Black Forest Bread: Welcoming Warmer Weather

Let’s take quick bread. No matter what form it’s in (muffin, loaf, etc.), it’s delicious. If you were to go crazy and add a bit of chocolate to it, you’d increase the quality tenfold. You could stop there, but during the Summer, doing that would be crazy, considering you could continue to develop the flavor by adding zucchini, strawberries, raspberries, or even…cherries. Hmm, chocolate and cherries…sound familiar? Yep, that’s right, Black Forest people. We went there.  

 

 

To begin this cake-inspired-bread, we’ll start with the dry ingredients. Into a medium bowl, add your flour, baking soda, cocoa powder, and salt. Also, don’t forget that little bit of espresso powder. As I’m sure you remember hearing before, espresso powder intensifies the taste of chocolate quite a bit. If you were to dissolve a good amount of it in water before adding it, you would be able to also get a bit of coffee flavor from it. But, since we’re just looking for a deep chocolate taste, we’ll just mix it in with the dry ingredients.

 

 

In to a separate bowl, you’ll mix your wet ingredients. First, the egg and sugars can be incorporated well so that the mixture is uniform. Then, in go the buttermilk, vanilla, and oil. Buttermilk (or it’s easier alternative) is so important here, as it’s acidity will react with the baking soda we put in earlier to create a rise.

 

 

Now, little by little, add the dry ingredients to the wet, being careful not to overmix. Once those guys are friends, it’s finally time to put in the good stuff: chocolate and cherries, almost as infamous of a duo as my girls Ree and Hyacinth.

 

 

This batter can now be baked so many different ways. Personally, I went with petite loaves. You can follow my lead, or make standard muffins, jumbo muffins, mini muffins, or a large loaf. Do what your heart desires…just don’t forget to adjust your baking time accordingly along the way.

 

And, there you have it folks, the perfect thing to celebrate the arrival of warmer weather: a cherrylicious chocolatey treat that you can eat for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or snack. Plus, there’s fruit in it, that means it HAS to be healthy, right?

Next week, we’re solving yet another problem of mine. Too many leftovers. I know, what a shame.

Until then, stay tuned and stay hungry!

Erin