You have a party to go to and you’d really like to bring your hostess a gift but you don’t want to spend money (admit it). That’s where miniature quick breads come in.
You need a gift for that friend who has everything. You have a baking itch Tuesday afternoon but you’d rather save your cake-and-cookie calories for Saturday night. Again, time to turn on the oven.
In any event, miniature quick breads are a great solution when you need a quick gift or want to send your guests home with an edible treat after your next get-together. One of these miniature loaves is the perfect size to cut a slice of for a snack or breakfast.
You can present them wrapped in foil or plastic wrap but a much nicer way to deliver these goods is to bake them in paper loaf pans. Wrap them in cellophane and you’re good to go. You can even bake a batch of these and stash half in the freezer so you’re never without a homemade snack on hand.
Recipes adapted from Joy the Baker
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1½ cups whole wheat flour
- 2 cups light brown sugar, packed
- ⅓ cups granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon allspice
- ½ teaspoon cloves
- 1 15-ounce can pumpkin puree
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- ⅓ cup maple syrup
- ⅓ cup water
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, whisk together flours, sugars, baking soda, baking powder, salt and spices. In a medium bowl, carefully whisk together pumpkin puree, oil, maple syrup and water.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and use a spatula to fold all of the ingredients together. Make sure to scrape the bottom of the bowl well, finding any stray flour bits to mix in. Fold in most of the chopped walnuts, reserving some to sprinkle on top of the batter once in the pan.
- Divide the dough between four 6.5" x 2.5" paper loaf pans and sprinkle with a few walnut pieces. Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from the oven. Let rest in the pans for 20 minutes, then invert onto a cooling rack.
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 stick (8 Tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- ¾ cup sugar
- ½ cup (packed) light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 ripe bananas, mashed
- ¾ cup buttermilk
- 3 ounces bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
- Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place four 6.5" x 2.5" paper loaf pans atop a two regular baking sheets, stacked. The extra insulation will keep the bottom of the bread from over baking.
- Sift together the flour, cocoa, baking powder, salt and baking soda. With a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, or with a hand mixer in a large bowl, beat the butter at medium speed for about a minute until soft. Add the sugars and beat for 2 minutes more.
- Add the eggs one at a time, beating for a minute after each addition. At this point, the batter may look a little curdled. Reduce the mixer speed to low and mix in the mashed bananas. Add the dry ingredients in three additions, mixing only until they disappear into the batter.
- Still on low sweep, add the buttermilk, mixing until it is incorporated. Stir in the chopped chocolate. Scrape batter into prepared pans. Bake for 30 minutes.
- Cover the bread loosely with a foil tend to keep the top from getting too dark, and continue to bake for another 10-15 minutes or until a thin knife inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool on a wire rack for 15-20 minutes before removing from the pan.
What are your favorite hostess gifts? What do you give the hostesses or guests who have everything?
21 Comments
Divya Yadava
July 22, 2011 at 3:37 pmAww..these are adorable!
Heidi Renée
July 10, 2011 at 6:08 pmI made the pumpkin bread yesterday. So good!
Heidi Renée
January 16, 2011 at 2:19 amAn already-vegan recipe! You know I’ll be making it. 🙂
First holy communion favors
January 13, 2011 at 2:13 amDelicious food! I so love cakes.
Marly
January 12, 2011 at 12:25 amI sometimes keep breads like these in the freezer so I’m ready with a gift when needed. Chocolate chip banana bread looks so good!
Emily
January 11, 2011 at 4:16 pmSuch a good idea! I’ll take one of each, please! 🙂
Helene
January 11, 2011 at 3:47 pmI made Bailey’s chocolate over Christmas for gifts. They were well received. Love your mini bread.
Courtney (Pancakes & Postcards)
January 10, 2011 at 11:57 pmThese are adorable! Great gift. Although I am a little scared to bake them because I definitely tend to view mini loafs as a single serving just for me. 🙂 They are… right? 🙂
Ben
January 10, 2011 at 9:12 pmNice! I’ll keep this in mind for next time I have to bring a gift but don’t want to spend a lot of money, hehe.
Kelly
January 10, 2011 at 5:12 pmYum. I will admit I often do the cop out of bringing a bottle of wine, cider or some beer depending on the host/hostess’ preferences. However, you’re making me realize there is no reason why I cannot be more creative.
Jessica's Dinner Party
January 10, 2011 at 6:48 amI love food gifts! Giving and receiving!
Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen
January 10, 2011 at 2:24 amThese cakes are really a great gift to receive. One year my next-door neighbor handed mini-loaf cakes out to everyone in the neighborhood as Christmas gifts and we all loved them! It was the best present, so thoughtful.
Baking Serendipity
January 9, 2011 at 10:35 pmGenius! I love how cute these look all packaged up 🙂
Tracy
January 9, 2011 at 9:13 pmI love this idea! Both loaves look lovely too!
Lydia (The Perfect Pantry)
January 9, 2011 at 6:52 pmA loaf of quick bread in trade for a cup of tea always goes over well with me!
Roz
January 9, 2011 at 4:16 amWhat a lovely idea. I’d love it if someone brought this to my place!!! This has been bookmarked!! Have a good weekend.
Christina @ Sweet Pea's Kitchen
January 8, 2011 at 10:43 pmI love giving quick bread as gifts! They are so perfect! That chocolate chip banana bread looks amazing! 🙂
leslie
January 8, 2011 at 8:46 pmAdorable mini loafs. your right, they do make the perfect hostess gift!
Jennie @ Oh, Sweet Day!
January 8, 2011 at 6:31 pmI couldn’t agree more, quick breads make such lovely gifts! I’m always giving them away and generally double my recipes to freeze a second for just in case times. Great recipes!
zerrin
January 8, 2011 at 5:38 pmWow! These make perfect gifts! So creative! Never used such paper loaf pans before, absolutely a nicer way to give these breads as gifts. And their wrap is lovely!
Feast on the Cheap
January 8, 2011 at 4:04 pmI’d definitely be psyched if someone showed up on my doorstep with that chocolate chip banana bread…