Bread making is a labour of love. It takes a lot of time and patience, but it is highly rewarding. I am guessing that being a mother and baking bread are quite similar in that way. As far as I’m concerned, for all their dedication, stretchmarks, and child induced headaches, mothers deserve sainthood… or at least the occasional shopping spree at Nieman’s, ya know? Today’s recipe is dedicated to all the American moms out there who are celebrating Mother’s Day this weekend. So what are your plans after you finish your ironing, vacuuming, cleaning, cooking and picking up after your darlings with a pooper scooper LOL? Here’s hoping that your children remember to give you the day of appreication that you deserve. Just in case they don’t, you might want to make this bread anyway. It fills the house with the most delicious aromas. Just imagine the satisfaction of slathering a nice big helping of creamy butter onto some freshly baked fruity bread… and then not sharing it! Ah… bliss. Fresh baked bliss. Now that must be what the Pillsbury Dough Boy means when he talks about “lovin from the oven”!
This is a Dan Lepard recipe from the Guardian.
Cranberry Oat Bread
- 75g rolled oats, plus extra for the crust
- 175g dried cranberries
- 450g strong white flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon or mixed spice
- finely grated zest of 1 mandarin, clementine, or orange
- 50g unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon instant dry yeast
- oil for kneading
Put the oats and cranberries in a bowl and add 375ml of boiling water. Leave for 15-20 minutes, until the mixture is warm. Soon the flour, salt, spice and zest into another bowl, rub in the butter, toss the yeast through, then add the oats and berries, and mix well. Leave to stand for 10 minutes.
OIl your hands and a 30cm patch of worktop. Knead dough on it for 10 seconds, then leave for ten minutes to rest. Repeat this knead-and-rest sequence twice more at 10 minute intervals, then cover the dough and leave for 30 minutes. Pat the dough into a rectangle, roll up tightly and squeeze, seam-siide down into a large, deep 19cm loaf tin, or place in a baking tray lined with non-stick paper. Leave for an hour until risen by half. Heat the oven to 220C/425F. Brush the top of the loaf with water, press on a handful of oats. Cut a gash down the middle and bake for 50 minutes. It will scorch on top, but that’s typical for fruit bread.
Happy Mother’s Day!
Oops, I don’t do bread making, so what does it make me? I enjoy eating breads though. Am I eating those labor of love?
Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers !
This bread would be a really beautiful way to start Mother’s Day. The oats on top are so pretty and I love the little cranberry gems studded throughout! Have a fabulous weekend sweetie!
The pictures of your bread are amazing! I would definitely love a piece of that slathered with butter
Hope you have a wonderful weekend.
I guess you are guessing right. Happy baking days : )!
A beautiful bread for Mother’s day! I love the cranberries inside! Have a great weekend!
Ooo! That’s making me more hungry. Thank goodness it’s almost time for lunch over here. Too bad there won’t be any bread like that for lunch!
We’ll be celebrating her in Oz on Sunday too. My mother’s day present is time out from the kids for at least 3 whole hours ;P
I’m not much of a bread baker but those cranberries sound (and look) enticing. Have a great weekend HH .
Congrats! Your bread looks awesome. The top picture reminds me of ‘Te Stpford Wives’! Remember that movie?
Have a great weekend! HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!
Blessings, Kristy
This bread looks wonderful! I’ve a similar recipe for a quickbread with fresh cranberries but without the oats. I’d love to make yours sometime.
goodness gracious! that looks so so good! and definitely! our mothers deserve a break sometimes. maybe lots of times. heh.
Now this is a nice looking cranberry bread! I’ll take that place already buttered please! (I’m not a baker) lol! Happy Mother’s Day!
My, isn’t that yummy on my tummy? Are you offering to make that for me?
What a nice way to wake up…looking forward to a piece of that bread all covered with butter!
Thanks for the Mother’s Day wishes….I won’t have any kids at home this Sunday, but that’s OK…I’m going out with some other mothers with the same problem and we can drown our sorrows. (It’s not all bad NOT to have kids at home!)
Oh boy that looks delicious!!! I’ve got to try this one!
A delicious mother’s day bread. I love that photo on top. Hilarious. It reminds of the one time when I heard this kid ask his dad, “Daddy, am I a bundle of joy?” the dad jokingly replies, “No, you’re a bundle of grief!” hahaha!!!
ooh looks like a gorgeous bread!!
Hope you have a very yummy mummy’s day!
Yum! My mom is a cranberry addict, she would love this bread! I won;t get to see her this weekend but perhaps I’ll make it for her for a post mother’s day surprise!
Yummy – that looks wonderful. I am a huge fan of bread – banana one especially. Lovely pics! Have a gorgeous weekend. Petra
Darling … I’m drooling! Your loaf of bread looks amazing !!! Have a great w-end
xxx
Perfect! i have all the ingredients and I can make it soon (after Mother’s Day)
You are right we do deserve sainthood! or at least a day of pampering at the best Spa in town!
Talk about the best gift ever…if only someone could make this for me for Mother’s Day. I don’t think I need anything else other than a good loaf of bread and some salted butter. And maybe some jam. Is that too much to ask for?
I wonder if my 6 year old could whip this up for me while I take a nap! It looks divine and I’ll bet it smells great baking.
hah! you may not be a mom HH, but I think u’ve got our routine down pat!
One small correction though … I only wish I had a pooper scooper to take care of my kid’s nasty bits … unfortunately, it’s ME who IS the pooper scooper, hehehe.
Nothin’ like the smell of home-made fresh bread … like a warm hug!
it looks fantastic! My mom would love this bread.
Happy Mother’s day! The bread looks so tempting. I would eat the whole thing.
Cranberry bread all toasty and smeared with sweet butter? It doesn’t get any better than that. Wish I had a plateful in front of me right now.
You think if i print this out and live it in the kitchen I’ll get breakfast in bed on Sunday?
I think my kitties owe me a Mother’s Day gift or two, don’t you? And, if they don’t follow through on that, I’ll just have to bake this bread. Looks delicious!
This looks out of this world. Did you bake some? Can you mail me a couple of slices? You have the most amazing recipes!
too beautiful!
i completely agree with you about the wonderful bread baking smell in the house! I can never resist that perfect scent!
congraz to your pregnancy! will definitely try your raw mango recommendation. i’ve been only eating regular mangoes!
Darling HH, I reached in and helped myself to that gorgeous bread when you weren’t looking. Absolutely delish! (Sorry about all the crumbs!) Will now have to go for another run to wear off those calories!
Hope you & the Divine Mr P have a fabuloussssssssss weekend!
XOXO LOLA:)
this is exactly the kind of thing I like to cook and eat.
cranberries + oats + bread = yummy breakfast toast!
i can smell it already!
Absolutely, great post HH! And mums in Australia are also celebrating it tomorrow!
Looks stunning toasted. Happy Mother’s day……..
You are killing me with these virtual baked goods and buttah! KILLING ME!
Looks beautiful!
Your bread looks really, really delicious. The toasted version with the butter on top – bliss! Perfect for any day
This looked so amazing that I decided to make it for my mum. It was my first attempt ever at making bread and it turned out great! I used goji berries instead of cranberries (because I had them) which turned out to be a bit of a waste, as they all mushed and weren’t berry like. I added walnuts and pumpkin seeds which was a great idea and turned out delicious! I’d add heaps more next time. I think wholemeal flour would be ok for this recipe too. And maybe some tiny orange peel chunks. Keen to try it again but this time with cranberries!
HH, this looks unbelieveably delicious! You baked it so well. I am going to try the recipe soon. Thanks, my dear, for sharing such a wonderful recipe.
Have a lovely Sunday!
Angie
Gorgeous! I love this combination of flavors and the oats on top are a lovely touch!
Happy Mother’s Day!
HH!!!! I am baking the bread now! Yes….heating the oven now….:-))
ANgie
ahh, I haven’t baked in awhile!
It is also Mothers day in Australia as well so you might have a few more readers there as well
What a gorgeous loaf of bread! My Mom loves cranberries – this would of been perfect to make her today. Shame on me for not seeing it sooner. Hope your having a great weekend! XO
Mmmm! I wish I had a loaf of that right now…first to sample (a tiny bit!) and then send it to my dear mommy!
Helloooooooo! Sweet HH! How are you girlie?? I have been remiss in popping by. Just wanted to see what you’ve been up to! Glad to see your baking is still gorgeous as are you. Have a good week, i have missed you!
Laurel
Very funny! I’m with you on the bread and Neiman’s my dear!
So sweet of you to think of us on Mother’s Day! The oatmeal bread recipe look divine…of couse, I didn’t make it for myself on Mother’s Day, but will give it a go ASAP, cause if you say it’s good, it must be! You are so discerning.
MMMMMMMMMM. sounds divine!
That cranberry oat bread looks perfect! I’ll have to make some for my mom–then make my own loaf!
I feel like eating all that even if it was not Mother’s day here in France !!!
This oaty bread looks fantastic! I bet it is great toasted with my favorite Peanut Butter!