Recipe: Cranberry Hazelnut Bread (mini loaves soaked in brandy, make ahead)

CRANBERRY HAZELNUT BREAD

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1 cup dried cranberries, dried pitted cherries, or snipped dates
1/2 cup dried blueberries or raisins
1/3 cup chopped hazelnuts or pecans
2 eggs
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup orange juice
1/3 cup oil
Brandy
Cheesecloth

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Grease bottom and sides of four (4 1/2 x 2 1/2 x 1 1/2-inch) loaf pans. (Greasing the sides only partway up will result in nicely rounded tops and prevent unwanted rims along the edges.) Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, stir together flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and cloves. Add cranberries or cherries, blueberries or raisins, and hazelnuts or pecans. Set aside.

In a medium mixing bowl, beat eggs; stir in brown sugar, orange juice, and oil. Stir into fruit mixture. Spoon about 3/4 cup of the batter into each pan, stirring batter often.

Bake loaves in a 300 degree F oven about 40 minutes or till a toothpick inserted near the center of each loaf comes out clean. Cool the loaves in the pans on wire racks for 10 minutes. Remove loaves from pans. Cool thoroughly on wire racks.

Wrap loaves in brandy-moistened cheesecloth. Over-wrap with foil. To mellow flavors, store in the refrigerator for up to 8 weeks. Remoisten cheesecloth with about 1 yTablespoon of brandy once a week or as needed.

Makes 4 mini loaves, 8 servings each
From: MsSanta - 12-13-99