Portuguese Honey, Spice and All Things Nice, Fruit Bread.

May 09, 2023May 9, 20230 3
Portuguese Honey, Spice and All Things Nice, Fruit Bread that will take your breath away
in Bread

Prep

30 min

Cook

60 min

Ready In

150 min

Level

Difficult

Rating

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars
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Ingredients

1 1/4 cups unsalted butter , softened , plus additional for buttering pans
3/4 cup dried cranberries or 3/4 cup dried sour cherries
3/4 cup chopped mixed candied fruit , fine-quality candied fruit such as pears , citron , and candied orange peel
1/4 cup port wine
1 1/4 cups walnuts
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 cup sugar
3 large eggs
3 teaspoons active dry yeast ( from two 1/4-oz packages )
1/4 cup warm water
3/4 cup molasses ( not blackstrap )
1/2 cup honey

Nutrision Information

Servings Per Recipe
16
Calories
333
Sugar
32.2g
Fat
15g
Influenced by the colonial spices and fruits trade, this honey-spiced fruit bread is an icon of Portuguese cuisine. Sweetened with honey and molasses, enriched with plump dried fruits and crunchy walnuts, this bread is a traditional pastry that can be found in every Portuguese bakery. It was initially associated with the days of Christmas, but nowadays it can be enjoyed year-round. The dough's scent, full of sweet honey, and the subtle hint of spices such as cinnamon and cloves are sure to transport the senses to the streets of Lisbon with each bite. This bread is a must-try for anyone who fancies bread delights that have both a unique taste and cultural background.

Instructions

1.In a medium bowl, soak the cranberries, candied fruit, and port for one hour.
2.In a separate large bowl, mix flour, salt, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves.
3.Cream butter and sugar together until fluffy, then beat in eggs.
4.After dissolving yeast in warm water, add it along with molasses and honey to the egg mixture.
5.Gently stir in the walnuts and fruit mixture to flour mixture, then mix in egg mixture to form a sticky dough.
6.Knead the dough on a floured surface, cover, and let rise in a warm place for one hour.
7.Punch down dough, divide in half, and place in greased 9-inch round baking pans.
8.Cover with a damp cloth and let the dough rise again until doubled in size, for 30 minutes.
9.Preheat the oven to 350°F, then bake until golden brown for 50-60 minutes.
10.Let it cool before slicing.

PROS

Moist, dense, and full of walnuts and dried fruit, this bread is the perfect breakfast or snack option.

This bread is versatile enough to be served warm with a dollop of whipped cream or butter, or to be enjoyed sliced from storage.

With a long shelf life, it can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3 days or frozen up to 3 months.

CONS

This bread is high in calories and sugar content due to molasses and honey use.

The bread may come out dry if you overbake it.

HEALTH & BENEFITS

This bread is rich in vitamins and minerals from the ginger and cinnamon used.
The walnuts provide healthy fats, protein, and fiber to support heart health and satiety.
The small amount of molasses provides iron whereas honey has antimicrobial properties, which may help lower blood pressure and cholesterol.

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