I never thought I’d hear myself say this, but- enough with the chocolate chip cookies!
I will admit that for one brief moment, I thought about throwing a handful of chocolate chips into this darling quick bread. I slowly released my death grip from the chip bag, and thought better of it.
This quick bread is fuss-free and it has almonds two ways: almond extract and toasted slivered almonds. The almond flavor is actually really subtle, and the gooey raspberry flavor really comes to the front.
This post is also my submission into 28 Cooks’ Behind the Apron– a look into the hearts and minds of elusive food bloggers. I haven’t been so elusive, have I? I kinda let you all up in my business.
Here we are. Behind the apron. No! Not under the apron! Please get out from under there…
That’s me. I look like a hungry maniac. I sometimes eat off the stirring spoons. I started this food blog after seeing a recipe for slice and bake cookies on Smitten Kitchen. I thought- I want to do that! Now!- and Joy the Baker was born. Now I get paid to bake and write about food, and it feels like a good life. Not only that, I’ve met a whole community of people as nutty about food and photography as me.
I feel like I’m just where I’m supposed to be. Thanks for being here with me.
Now, about that bread.
This quick bread recipe originally called for a cup of crushed fresh strawberries. Feel free to throw in some strawberries or blueberries if you’re feeling frisky.
Raspberry Almond Bread
adapted from the best bake sale ever cookbook
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon pure almond extract
2 eggs
2 Tablespoons sour cream
1 cup crushed fresh raspberries or strawberries or blueberries
1/3 cup toasted slivered almonds
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Spray or grease a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, cream the butter, sugar and almond extract until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in the flour and sour cream. Fold in the crushed fruit and almond slivers.
Spoon the batter into the prepared pan. Bake in the center of the oven for 55 to 60 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean.
Cool the bread in the pan for 20 minutes, then invert onto a wire rack, turn right side up and cool completely.
Kathy
Great recipe…..omitted the almonds altogether and went with l tsp. Vanilla bean paste…all the non-almond eaters loved it.
Wendy
I can’t recall how I stumbled across this recipe, but I made it for the first time last night. Since you had indicated the almond flavour was mild I doubled the amount I put in to 1 tsp.
It came out well and nicely flavoured but I found the loaf dry and too crumbly for my taste. Today, I made a second batch and added 1/3 of a cup of sour milk (1/3 cup of milk with a drop of vinegar to sour it) and it was substantially better. I also toasted the slivered almonds, then put them in a baggie and rolled them gently with a rolling pin for slightly smaller pieces. It was delicious. Thanks for a nice recipe that will go in my “keeper” file!
Wendy
I can’t recall how I stumbled across this recipe, but I made it for the first time last night. Since you had indicated the almond flavour was mild I doubled the amount I put in to 1 tsp.
It came out well and nicely flavoured but I found the loaf dry and too crumbly for my taste. Today, I made a second batch and added 1/3 of a cup of sour milk (1/3 cup of milk with a drop of vinegar to sour it) and it was substantially better. I also toasted the slivered almonds, then put them in a baggie and rolled them gently with a rolling pin for slightly smaller pieces. It was delicious. Thanks for a nice recipe that will go in my “keeper” file!
Deana Jarz
Hi Joy! I made this bread today, substituting half the butter for plain greek yogurt. I love all your non-oil recipes :) This came out a bit dry, though. Do you think I should try cooking it for 5-10 min less next time?
Lucy
Hi Joy, I’ve had this bookmarked since you posted it and really hope to get round to baking it this weekend! However I also have loads of plums that need using and wonder if there’s any chance they’d work in here? Thanks , Lucy :)
Deb
OMG- just made Raspberry Almond bread, I substituted blackberries I had in the freezer. Yummy, reminds me of Christmas cookies (Spritz). Thanks for the recipe
Amanda
Would it be possible to include almond paste in this bread? I ADORE almond and would love to perhaps enhance that flavor a bit.
And Joy, you are amazing. I always look to you for new baking ideas. I’m currently living in the middle east and I may try baking one of your breads for the family I’m staying with. I’m sure they’ll love it. Thanks for sharing your love of baking. :)
Becca Jones
Thank You soooo much for the recipe, it is so very yummy!
Sonia
Okay okay. So I tempted my parents with this bread under the condition that they buy the berries that it must contain. They bought the sale item, BLACKberries. I personally love blackberries but know better when it comes to the aspiration of baking a sweet bread. Wow, this was tart. Also, somehow my mother ran out of sugar. Granted, I could have gone Little Red Riding Hood style (is that who the fairy tale is about?) and asked my neighbors for some sugar…or actually gone out and buy some, but I am way too lazy for any of that.
Regardless, Joy, the tart blackberry-lack-of-a-full-cup-of-sugar-bread was joyful still. My parents loved it and I still was able to pat myself on the back.
Keep ’em coming. I love your recipes.
Hailee
Mine is in the oven right now. I cannot wait! My family and I will be enjoying it with lattes while we carve pumpkins!