and browned. Serve warm.

These easy bread recipes will be sure to please your taste buds as well as your schedule. Happy baking!