Breakfast breads are comforting but they can be unhealthy. Keep them healthy by adding whole grains, low-fat dairy and fruit. A Healthy Doughnut? Healthy doughnuts do exist. These baked ones are the way to go to reduce the fat and calories. Don’t be put off by the fact that some of the treats are made with whole wheat flour. It adds great flavor, not density. Try baking with different grains and you will be rewarded with some great tasting breads.
Apple Flavored Baked Doughnuts With Maple Glaze
Makes 10
Doughnuts
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup apple butter
2 tablespoons orange juice
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon apple pie spice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
Glaze
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon honey
Pinch of salt
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease two standard doughnut pans.
Beat together the oil, eggs, sugars, applesauce, apple butter, orange juice, vanilla, apple pie spice, salt and baking powder until smooth.
Add the flour, stirring just until smooth.
Fill 10 of the wells of the doughnut pans to the rim; using a scant 1/3 cup of batter in each well.
If you have a little dough left add a little to each of the doughnuts.
Bake the doughnuts for 15 minutes or until a cake tester inserted into the center of one comes out clean.
After about 5 minutes, remove the donuts from the pan and transfer them to a wire rack to cool.
Allow the doughnuts to cool completely before glazing.
To make the glaze:
Mix together all of the glaze ingredients, stirring until smooth.
Place waxed paper under the racks holding the donuts.
Spread the doughnuts with glaze (or dip tops in the glaze); return to the rack until the glaze is set.
Pecan Banana Bread
Make 1 loaf. the recipe can be doubled to make 2 loaves.
Ingredients
1 cup chopped pecans
1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons melted unsalted butter
4 medium-size very ripe bananas, mashed (2 cups)
1 egg, lightly beaten
Vegetable cooking spray
Directions
Place the pecans in a single layer in a jelly roll pan and bake at 350° for 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned.
Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon in a large mixing bowl.
Combine brown sugar, melted butter, bananas and egg in a small bowl; add to the flour mixture, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened. Stir in the pecans.
Pour mixture into a 8 1/2- x 4 1/2-inch loaf pan coated with cooking spray.
Bake at 350°F for 60 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center of the bread comes out clean.
Cool in pan on wire rack 10 minutes; remove from pan, and cool on wire rack 2 hours or until completely cool.
Serve with cream cheese, if desired.
Barley Bread
Barley flakes are similar to oats and one of the oldest whole grains. Although barley may not be as popular as other whole grains like oats, wheat, or even the current favorite, quinoa, that makes it one of the best whole grain choices. The technique used below for helping the bread retain its shape during rising, works very well. Serve with homemade jam for breakfast or use it to make a sandwich, especially turkey.
Makes 1 boule
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
½ cup barley flakes
2 ¼ teaspoons instant dry yeast (1 package)
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons honey
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 – 2¼ cups bread flour
3 tablespoons toasted wheat germ, plus extra for the top of the bread
1/2 cup barley flour
2 tablespoons vital wheat gluten
1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
Olive oil for the dough
Directions
In the large bowl of an electric mixer, soak the barley flakes in the buttermilk for at least 30 minutes.
Put the olive oil, honey and baking soda into the bowl with the buttermilk and barley flakes ; stir well to combine.
Stir in 2 cups of bread flour, the yeast, salt, barley flour, wheat gluten, all-purpose flour and wheat germ.
With the paddle attachment mix the ingredients until they come together around the paddle. If the dough is very sticky, add the remaining bread flour, 1 tablespoon at a time.
Switch to the dough hook and knead the dough for five minutes, then let it rest for ten minutes.
Knead for another 5 minutes, or until the dough is supple and elastic. Drizzle the dough with a teaspoon of olive oil, roll the dough over to coat it entirely with oil.
Cover with a damp tea towel and allow it to rise until doubled, about an hour and a half.
Shape the dough into a flat ball to create a “boule”.
To keep it from spreading out as it rises, set the ball inside a 9 inch springform pan, on a piece of parchment, for the second rise.
Brush the shaped dough with some more olive oil. Cover with a damp tea towel and let it rise for 45 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
When the oven is hot and the dough has completed its second rise, brush the dough with a bit more olive oil.
Remove the springform ring and slide a baking sheet under the parchment.
Slash the top of the loaf in diagonal cuts that are about ¼ inch deep and sprinkle the top with a little wheat germ.
Bake for 60 minutes or until the bottom sounds hollow when tapped and registers 200 degrees F on an instant read thermometer.
Remove the bread from the oven and place on a wire rack to cool. Allow the loaf to sit for at least an hour before slicing.
