How to Make Buttermilk Quick Bread: With 10 Different Variations
However the first quick breads came about, I am grateful. When else do we get to essentially dump ingredients in a bowl, stir, bake, and then be rewarded for our minimal efforts with a warm golden loaf of bread for the table? Here is the basic recipe I've settled on over the years, with plenty of variations for just about any occasion you can think of.
For an average weeknight meal, or even a non-average dinner party, I really like this basic buttermilk loaf all on its own. It's rich, a touch tangy, and not overly sweet, making it a good match for everything from a roast to a pot of chili. During the summer, I serve the leftovers topped with berries and whipped cream as a simple short-cake-like dessert.This is a versatile recipe, to be sure. Add some diced fruit and warm spices, and this loaf becomes part of a brunch buffet. Go the other way with shredded cheese, savory herbs, and onions, and you could take this to any barbecue, football party, or potluck dinner with confidence that every last crumb will be eaten before the night is over.
Whether you stick with the basic recipe or change it up, the method is the same. Combine all the dry ingredients, whisk together the liquid ones, and then gently stir them together into a shaggy batter. Pour into a loaf pan, bake for about forty-five minutes, and it's ready to go on the table.
Basic Buttermilk Quick Bread
Makes one loaf
2 cups (10 oz) all-purpose flour
1/2 cup (4 oz) white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (8 oz) buttermilk
1 large egg
1/4 cup (2 oz) unsalted butter, olive oil, or vegetable oil
1/2 cup (4 oz) white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (8 oz) buttermilk
1 large egg
1/4 cup (2 oz) unsalted butter, olive oil, or vegetable oil
Heat the oven to 350°F. Grease or spray with nonstick cooking spray a standard 9x5 loaf pan.
Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium mixing bowl. Melt the butter, if using. Whisk it in a separate bowl with the buttermilk and the egg.
Pour the liquid ingredients over the dry ingredients. Gently stir and fold the ingredients until all the flour has been incorporated and a shaggy, wet batter is formed. Be careful not to over-mix.
Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and pat it into the corners. Bake for 45-50 minutes. When finished, the loaf should be domed and golden, and a toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean. Let the loaf cool in the pan for 15 minutes before removing and slicing.
Wrap baked loaves tightly in plastic wrap and store at room temperature. Baked loaves can also be wrapped in plastic and aluminum foil and frozen for up to three months.
Basic Variations:
• Sugar can be reduced to a tablespoon for more savory breads.
• Up to half the flour can be substituted with an alternative flour.
• Replace the buttermilk with a mix of yogurt and milk or milk and a squeeze of lemon.
• Use up to 1 1/2 cups fruits, nuts, olives, cheese, or other ingredients, added to the dry ingredients.
• Use 1-3 teaspoons of herbs or spices, added to the dry ingredients.
• Up to half the flour can be substituted with an alternative flour.
• Replace the buttermilk with a mix of yogurt and milk or milk and a squeeze of lemon.
• Use up to 1 1/2 cups fruits, nuts, olives, cheese, or other ingredients, added to the dry ingredients.
• Use 1-3 teaspoons of herbs or spices, added to the dry ingredients.
10 Variations:
1. Cranberry-Walnut Loaf (pictured above) - 1 c. dried cranberries, 1/2 cup toasted and chopped walnuts, 1 tsp vanilla, zest from one orange
2. Apple-Cinnamon Loaf - 1 c. diced apples, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 cup toasted and chopped nuts
3. Cherry-Almond Loaf - 1 c. dried cherries, 1/2 cup toasted and chopped almonds, 1 tsp almond extract
4. Blueberry Loaf - 1 c. fresh or frozen blueberries, 1 tsp vanilla, zest from one lemon
5. Ginger-Orange Loaf - zest from two oranges, 1/4 cup minced crystallized ginger, 1 tsp cinnamon, pinch of cloves, pinch of nutmeg
6. Herbed Sun-dried Tomato and Cheese Loaf (pictured below) - reduce sugar to 1 T, 1/2 c. grated cheese, 1 tsp oregano, 1/2 tsp thyme, 2 T minced sun-dried tomatoes
7. Onion-Dill Loaf - reduce sugar to 2 T, one minced onion cooked until soft, 1 T minced fresh dill
8. Pesto Loaf - reduce sugar to 1 tablespoon, 1/4 c. pesto, 1/2 c. shredded parmesan cheese
9. Spicy Jalapeno Loaf - reduce sugar to 2 tablespoons, 1/4 cup minced jalapeno peppers, 1 c. shredded cheddar cheese, 2 tsp chili powder
10. Irish Soda Bread Look-Alike Loaf - reduce sugar to 1/4 cup, 1 T caraway seeds, 3/4 cup raisins
2. Apple-Cinnamon Loaf - 1 c. diced apples, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 cup toasted and chopped nuts
3. Cherry-Almond Loaf - 1 c. dried cherries, 1/2 cup toasted and chopped almonds, 1 tsp almond extract
4. Blueberry Loaf - 1 c. fresh or frozen blueberries, 1 tsp vanilla, zest from one lemon
5. Ginger-Orange Loaf - zest from two oranges, 1/4 cup minced crystallized ginger, 1 tsp cinnamon, pinch of cloves, pinch of nutmeg
6. Herbed Sun-dried Tomato and Cheese Loaf (pictured below) - reduce sugar to 1 T, 1/2 c. grated cheese, 1 tsp oregano, 1/2 tsp thyme, 2 T minced sun-dried tomatoes
7. Onion-Dill Loaf - reduce sugar to 2 T, one minced onion cooked until soft, 1 T minced fresh dill
8. Pesto Loaf - reduce sugar to 1 tablespoon, 1/4 c. pesto, 1/2 c. shredded parmesan cheese
9. Spicy Jalapeno Loaf - reduce sugar to 2 tablespoons, 1/4 cup minced jalapeno peppers, 1 c. shredded cheddar cheese, 2 tsp chili powder
10. Irish Soda Bread Look-Alike Loaf - reduce sugar to 1/4 cup, 1 T caraway seeds, 3/4 cup raisins
Essential Vitamins for Digestive Health
Essential Vitamins for Digestive Health
Your digestive health depends on essential vitamins — vitamins your body doesn't make. Find out how to add them to your diet and when you may need a vitamin supplement.
Medically reviewed by Lindsey Marcellin, MD, MPH
Essential vitamins are termed "essential" because your body needs them but can't make them. Since the body doesn't produce them naturally, you need to get these vitamins from the foods you eat or from vitamin supplements.
All essential vitamins are important for digestive health, just as they are for the rest of your body, but some play specific roles in digestion. In most cases, you can get the nutrients you need from a healthy diet, but it may not hurt to take a multivitamin supplement and an extra supplement of vitamin D.
The B Vitamins for Digestive Health
B vitamins are essential for digestive health. They are also water-soluble. Translation: You can't store them away in your fat cells to use later; you need to make them a regular part of your diet. B vitamins are mainly involved in getting energy from the food you eat into your cells.
Here are some top B vitamins:
- Folic acid. Not getting enough of this vitamin has been linked to birth defects, so many foods are now fortified with folic acid. This B vitamin is especially important for digestive heath because high levels have been shown to lower your risk of colon cancer.
- Vitamin B1. This vitamin, also known as thiamine, helps your body change the carbohydrates in your diet into energy for your cells. Thiamine is also important in the regulation of appetite.
- Vitamin B2. A shortage of this vitamin, which is also known as riboflavin, can result in sores and a swollen tongue and mouth.
- Vitamin B3. Also known as niacin, this vitamin is important for many digestive tractfunctions, including the breakdown of carbohydrates, fats, and alcohol. Not getting enough niacin can result in a disease known as pellagra, which causes severe vomiting and diarrhea.
- Vitamin B6. The other name for this vitamin is pyridoxine. It is very important in helping your digestive system process all the protein you eat.
- Biotin. This B vitamin helps your digestive system produce cholesterol and process proteins, carbohydrates, and fatty acids. After proteins are broken down, biotin helps digestive health by getting rid of the waste products.
B vitamins can be added to your diet by eating more whole grains, beans, seafood, eggs, dairy products, and lots of leafy green vegetables. Because studies show that many people do not get enough B vitamins in their diet, a daily multivitamin with B supplements is a good idea.
Vitamin C for Digestive Health
Recent research hasn’t supported many of the health claims for vitamin C. Although vitamin C may not be as powerful in preventing colds and infections as once thought, it is still important for healthy teeth and gums, which are important for digestive health. Vitamin C is also important for your digestion because it helps you absorb iron.
If you include good sources of vitamin C in your diet, you shouldn't need any supplement beyond a daily multivitamin. Here are some good dietary sources:
- Citrus fruits
- Berries
- Tomatoes
- Peppers
- Broccoli
- Fortified cereal
Vitamin D for Digestive Health
If you live in the northern part of the United States or if you don't get out in the sunshine for at least 15 minutes every day, you should consider a vitamin D supplement. Studies show that about one billion people worldwide are deficient in vitamin D. For digestive health, vitamin D helps build strong teeth, and many studies show that being low on vitamin D may increase your risk of colon cancer. You can get this vitamin into your diet by eating:
- Fortified cereal
- Fortified milk and other dairy products
- Eggs
- Liver
- Salmon and tuna
The vitamins and other nutrients you get from a balanced diet are essential for your digestive health and will keep your digestive system working smoothly.
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