Chunky Fruit and Nut Quick Bread is packed full of healthy fruits and nuts ~ the smell of a couple of slices of this bread in the toaster will get anyone out of bed in a hurry!
This is the kind of wonderful savory quick bread you might have found in the 70s
when ex-hippies were running little breakfast spots, bakeries, and hole in the wall eateries all over the country. It’s a solid, chunky little loaf literally crammed wall to wall with nuts, seeds, and fruit. In fact it’s all about the nuts and fruit, the grains are just there to act as a kind of mortar. I know, words like solid and mortar aren’t really what you associate with a great slice of bread, but trust me on this one. It’s damn good. A thick slice, toasted and buttered, makes a memorable breakfast, and apart from the gathering and chopping of all the fruits and nuts, it takes just minutes to throw together.
This quick bread dough, (or should I say batter?) is fast and easy.
You can see in the photo that there are literally more fruits and nuts than flour! It’s a great way to use up leftovers that clutter up your cupboard from past baking projects. I do think the variety is what makes this bread so special, so I wouldn’t suggest trying to make it with only one type of fruit and nut, it just won’t turn out as good.
For the flour I used a mix of buckwheat and white, but you can use all whole wheat, or probably any combination of flours you like. Like I said, it’s just there to hold all the good bits together. but keep in mind that using at least one half white flour will help keep the bread from being too heavy.
This bread is a variation of my Muesli Toasting Bread, which I also love.
Both recipes give you the opportunity to clear out your pantry and use up all sorts of odds and ends.
So there you have it, if you were a child of the 70s, or just wish you were, you will love this bread! It’s fun to put together, and it’s an adventure to eat — every bite is completely unique.
Notes for fruit and nut quick bread ~
- Be sure to measure your flour with the fluff, scoop, and level method: fluff up the flour before scooping it up, and then level it with the side of a knife. This ensures a more accurate measure.
- This bread needs to be toasted, I think. And slathered with butter. And because there is no fat of any kind in the dough, the bread will dry out quickly.
- I recommend wrapping the cooled loaf, or individual slices, in plastic and keeping it in the refrigerator. You could definitely freeze it as well.
Recipe adapted from Cooking Melangery
Reader Rave ~
“Amazingly delicious! I made this yesterday. WOW. So good toasted. Thanks for the recipe!” Â ~ Linda
Chunky Fruit and Nut Quick Bread
Ingredients
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon almond extract, optional
- 1/4 cup golden syrup, or maple syrup
- 1/4 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 cup buckwheat flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 cups chopped nuts, I used walnuts, hazelnuts, pecans, cashews, almonds and pistachios and pumpkin seed kernels
- 2 cups chopped dried fruit, I used figs,apricots, cherries, currents, apples and peaches
Instructions
- Set the oven to 350F
- Spray a standard loaf pan with cooking spray. I like to line it with parchment paper so that I can lift it out after baking for easy slicing. That's optional.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk the eggs, extract, syrup and buttermilk together until well blended.
- In another bowl, whisk together the flours, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Toss in the fruits and nuts, and add to the wet ingredients. Mix well. The batter will be stiff, but if it seems too stiff, add in a little more buttermilk.
- Turn the dough into the pan and smooth it out evenly.
- Bake for about 45-50 minutes, until it is golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean.
- The bread is best eaten toasted, with butter. Keep the cooled loaf well wrapped in plastic.
Notes
-
for a paleo version of this bread, try my Paleo Fruit and Nut Breakfast Bread
This looks absolutely fantastic. I love breads packed full of my favorite fruits and nuts like this. I’m already imagining putting butter or peanut butter on it, but only after devouring the first piece all by itself!
Luci’s Morsels – fashion. food. frivolity.
I love the peanut butter idea, hadn’t thought of that!
Sue, this is one gorgeous bread. And toast season is here! I am so excited!
My Sunday afternoon could use a nice slice of this bread with tea, love all the textures!
Love this quick bread, it is a great way to kick off fall baking!
-Jamie
This bread looks so so good! Especially warm with butter. I make one similar, but it’s yeasted. It’s perfect with cheese!
Hi Sue, love that you used buckwheat flour, this is a great bread. A real keeper!
Thanks Cheri — I love to find new ways to use that flour, it’s so unique, and I love the speckled color.
I love that the recipe calls for using up the odd bits left over from other recipes. I have everything I need for this without going out to buy any ingredients. I have small amounts of nuts, dried fruit, everything. This is breakfast all next week!
I know, me too. I look forward to my next loaf, which I’m sure will be completely different.
I can’t decide what’s more beautiful – your bread or that blue pitcher in the last photo! 🙂
Thanks Ahu — that’s one of my friend Sandy’s mugs, there’s an ad for her gorgeous pottery on my sidebar.
This reminds me of Christmas tea cake! Yum!
It does look a little bit like fruitcake, but it couldn’t be more different — not a sweet bread at all. I don’t want to mislead anyone 🙂
That is “Chock fulla Nuts”! GREG
🙂