3 Delicious Bread Recipes You Can Use For Neighbor Gifts
It’s finally Christmastime! My decorations have been up for a month, but I still love the full embrace of Christmas that happens after Thanksgiving.
One of the many things to start planning is your neighbor gifts! Obviously, there is no rule that says you have to give your neighbors gifts. In fact, there have been many years I haven’t, due to new babies and crazy life happenings. But when I am able to, I love being able to express appreciation to my neighbors, community, and other loved ones that have helped me in ways big or small through the year.
There are plenty of ideas out there that are inedible, or healthy, but I still love gifting homemade goodies. It’s a unique and heartfelt gift. You may not feel up to baking dozens of cookies and cooking up several batches of homemade candies, but that doesn’t mean you can’t give a heartfelt homemade gift.
You know what’s one of the best things you can give? Bread! Depending on which recipe you use, bread doesn’t have to be hard to make. It also makes a gift with beautiful presentation: all you do is wrap it up and put on a bow or ribbon! I also love that you can freeze bread- so you can spread out your batches and make them when you have time and keep them in your freezer until you’re ready to deliver them. It also means your neighbors can throw it in the freezer if they want to save it for after the holidays.
I also love the symbolic representation of bread. The whole reason we celebrate Christmas is to remember our Savior, Jesus Christ- the Bread of Life. What better way to remember Him than to give our neighbors a loaf of delicious homemade bread?
If you like the idea of gifting bread, but need some ideas of what to bake, I’ve rounded up a couple options for you!
This first recipe is for those who want to make basic bread but are afraid to dip their toes in the water. I know so many people who are afraid to bake bread, but it really doesn’t have to be difficult! This recipe is practically foolproof! It’s super easy, it’s fast, and it’s a really tasty bread!
Quick Homemade Bread (aka 5 Minute Bread)
This dough is quick to make and makes a fabulous versatile bread!
Prep time:
Cook time:
Yield: 2 loaves
Serving size: 10
Calories per serving: 228
Ingredients:
Cook time:
Yield: 2 loaves
Serving size: 10
Calories per serving: 228
5 1/4 cups white or wheat bread flour
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tablespoon salt
1 1/2 tablespoons SAF instant yeast (rounded tablespoons)
1 1/2 tablespoons liquid lecithin
2 cups hot water
Directions:
Mix dry ingredients. Add lecithin and water. Mix for 1 minute and check consistency. If dough is too dry, add more water. Dough should be very sticky. Mix for 5 minutes (do not add more flour to the dough after it as finished mixing). Spray counter and pans with Pam. Shape loaves and cover with a dish towel. Let raise 25 minutes. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Makes two loaves of bread.
For Artisan bread, place on a well greased cookie sheet instead of bread pans.
For breadsticks, use 1 loaf size dough and roll out on to a greased cookie sheet. Use a pizza cutter to cut dough in half lengthwise, and then in small strips horizontally. Brush with butter and seasoning, cover with a towel, and let raise for 25 minutes before baking.
*Dough can stay in your fridge for up to 1 1/2 days.
**If you have a Bosch, you can double this recipe and it will still fit!
For Artisan bread, place on a well greased cookie sheet instead of bread pans.
For breadsticks, use 1 loaf size dough and roll out on to a greased cookie sheet. Use a pizza cutter to cut dough in half lengthwise, and then in small strips horizontally. Brush with butter and seasoning, cover with a towel, and let raise for 25 minutes before baking.
*Dough can stay in your fridge for up to 1 1/2 days.
**If you have a Bosch, you can double this recipe and it will still fit!
Recipe formatted with the Cook'n Recipe Software from DVO Enterprises.
This Coconut Bread is a family favorite. This is typically what my mom gives to people in her neighborhood for birthdays and holidays, and she has become famous for it. People know all about Arienne’s coconut bread- because it’s that good! Even people who don’t love coconut love this bread- so you should definitely make it at least once ;).
Coconut Bread
Yield: 2 loaves
Serving size: 16
Calories per serving: 416
Ingredients:
Serving size: 16
Calories per serving: 416
4 eggs, beaten
2 cups sugar
1 cup oils (or melted butter)
2 teaspoons coconut extract
3 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup coconut
Glaze:
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon coconut extract
Directions:
Preheat oven to 325.
Beat together the eggs, sugar, oil, and coconut extract until well combined. Whisk dry ingredients together, then add them alternately with the buttermilk to the first mixture until just combined. Fold in coconut.
Pour into 2 greased bread pans and bake for 1 hour.
Meanwhile, prepare the glaze. Combine the sugar, water and butter into a saucepan. Once they reach boiling, boil for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and add the coconut extract. Mix well.
When the bread is done, poke holes on the top of each loaf to allow glaze to seep through entire loaf. Glaze immediately. Let cool.
Beat together the eggs, sugar, oil, and coconut extract until well combined. Whisk dry ingredients together, then add them alternately with the buttermilk to the first mixture until just combined. Fold in coconut.
Pour into 2 greased bread pans and bake for 1 hour.
Meanwhile, prepare the glaze. Combine the sugar, water and butter into a saucepan. Once they reach boiling, boil for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and add the coconut extract. Mix well.
When the bread is done, poke holes on the top of each loaf to allow glaze to seep through entire loaf. Glaze immediately. Let cool.
Recipe formatted with the Cook'n Recipe Software from DVO Enterprises.
And finally, this Orange Almond Poppyseed Bread is unique and delicious! I love the combination of citrus and almond with poppyseed. It’s perfect!
Orange Almond Poppyseed Bread
The combination of almonds and poppyseeds along with the orange glaze make this bread full of flavor and super moist!
Prep time:
Cook time:
Serving size: 24
Calories per serving: 248
Ingredients:
Cook time:
Serving size: 24
Calories per serving: 248
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/4 cups sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 teaspoons poppy seeds
3 large eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
1 1/8 cups vegetable oil
1 1/2 teaspoons almond extract
1 1/2 teaspoons butter extract
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Glaze
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup orange juice
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 teaspoon butter extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions:
Mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and poppyseeds together in bowl; set aside.
In separate mixing bowl, whisk eggs, milk, oil, and extracts until eggs are well blended.
Add dry ingredients to the egg mixture and blend well, scraping sides and bottoms of bowl, but do not over mix.
Pour into 2 greased loaf pans; bake at 350 degrees for 55-60 minutes.
To make glaze, mix all glaze ingredients in small saucepan; heat until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and let thicken for a few minutes, then brush over cooled loaves, making sure to get plenty of glaze in the "crack" of the bread.
Source: slivingwellspendingless.com
In separate mixing bowl, whisk eggs, milk, oil, and extracts until eggs are well blended.
Add dry ingredients to the egg mixture and blend well, scraping sides and bottoms of bowl, but do not over mix.
Pour into 2 greased loaf pans; bake at 350 degrees for 55-60 minutes.
To make glaze, mix all glaze ingredients in small saucepan; heat until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and let thicken for a few minutes, then brush over cooled loaves, making sure to get plenty of glaze in the "crack" of the bread.
Source: slivingwellspendingless.com
Recipe formatted with the Cook'n Recipe Software from DVO Enterprises.
Which bread are you making?
Sources:
- https://www.livingwellspendingless.com/orange-almond-poppyseed-loaf/?epik=dj0yJnU9NC1uV25ORy1pOVpoc1Y5a1FkdHc2N2FTbUlYemZQVjYmcD0wJm49cFRONHJTTjdWcFp2WEtkb3E5QVpPQSZ0PUFBQUFBR0dpbUpZ#7ADJKk7wPxzImccL.32
- https://www.flickr.com/photos/trufflepig/687206315
Camille Hoffmann
Monthly Newsletter Contributor since 2014
Email the author! camille@dvo.com
