Thursday, April 26, 2012

Apple Cranberry Flat Bread

You like cake. You are craving for cake. But your dresses are screaming you to stop thinking about cake. What do you do? If you can ignore the craving and forget all about it, kudos to you. I couldn't and cannot do it when it comes to food. So, I made a bread. I made it with just 3 TBSP of fat in it. Lot less sugar too. But did I feel like I was eating cake? Oh yes. Did I have to feel guilty after eating? Definitely not. This one was as spongy and soft as a cake. Its only draw back is lack of a great color. Who cares about the color anyway? If you are one of those who do, you can always brush the dough with milk before baking to get a better color.
One Year Back - Vegan Banana Coconut Bread
Two Years Back - Mango Bread, Bread Machine - Do I need it?
Ingredients:
All purpose flour - 3 cups plus more for shaping
Warm water - 1 cup
Oil - 2 TBSP
Salt - 1 tsp
Sugar - 4 TBSP or 1/4 cup
Active dry yeast - 2 tsp
Apple cored and chopped - 1 medium (I left the skin on. You could peel it if you like)
Sweetened dried cranberries - 1/2 cup plus 2 TBSP to top
Demerra or Raw Sugar - 2 TBSP (optional)
Method:
In a bowl, take warm water. Add 1 TBSP of sugar to it followed by yeast. When the yeast froths (about 5 - 10 minutes), add salt, oil, remaining sugar and start adding the flour. Because of the sugar, it will be slightly sticky dough. It is alright and don't be tempted to add more flour. Knead for 10 - 12 minutes. Place the dough in an oiled bowl turning to coat. Cover and let rise till double. About 45 minutes to an hour.

Punch down the dough and place on a generously floured surface. Pat it roughly to a rectangle big enough to hold all the apple pieces. Start folding the dough so that all apple pieces distribute evenly through out the dough. Add the cranberries and work them in. Because of apples, it will get even more stickier. It is alright to work the flour that you have used on the board but make sure not to add more than 2 - 3 TBSP of flour. You want the dough to be super sticky. Divide the dough into two parts. Place in well greased 8 or 9" round cake pan or pie plate. Or you could pat it into 9 X 13 pan as one large flat bread. With oiled hands, pat the dough to whatever sized pan you are using. Top the reserved Sweetened cranberries on the top. Cover with an oiled plastic wrap and let rise for 30 - 45 minutes. It might not look like it has doubled, but it will have increased in size a bit.
Preheat the oven to 350 F. Just before baking, top them with raw sugar. If you skip this, the bread might be a bit bland. Bake for 25 - 30 minutes or until an internal thermometer shows 190 - 200 F. Edges will have started browning but the top will not have a great color. Don't over bake it to get brown color. You want the bread to be really soft and spongy. Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes and then turn it on to the wire rack to cool completely. Slice when slightly warm or completely cooled. Tastes great with a cup of coffee or tea.
This is my entry for the Blogging Marathon started by Srivalli. Also sending this to Yeastspotting.
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29 comments:

  1. These look yummy! And the cranberries are lovely here :)

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  2. that is one good solution.. though i need to gain some.. so i will make a cake!:)

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  3. The bread looks very nice champa. Loved the last shot :)

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  4. beautiful...it looks so heavenly...the cranberries make it look absolutely amazing.Somehow the dry yeast has never worked with me...wonder y...what if we use fresh yeast..cud u give me the measurements for that?
    looking at u r breads..suddenly is making me passionate about baking!!

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    Replies
    1. Vaishali,
      Thanks. I have written a post about yeast here - http://versatilekitchen.blogspot.com/2010/10/yeast-basics.html
      Check that out for conversions and substitutions. There are more posts about yeast baking if you find them useful.

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  5. Bread looks so soft and those cranberries on the top look so nice...

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  6. nice clicks champa....and nice looking bread

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  7. Omg, those flat breads looks absolutely elegant and beautiful..

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  8. Flat bread looks delicious and tempting....

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  9. The flatbreads look so fresh! Champa, I love the wooden bowls and the way you've placed them in the background. Btw, I have some baking queries lined up too!

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  10. I couldn't see the missing thing in color, it looks perfect. So soft and the big highlight is cranberries...that took care of the color I guess. Good one.

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  11. The bread looks so beautiful and perfect. Love that cranberry topping. Its almost making me get up from here and go and bake something, but then the Chennai heat holds me back.

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  12. bread looks fabulous. nice recipe

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  13. WoW, that looks like sweet giant idli! I am sure it is a bit forgiving on the waistline than a cake!

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  14. cranberries on top looks so cute.., lovely bread..

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  15. wow..that looks awesum n yum n tasty & pics r just inviting..;)

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  16. Delicious looking flat bread.. I don't think I've ever tried apples & cranberries together -- sounds like a delicious combo.

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  17. That's awesome looking one Champa..and it also sounds doable!

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  18. Colorful with the cranberries.

    Vardhini
    CooksJoy

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  19. The cranberries make the cake look appealing even with that color.

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