Doesn’t everything taste better with chocolate? I had read some of the comments on this loaf from the Tuesday with Dorie participants who made it before me, and I was concerned that making this loaf would be ordinary and a waste of time. So, I added the chocolate (3oz semi-sweet). And I added dried cranberries (1 cup) in addition to the fresh cranberries. And since I was out of walnuts, the pecans were my sub. There was so much added stuff in this bread that I was concerned there was not enough dough batter.
Mixing everything together was challenging. The fresh cranberries did not want to stay in the mix. And they kept breaking, letting out their pink juice on the bread dough.
There were three rising periods for this loaf. The first time, it rose almost double.
The second time, it rose less that double. The third time, it did not rise.
After the third rise, I sprinkled the loaves with sparkling sugar, to sweeten them up.
The loaves baked 35 minutes in the oven. They did rise there and when they came out, they were golden brown. I let them cool for a few hours before tasting. They were chock-a-block full of cranberries, chocolate, and nuts. I really could not taste the dried cranberries, or the pumpkin for that matter. But the fresh cranberries provided a nice bright pop of tartness that I liked.
This kind of reminded me of chocolate babka. It was really good with all my additions. I am not sure if I would have liked it as much if I had followed the recipe ingredients.
L really liked it. And yes, we were at the zoo today and she had to have the butterfly face painting AGAIN. I tried to get her to select something else, but no go.
To see the recipe, please visit Rebecca, our TWD host this time. And to read the other blogs for this recipe, please click here.
In two weeks, we are making bagels. Maybe I’ll make the salmon spread to go with them. I know a few people who would love to try it. Check back soon!
Oooooh…. chocolate! Fantastic idea!
Thank you!
Marlise,
We had the same idea to add chocolate, but as for me it stayed an idea.
Thank you so much, now I know what I’ll surely add the next time I bake it.
As for the question you’ve left on my blog:
noci are walnuts and nocciole are hazelnuts. Well, pretty similar.
Thank you for visiting me.
Thanks for the word clarification. I will have to remember that. Grazie!
Your breads look delicious. I too had trouble with the fresh cranberries popping out of the dough, but really enjoyed their bursts of tartness. Sprinkling sugar on the loaves is a great idea.
I love my sparkling sugar. I use it on every sweet I can. And it comes in colors. Thanks for the comment!
I love both chocolate and pecans. Brilliant!
Yummy! Thanks for the comment Julia.
I love, love, love the idea of chocolate! And your bread rose so nicely!
Yes, now you should try it! Thanks for the comment.
Say yes to the chocolate addition! We really liked this bread but chocolate would improve it for sure.
It is good to stick to the recipe, but when that recipe looks dull, add chocolate. Thanks for the comment!
Yes, indeed. Everything tastes better with chocolate. Pecans too! Thanks for sharing all your great ideas!
Thank you for your nice comment!
chocolate is a great addition!
Thanks!
Marlise, I adore the look of your small pecan pumpkin chocolate cranberry loaves – they look utterly delicious with all the additions and the picture of your daughter with her face painting is wonderful, she looks so happy!
P.S.: Just to let you know, the link to your plum cake post is on my facebook page.
Thank you so much. And thank you for the honor of being on your facebook page. You are doing some wonderful baking and I hope to make more of your cakes in the future. I definitely want to try the red wine hazelnut chocolate bundt cake you made a few months ago. That looked delicious!
Such a great picture of your daughter eating the pumpkin bread! The slice is as colorful and beautiful as her butterfly face painting. Chocolate and pumpkin – yes, please
Awe, thank you for the nice comment about L. Chocolate is the way to go!
I loved the pop of the fresh cranberries as well. I do wish there was more of a pumpkin essence to the bread. Your loaf sounds delicous. Love the butterfly!
Thank you for the comment, Cathleen.