This is one of my go-to Fall recipes. It’s a great option for people with lots of food restrictions. And it’s delicious! Scroll down on my Allergy-Friendly page for the recipe.
It’s Fall! Time for all things pumpkin. Pumpkin Bread is one of our all time favorites. We’ve been making these loaves for as long as this blog has been around – 10 years and counting.
This is a great healthy snack. It’s sugar free, egg free, and dairy free. Read on…
Two of our family are taking a break from sugar at the moment, and another can’t do dairy and eggs. This means it’s time to develop a new recipe, and Fall is a great time of year to try this one.
Carrot Spice Bread:
Makes 2 loaves.
2 cups all purpose flour
2 cups whole wheat, spelt, or your flour choice
1 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp cloves
2 cups finely shredded carrot
2 ripe bananas, mashed
2 cups orange juice
1/3 cup oil
Mix all dry ingredients. Mix all wet ingredients in a separate bowl. Add the wet to the dry. Mix well. Pour into greased bread pan. Bake at 350 for 50-55 minutes or until the center tests clean.
Cool on wire racks.
* Note: You could also make this in cake form if desired. Just cook in two greased and floured cake pans instead. I also sometimes make it in a 9×12 casserole as well. And if you aren’t avoiding caloric sweeteners all together like we are, add 1/4 cup of honey or maple syrup to make it that much better.
This bread is just slightly sweet so it’s a great snack any time.
And stayed tuned for the sourdough version in a couple of weeks.
It’s a tower of waffles. Sourdough this time. Using my favorite cast iron waffle makers.
If you want to give this recipe a try, follow my basic waffle recipe here, but use half the oil, omit the buttermilk (or soured milk), and add 1-2 cups of sourdough starter.
This has become my favorite loaf to make. It’s so big, and tall, and luscious. Give it a try with the recipe below and let me know how it turns out. Post a picture of your loaf in the comments!
Sourdough Sandwich Loaf:
Begin with approximately 2 cups of activated sourdough starter. This means that the starter should have been fed within the last 2-3 hours. I don’t specifically measure. I just eyeball it.
Add the following…
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 tbls honey
1 1/2 cups water
Stir all this into the starter.
Activated starter with salt and honey. Water is next.
Next add your flour. If you are using an all purpose starter, add the all purpose flour first. If you have a whole wheat starter or other whole grain add the whole grain flour first. You want to be sure that the flour that your starter is used to being fed is mixed into the starter well before another type of flour is added. So….
2 cups all purpose flour
1 3/4 – 2 1/2 cups whole grain flour
The whole grain flour could be whole wheat, spelt, etc. I use freshly milled flour.
The reason I give a range here on the flour is that this can vary for you depending on how thick/thin you keep your starter. I typically use about 2 cups of whole grain flour.
The other thing to keep in mind is that this is a fairly stiff dough. For those of you used to high hydration loaves, you may feel like you are over flouring here.
After you have mixed in the flour that your starter is typically used to being fed, then mix in the other flour one cup at a time. You need to read your dough after the first cup of flour. You are going for a dough that is fairly stiff and just cleans the side of the bowl.
This is after one stretch and fold.
After you think you have added enough flour, covet the bowl with a wet towel and let the dough rest for 30 minutes.
After the first 30 minute rest, you want to perform 4-5 sets of stretch and folds every 20-30 minutes. To execute a stretch and fold, reach under the dough and pull a section of the dough up and fold it toward the center of the dough. Do this all the way around the circumference of the ball of dough. Let the dough rest for at least 20 minutes, and perform another stretch and fold until you have done it 4-5 times.
Now give the dough a final 20 minute rest and while you prepare your loaf pan.
I use an Emile Henry Italian Baker. As you can see, this is an extra-large loaf pan. You could use an oval Dutch oven to make this loaf, or divide the dough into two regular sized loaf pans. You could also cut the recipe in half if you only want to make one loaf in a regular sized loaf pan.
If using loaf pans, butter or grease your pans well.
After the dough has completed its final rest (divide it in half if using two loaf pans) and then flatten it into a rough rectangle just slightly smaller than the length of your pan. Roll it into a log shape, pinch the seam closed, and place it in the loaf pan for its final rise. If you have the EH Italian baker, cover the dough with the lid while it rises. (Note: if baking in a Dutch oven, let your dough rise in a covered, oblong banneton, and use parchment paper to line your Dutch oven with rather than greasing it.)
A peek at the bread rising. This dough needs to be a little closer to the top before it’s ready.
Let the dough rise until it reaches the top of your loaf pan or banneton.
Once it had risen to the top of the pan, preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Once the oven is hot, place your loaf pan in the oven and bake covered for 30 minutes. Then remove the cover and bake for 15 more. If baking in regular loaf pans, you can bake uncovered, just watch the loaf for the last 15 minutes to be sure that it is not browning too quickly. If you find it browns too fast, reduce the heat to 350 for the last 15 minutes.
Cool completely on a wire rack and enjoy your beautiful loaf!
Printable Recipe:
2 cups sourdough starter
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbls honey
1 1/2 cups water
2 cups of flour (same as starter)
1 3/4 – 2 cups flour of choice
Mix all ingredients well. Perform 4-5 sets of stretch and folds. Shape and place in loaf pan for second rise. Preheat oven to 400 when bread reaches the top of the pan. Bake for at least 30 minutes or until golden brown.