Vanilla Bean Bread
Quick Bread Recipe - How To Make Vanilla Bean Bread

This recipe is from the cookbook Cooking for Mr. Latte, A Food Lover's Courtship, with Recipes, by Amanda Hesser. Amanda says that she adapted this recipe from the Hi-Rise Bread Company in Cambridge, MA.

This bread is wonderful! It is so moist that it's almost like cake. This is excellent served at an afternoon tea. There are three forms of vanilla in the batter and two vanilla beans in the syrup. The vanilla sugar you make will be a fragrant addition to many other recipes, and the loaves freeze beautifully. I slightly adapted the recipe for easier reading and preparation. This bread is so good that you will receive lots of compliments.

Check out all of Linda's great Bread Recipes for your bread making.
 

** To Make Vanilla Sugar - Split one (1) vanilla bean in half and scrape the seeds into 2 1/2 cups granulated sugar. Let site for a few days before using.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Place oven rack in center of oven. Generously butter or grease two 9x5-inch loaf pans.

In another bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to the batter and mix just until smooth (do not over mix). Take the bowl off the mixer and use a spatula to scrape the bottom and fold the mixture a few times, to make sure everything is blended.

NOTE: Bake all quick breads as soon as the ingredients are assembled. Since high temperatures are often called for, it is best to bake them in the center of the oven, as the heat in the top third of the oven will be too intense.

Divide the batter between the two prepared loaf pans.

Bake for 30 minutes, then turn the pans around, and bake an additional 35 to 40 minutes or until a cake tester or skewer comes out almost clean. NOTE: Be sure and poke the toothpick already to the center of the loaf. A good check is to use an instant digital thermometer to test your bread. The temperature of the bread should be at 200 degrees F. when done.

This is the type of cooking and meat thermometer that I prefer and use in my cooking. I get many readers asking what cooking/meat thermometer that I prefer and use in my cooking and baking. I, personally, use the Thermapen Thermometer shown in the photo on the right. Originally designed for professional users, the Super-Fast Thermapen Thermometer is used by chefs all over the world. To learn more about this excellent thermometer and to also purchase one (if you desire), just click on the underlined: Thermapen Thermometer.

When loaves are done, remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes on baking racks, then turn them out of their pans and set back on the racks. Place the racks over parchment paper or a baking sheet and brush generously all over tops and sides of the loaves with the Vanilla Syrup. Brush a couple of more times as they cool.

Storage: Quick breads may be stored for 2 or 3 days, well wrapped in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. May be frozen for longer storage. After thawing frozen breads, reheat them in a 400 degree F. oven for a few minutes before serving.

Makes 2 loaves.

Vanilla Bean Syrup:
1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
1 cup water
2 whole vanilla beans, split and seeds scraped out

In a small pan over medium heat, dissolve the sugar in water. Add the vanilla bean seeds and stir a little so the seeds and fragrance disperse. Bring just to a simmer, remove from heat, and let cool.