December Mini Loaves

Rather than make seven different posts about loaves, I will combine them for one post about seven loaf varieties.

Every year for Christmas my mom and I take a day to escape from work and our crazy busy schedules to bake together. It is definitely a day I look forward to with the same anticipation of a child awaiting Christmas morning. For the past couple of years we have baked an assortment of mini loaves which we share with our neighbors and friends. A small treat from us to you.

This year we finally took a break from our day to have a whole crazy adventure together. It started with me leaving the mini loaf pan at my house. How did I manage to forget the one item that was key for baking the loaves? The only equipment I need to bring was over an hour away at my house. Consequently, our adventure began at Joann’s where I purchased another one. Forgetting can be a blessing in disguise. With two pans, we will be able to make so many more loaves next year!

From about 2pm to 5pm we made 14 loaves and 12 muffins. Then during round two (including my husband), another 10 loaves.

Zucchini-Apple Crumble: This is my favorite flavor. Subtle in sweetness, could be great with butter, and strong on the apple while mild on the zucch taste. It did not looked cooked on the inside, but definitely was fully cooked. We did not add raisins, but my dad’s first recommendation was to do so and I agree that would only improve these. The recipe makes enough crumble for both the Zucchini-Apple and the Apple-Cranberry. I recommend making these together.
Apple-Cranberry Crumble: Do not feel obligated to peel this apple before dicing it, however doing so might help with the texture and release of liquid from the apples. I recommend using a food processor or vegetable chopper with or without the skins. The original recipe for this was very thick/dense and I have modified it further for you. A glass of milk or smothering of butter is a great pairing for this product.
Zucchini Bread with Chocolate Chips: None of us were huge fans of this one. I would rather spend my chocolate chips in a pumpkin loaf next time. We only added the chips to the top of the loaf, however a couple sank into the batter. I am not saying I will not be finishing this loaf, I just would never make it again.
Chocolate (Zucchini) with Chocolate Chips: Not enough chocolate in the other flavors? We can help you with that! The chocolate with chocolate chips was preferred over just adding in the chips. The extra chocolate gives it a beautiful chocolate color with a melted chocolate surprise in every bite. With zucchini, or without, this is a great option. Be cautious adding too many spices; stick to cinnamon for this one. The zucchini will help with the lack of moisture, apples would also kick in some much needed moisture.
Chocolate Chip Cranberry-Zucchini: We added extra spice to this one and it tickled the line of too much, without crossing over. Another teaspoon of cloves would have pushed this flavor right off the cliff, but thankfully it was fabulously flavored and I ate the whole thing within 30 minutes of it coming out of the oven. I lost all self-control. Be careful, this is the perfect combo.

Two without Zucchini (I really wanted to try zucchini.)

Chocolate Peppermint: The original candy cane chocolate recipe, made enough for 3 regular (8x4in) loaves. We almost doubled the recipe for a total of 10-12 loaves. Depending on how big you want them, a recipe calling for 8×4 to 9x5in fills about 3-4 mini loaves. 3 full and fluffy or 4 rather flat loaves. We broke it up into 6 loaves and 2 muffins. If you use the mini candy canes for the topping, you can easily crush them in their loose bags however the full sized candy canes will need to be removed from their plastic and smashed in a plastic bag. Definitely do not bake the candy canes the full length of the loaf bake; they will melt and sink pathetically into the loaf. I found David Bovitz’ tests with chocolate enlightening for solving the lack of moisture. I usually add applesauce myself.
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip: You can, of course, add zucchini or remove the chocolate chips to modify. This is very similar to Pumpkin Magic muffins; it retains its pre-baked shape. Although this is more of a fall than a winter flavor,

1 regular loaf pan = 3 mini loaf pans

Customizing your own mini-loafs is quick and very simple! How to: Mix all your wet ingredients in one bowl, your dry ingredients in a separate (larger) bowl, then add the wet into the dry. Fold in any extras (i.e. cranberries, chocolate chips, nuts, etc.) and portion equally into pans. Bake at 350F for at least 25 minutes, checking every 5 thereafter. Bam! now you are an expert. Seriously, if you follow these guidelines you can get creative and make incredible loaves every time.

Take-Home Tips: The problems that could arise with mixing up loaf ingredients include under-baking a very wet loaf or over-baking and having a dry loaf, pairing flavors that do not blend well, a loaf that falls apart, and over mixing the batter for dense results. To combat this, focus on balancing the dry and wet ingredients; the goal is a thick, but pourable mixture. If your fruits are not large or juicy, peel them before adding to ensure the moisture is released in the bake. Stick with flavors you know get along from other recopies before branching out and creating your own. It is better to leave out flavor from the bread than to crowd it. Remember, we are making bread, which can have toppings such as butter and honey when serving. Allow your loaves plenty of time to cool, do not rush them or they will crumble when removed to the cooling rack. If they begin to crack, leave them in their tins or continue to bake them as appropriate. When combining the batter mix the flour as little as possible to keep it light, taking care to fold rather than mix. If you keep these points in mind, you are setting yourself up for success.

Scoring: The mini loaves are the perfect size for an after dinner treat. They will not stay on your counter for days, can be eaten with any meal or as a snack, and offer the opportunity to share a hearty treat that is not just packed with sugar. Keeping this in mind, the idea of the loaves receive a 9 of 10, one point off for requiring an oven and special equipment (mini loaf pan). For the individual flavors:

Zucchini-Apple Crumble – 7 of 10
Apple-Cranberry Crumble – 6 of 10 for the original recipe and 8 of 10 for the improved (included) version, also the only recipe yet requested!
Zucchini Bread with Chocolate Chips – 7 of 10 (needs lots of chocolate chips)
Chocolate Zucchini with Chocolate Chips – 8 of 10
Chocolate Chip Cranberry-Zucchini – 10 of 10
Chocolate Peppermint – 7 of 10 (the muffins stuck to the paper)
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip – 8 of 10