Homebaked: Fresh Ideas for Holiday Baking

29 Nov 2010

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From our Team

by anneliesz

Who says you have to spend a lot of money during the busy Christmas / Hanukkah season to let the people in your life know you love them? I tend to be a big believer in homemade gifts being the best ones. My mom could attest to hours of me stitching together felt ornaments as an older kiddo. And my love of the kitchen is no less strong. I am a big believer in using what you’ve got, thus I tend to troll my pantries looking for opportunities of new meals waiting to be concocted or in this case, gifts waiting to be baked up.

Next week, I will post some gluten free homebaked gifts, but this week, I devoted myself to giving a second life to boxes of cereal sitting in the cupboard. So much more than a breakfast waiting to happen, cereals are a great foundation for holiday gifts.

I give you Raisin Bran Bread and Homemade Granola.

Using Erewhon Raisin Bran as the base, I baked up four small loaves of Raisin Bran bread (four gifts down, check!) Uncle Sam cereal takes a double take with a combination of our new Multi-Grains mixing with Honey Almond for a fresh take on granola (so easy!)

I’ve posted the recipes below along with homemade wrapping ideas that are fun and festive without breaking the bank. Afterall, a gift is an expression of affection from the giver. Get ready to go homemade with me…

Raisin Bran Bread

Ingredients

• 2 c. milk
• 2 eggs
• 2/3 c. honey
• 1/3 c. applesauce
• 1/3 c. canola oil
• 2 c. whole wheat flour
• 2 ½ c. Erewhon Organic Raisin Bran
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 3/4 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. baking soda

Directions

• In a large bowl whisk together milk, eggs, honey, applesauce, and oil.
• Next whisk in whole wheat flour, Erewhon Raisin Bran, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. Mix thoroughly.
• Pour batter into small loaf pans ½ full.
• Bake at 400 degrees for 40 minutes, until golden brown.
• Serve warm or at room temperature with butter.

~ Yields  4 small loaves

Gift-wrapping option
I love stamps. And tissue paper. And ribbon. So that’s what inspired this wrapping job. First, let your Raisin Bran bread cool for about 20 minutes. Then wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Next, get out your “Homemade by stamp” (or some other stamp that feels fun and festive to you) and stamp a colored label. Next, get out a single sheet of a brightly colored tissue paper (I went with tangerine as I found it quite festive). Fold the outer edges toward the bread until you have a flap left out of the top of the tissue paper. Place 1 inch of ribbon in the shape of a loop over the flap. Then affix the label. And voila, you’re Raisin Bran bread is ready to go.

Great Granola

Adapted from Mary @ cooks.com

• 1 cup honey
• 1 cup apple juice

– mix and set aside

• 5 cups oatmeal (uncooked)
• 4 cups Uncle Sam Multi-Grains Whole-wheat Flakes & Flaxseed cereal
• 2 cups Uncle Sam Honey Almond Cereal (or Uncle Sam Original cereal)
• 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
• 1/4 cup pecans, chopped
• 1/4 cup dried cherries
• 1/2 cup dried figs, chopped
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 3 teaspoons cinnamon

Mix dry ingredients, then add liquid and mix well. Spread on cookie sheets and toast for (30) 25-50 minutes at 375°F, stirring often.

~ Makes enough for 5 small mason jars

Gift-wrapping option
Use the same stamp, stamp pad, another label and ribbon as indicated above. Fill your mason jar (about $1.50 at most stores) with your freshly cooled granola. Then tie the ribbon around the jar. Stamp your label and affix it to the jar. Granola gift to-go. So easy & delectable!

Be well!

Annelies

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