I swear I have no idea what has come over me. I have been cranking out loaves in epic proportions. It’s almost as if the loaf pans were on the counter and I just kept using them. Okay, that’s really what happened.
I think I only have about fifty more recipes I want to try. I know….scary.
Anyway, I wanted a dense, cornbread-like-loaf that would go well with chili. This Cranberry-Cornmeal Quick Bread was perfect with lots of different textures from the cornmeal, cranberries and pecans. And right out of the oven, slathered in butter…it was so good.
If you are cooking up chili this weekend or a hearty soup or stew, give this a try.
Let’s make this up…
Here’s what you will need: Unbleached all-purpose flour, white whole wheat flour, cornmeal, table salt, baking powder, buttermilk, unsalted butter, eggs, maple extract, pecans and dried cranberries. Ingredients not shown: Maple syrup and granulated sugar.
In a large bowl whisk together 1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour, 1 cup white whole wheat flour, 1 cup cornmeal, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1-1/2 teaspoons salt and 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder. Set aside.
In another bowl, whisk together 1-1/4 cups buttermilk, 1/2 cup unsalted butter, 1/2 cup pure maple syrup, 2 large eggs and 1/2 teaspoon maple extract. Add this mixture to the flour mixture; stir just until blended.
Stir in 3/4 cup chopped pecans and 3/4 cup dried cranberries.
Spoon batter into a 9 x 5 loaf pan that has been sprayed with nonstick spray or lined with parchment paper. Arrange pecan halves in row down center of batter.
Bake in a 350 degree oven for 60-70 minutes until the top is golden brown and a pairing knife inserted into center of bread comes out clean. Tent bread loosely with foil if browning too quickly.
Cool in pan on rack for 20 minutes. Turn out onto rack to cool further.
This is a kicked up version to regular cornbread.
The sweetness of the maple syrup and crunchiness of the pecan and cranberries is a real treat.
Hurry, get the butter.
Cranberry-Cornmeal Quick Bread
1 cup unbleached all purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat white flour or regular whole wheat flour
1 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1-1/4 cups buttermilk
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
2 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon maple extract
3/4 cup chopped pecans plus more halves for garnish
3/4 cup dried cranberries (about 4 ounces)
In a large bowl whisk together both flours, cornmeal, sugar, salt and baking powder. Set aside.
In another bowl, whisk together buttermilk, butter, maple syrup, eggs and maple extract. Add this mixture to the flour mixture; stir just until blended. Stir in chopped pecans and dried cranberries.
Spoon batter into a 9 x 5 loaf pan that has been sprayed with nonstick spray or lined with parchment paper. Arrange pecan halves in row down center of batter.
Bake in a 350 degree oven for 60-70 minutes until the top is golden brown and a pairing knife inserted into center of bread comes out clean. Tent bread loosely with foil if browning too quickly.
Cool in pan on rack for 20 minutes. Turn out onto rack to cool further.
deeba says
Yes it’s scary that you have about 50 more to try, & even scarier that you are enticing me to follow! That’s one helluva pretty loaf Cathy!!
Pigpigscorner says
Looks very dense and moist! I’ve always wanted to make corn bread for chili. Have never had corn bread before. This looks like a good loaf to start!
KathyB. says
Well, there you go again. Posting quick breads that look delicious, and since my loaf pans are also on the counter after baking your other recipes, and since I have these ingredients…well , I will have to make this. HAVE to!
The Hungry Housewife’s Banana Bread was delicious. Made some and froze it for later too.
marlene says
I swear, you never cease to amaze me. You are doing a top 10 or top 5, right?
Laura says
You have milk in the photo with this cornbread but I’m thinkin’ a big mug o’ joe.
Yum.
Katrina says
Ooh, that looks awesome. My husband doesn’t care for corn bread (crazy), I wonder if he’d like this. He just doesn’t like it dry. Love the photo of the close up inside the piece of bread. And I LOVE nuts. You know what they say.
gfe--gluten free easily says
This is cornbread and dessert for your chili all in one! (Easy to make gluten-free, too.) I’ll try this one, soon. I really enjoy making cornbread. And, I like how you pressed the pecans and cranberries in the top of the loaf, too … fun.
Shirley
Scary Mommy says
Ohhh, love it!!!! I made chili last night and am thinking I need this to with it tonight. It looks divine!
Becky says
That looks delicious!
But there is no way My Captain will eat that with chili. I can see him now turning up his nose and grabbing a sleeve of crackers.
Barbie with a T says
YUM just in time for breakfast! I get your entry during the night, and I read it first thing upon arising. Recipes like this make me so hungry, and the ones that I can eat for breakfast especially. I have all the ingredients, so when I return from my beach walk, I will whip this up for our breakfast. Can’t wait!
RobinSue says
The cornmeal in this sounds great and I bet it gives some great texture. I overlook cornmeal too often. Glad that you found your hubby’s glasses. What a treasure!
Mental P Mama says
That is cozy bread! I would like to have a nice slice of that with my coffee beside the fire. Cozy.
tamilyn says
Okay, now all I see is Ron Popeil in my mind!
That looks very dense. I have never baked (or cooked) with cranberries that don’t come out of a can đŸ™‚
tamilyn says
I now have Ron Popeil in my mind’s eye! I have never cooked or baked with cranberries unless they come out of a can đŸ™‚
tamilyn says
now freaky things are happening with my computer=I think it is time for bed. Disregard multiple posts.
Natasha - 5 Star Foodie says
I love the pecans in this bread – looks really yummy!
nina says
I had cornbread and long ovenroasted tomatoes for breakfast in a restaurant this morning and on my way home I was thinking where I would find a good recipe for cornbread. What was I thinking….the bloggersphere of course! Delicious!
Karen Deborah says
I’m not a fan of sweet cornbread. If you’d like an old fashioned plain buttermilk cornbread recipe I can help you out. If your making chili this weekend try it with a pot roast, now were talking…umum good.
Your gyn post is pretty funny but oh so true! I have tried working a clinic job with those guys twice and just can’t handle it. It’s one of the smelliest and weirdest jobs you can get. Women come in with really bizarre stuff going on. But I’m just dying to know what 6-10 are. Heh Heh you know us nurses we look guts and gore…
MammaDucky says
Hmmmm, chili you say. No chili this weekend, only your standard cajun and creole foods for Mardi Gras weekend. Still, I have several events to pop in on over the next 4 days and may make this to bring! Sounds yum!
Culinarywannabe says
I bet the cranberries give a great contrast to a spicy chili. I love the loafs – keep em coming!
imom says
I’m always looking for different sides to serve with chili and this loaf is perfect!
Asthmagirl says
I’m trying to avert my eyes. I love cornbreat… and craisins, and pecans. But I just ate the last cupcake last night and I’m trying not to bake!
dawn says
everyone is making bread these days! I think everyone has the bread-baking bug!
Marjie says
Cornbread? Cranberries? What’s not to love?
kayola says
FOR HECK SAKES! How in the world do you keep going…you are like a well oiled piece of machinery…holy cow! This sounds so good…you are amzing!
Fun House Jennifer says
Ooooh–I’ll bet that bread is great w/ chili!!
Donna-FFW says
MMMM!!! Pecans and cranberries. How very delicious! This looks wonderful!!
Auds at Barking Mad says
All you had to do was say “slathered in butter” and I was drooling.
Jennifer says
I think I have all the ingredients for this on hand! I think I might make this later this afternoon.
Pam says
I can’t stop making muffins. Keep these recipes coming! This bread would taste so good with my coffee right now.
Rachel (S[d]OC) says
Mmm…cornbread. How I love the stuff. Savory and sweet. Plain and dressed up. It’s all good. You even made this one sound somewhat healthful (wholewheat flour and all that).
I checked out last year’s post. I have to say I’m DYING to know what 6-10 are. BTW, if wads of TP are a problem for your hubby, maybe he should invest in a better brand of TP for the office bathrooms?
Rosa says
This cornmeal loaf looks incredibly good! What a gorgeous recipe! Yummy!
Cheers,
Rosa
Bob says
Oh man, that looks awesome!
Alisa says
You are speaking my language.
Saver Queen says
Yay! A great recipe to use up that cornmeal that’s been sitting in my pantry. My cornmeal muffins didn’t work out very well so I look forward to trying this one. Thing only thing I don’t have is maple extract. I wonder if I could sub it with something or omit it.
Laura says
Ooooh, cranberries in cornbread. I have never tried that combo…. I love them both.
Biz says
What a great combo! That whole wheat white flour was what ruined my pizza dough last Friday.
I have to redeem myself tonight!
Cathy at Wives with Knives says
Cranberries, pecans and maple syrup in cornbread. Over the top!!!
Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) says
I have all of the ingredients for this in my pantry — will give it a try this weekend.
Lindaloohoo - www.wheresmydamnanswer.com says
cathy – how do you find time to actually live your life?
you amaze me everytime i come over here.
i wish you lived closer, so everytime i said ‘i’m comin’ over’, it would translate into ‘what yummy thing are you gonna feed me, your awkward, spacially challenged, cooking impaired, arch enemy of every viking (appliance, not nordic god) friend?’
Suzanne says
I’m in the same boat. I’m currently obsessed with loaves of all kinds. I keep looking at different food blogs and adding more and more recipes to my “to try” list. I think it’s winter that’s doing it to me!
This one looks fabulous (I’d have to leave out the nuts because of the hubby, though). Yum!
Lisa says
What a great loaf! It would be fun with chili. Love the pecans.
Katie says
Ok I have all of the ingredients for this and need a new loaf to make for tomorrow so thanks for saving me!
Linda says
That looks so yummy. I love anything with pecans in it.
Your post from a year ago had me cracking up and grossing out at the same time. They really should have a pamphlet with your advice on it. I can only imagine what the rest of the list looks like.
Rebel says
Geez, that sure looks good. I’m gonna make some.
Melissa says
Hi, I am a new fan. I have a LOT of catching up to do here, so I’ll keep this short. This is amazing!! You rock. Thank you.
Debbie says
That is an absolutely gorgeous looking bread. I love the nuts downt the middle. Looks delicious…another one to add to the pile. I have so many recipes I want to try…they are just piling up!!!
Bunny says
Oh man does that look good, your killing me with these recipes…pass the butter please.
Woman in a window says
This one looks really good. Does it come with any guarantees of two little rascals liking it?
Melynda says
Love cornbread, this looks great. Leftovers would be very tasty toasted with jam the next day.
TSannie/annbb says
I love everything in it, so just bet I’d love the finished loaf. With butter, please!
Laurie says
I always make cornbread with chili – and serve tortilla chips because the kiddos can’t get enough of the corn. They love all quick loafs and this one looks like a winner, even though my son would surely pick off the pecans (more for ME!)
The gyno tips were LOL funny! For years I wore socks, because it seemed like a modicum of modesty when the rest of me was so exposed. Now I’m the flip-flop queen, with painted toenails and that’s before I read this. Glad to know it’s the right way to go.
Liz C. says
I remember that post & it made me spew my coffee all over my monitor. And that bread is the perfect side bar for chili. Besides, it’s really pretty…
dawn says
Okay, I made this tonight. All the flavors and textures were a real hit with my family. We had it with spicy chili and the sweetness was a perfect contrast. Thank you.
Jamie says
This looks fabulous. So much better than average, normal cornbread. Well, anything with cranberries and pecans is just so….great!
grace says
great combo! frankly, it’d be wonderful as a snack or even maybe a less-sweet dessert, but pairing it with chili is brilliant. bravo.
and last year’s post is still a good read. đŸ™‚
elra says
I like this new version of almost corn bread. Look really irresistible.
Have a wonderful week end.
Elra
Paula says
Love the title! Ha! Too bad you aren’t in Oregon today. It’s gorgeous! Deep blue sky (unusual in February), bright sunshine (also unusual), and fairly decent temperatures! Grab your loaf and come on up!
giz says
so is the loaf marathon just because or have I missed something? This loaf looks so interesting and I’m trying to connect all the flavours with chili
Susan at Sticky,Gooey,Creamy,Chewy says
That is a really lovely loaf! It sounds absolutely fantastic! Another “must try”.
Debbie in CA : ) says
Lose the raisins and I’m in! : D
Debbie in CA : ) says
OOPS!!! Just realized the little maiden on the red box is holding cranberries . . . nevermind. I’m hungry now! ; D
Danielle says
You are killing me! Okay, not really, it’s me who keeps making these recipes and eating them all by myself! Not kidding, really…
I’d better start exercising so I can afford the extra calories. I hate exercising. Not gonna happen. I’m hopeless.
Christine says
Looks so moist and cake like. I love breads that resemble cake and vice versa.