Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Sugar Crusted Viennese Nut Bread - Outdoor Wednesday



A footpath leading through the Vienna Woods to the banks of the Danube River.




A romantic bend in the pastoral Salzach River in Salzburg.



From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...
This lovely sweet bread was the inspiration for what I had planned to be a walking tour of old Vienna. I just couldn't bring myself to edit the assortment of monuments and landmark buildings I'd collected to share with you. So, the walk, instead, will be a simple stroll through the Vienna Woods and along the banks of the Danube, which coincidentally, may sometimes actually appear to be blue. This nut bread is typical of the barely sweet confections of Austria and Germany. It's simple to prepare and ages well. It has a lovely butterscotch flavor and the crisp sugar crust sets it apart from other breads of this sort. It's a modernized version of Viennese sweet breads leavened, before the advent of baking powder, with sourdough or stiffly beaten eggs. Chemically leavened quick breads originated in America towards the end of the 18th century, when it was discovered that pearlash, a byproduct of woodash, produced carbon dioxide gas in dough. I have no idea why someone would take hearth or kiln ash and put it into food, but I'm guessing it was an accident that caused the pot to boil over when ashes inadvertently fell into it. Baking powder, as we know it today, was not developed until after the American Civil War. Breads made with it are called "quick breads" because baking powder releases carbon dioxide at a faster rate than yeast fermentation. I love the simplicity of this bread. Like all nut breads, it's flavor improves with aging. I love a deep, rich butterscotch flavor, so I use dark brown sugar to make the bread. I've made this with golden brown sugar as well, so I leave the choice of sugar to you. Here's the recipe.

Sugar Crusted Viennese Nut Bread
...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite

Ingredients:
3 tablespoons, buuer melted
2 large eggs
2 cups brown sugar
4 cups flour
1-3/4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups buttermilk
2 cups toasted pecans, chopped
Topping:
1/4 cup ground toasted pecans
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease two 9 x 5 x 3-inch loaf pans. Set aside.
2) Place eggs in large bowl of an electric stand mixer. Beat until frothy. Gradually add brown sugar, beating at low speed just until blended. Blend in melted butter.
3) In another large bowl, place flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; whisk to combine.
4) Add flour mixture, alternately with buttermilk, to egg mixture. Mix just until blended after each addition. Fold in chopped pecans. Pour into prepared loaf pans.
5) To make topping, mix ground pecans, sugar, nutmeg and cinnamon in a small bowl. Sprinkle over each loaf.
6) Bake for 50 to 55 minutes or until cake tester inserted into center of loaf comes out clean. Remove from oven. Let sit for 15 minutes. Remove from pans and finish cooking on a rack. Yield: 2 loaves.

Other quick breads can be found at these sites:
Cookie Madness - Carrot Pecan Bread
Recipe Girl - Mom's Banana Nut Bread

Peanut Butter & Julie - Toasted Coconut Macadamia Bread

This is being linked to:
Outdoor Wednesday - A Southern Daydreamer

59 comments :

My Little Space said...

Another simple lovely sweet bread! And thank you for sharing such beautiful pictures. Cheers.

bj said...

O, Mary, as usual, this recipe sounds just delightful.
Do you cook ALL the time? :)
Have a wonderful day...

Patricia @ ButterYum said...

This bread sounds lovely... I especially like how you described how it has a butterscotch flavor and sugar crust. A must try!

a quiet life said...

oh that river shot... but then again sugar crusted is also calling me!

Pam said...

This looks fantastic, especially the sugar crusted top.

The Quintessential Magpie said...

I enjoyed the walk, and the bread looks fabulous, too!

XO,

Sheila :-)

theUngourmet said...

Delicious! I do love using dark brown sugar in my baking!

I love the first photo!

Deb in Hawaii said...

A pretty bread and I am glad it has the baking powder and soda instead of the ash. ;-)

Hootin Anni said...

The photo of the banks of the Danube just takes my breath away!!!

My O W is a nearby marshland with waterfowl and Autumn colors...and a surprise L N Monster visit!!!

Come by and see

Donna-FFW said...

A quick bread that tastes like butterscotch would be a huge hit with my hubby! Thanks!

Chubskulit Rose said...

I love the second shot, gorgeous!

I explored the Jogging trail this time.

Selba said...

Danube river is beautiful!

I really hope that someday I can make this nut bread, the ingredients are wonderful.

RecipeGirl said...

Sounds great! Thanks for the linky love :)

Martha said...

This sounds lovely and will be my next quick bread.

may said...

Blog hopping and found you. Beautiful pictures and recipes. thank you.

eileeninmd said...

Sounds like a delicious bread. Love your photos and scenery.

Amy said...

I would love this bread with my tea. I love your pictures. Dreamy....

jeanne said...

Good morning Mary. Beautiful pictures. I would love to go there.

I am loving the sweet bread recipe. A piece for breakfast sounds very good right now. How do you stay thin with all of these wonderful recipes?

Hugs...Jeanne

Ginger said...

WOW what an awesome sounding bread!! I have a shot because there is no YEAST! Wonderful photos!

Cathy said...

Lovely photos, Mary. The Vienna Woods are so beautiful and you've brought back some lovely memories of them.

I, too, like the not too sweet pastries of Austria and Germany, so nice with a cup of tea or coffee.

George Gaston said...

Oh Mary, what a wonderful way to celebrate the outdoors. The footpath reminds me of Robert Frost's poem "The Road Not Taken" ~ '... and I took the one less traveled'.

Your sweet bread must be delicious with the use of brown sugar, giving it a distinct sweet flavor. I will definitely give it a try. Thanks

SmilingSally said...

Who doesn't like butterscotch? I sure do! Thanks for sharing, Mary.

Love Bears All Things said...

I love the photo of the River.
And I'm going to try this recipe, Friday, in fact. Our women's club is having its Holiday Bonanza on Saturday. We're to bring two loves of our favorite bread, one to be judged, one to share. I was going to make my banana bread but this looks like something I might like to share.
Mama Bear

Barbara said...

Your photos are gorgeous, let alone that wonderful bread!

NKP said...

I am a big fan of not-too-sweet. Sounds like a great loaf. What gorgeous photos - is there anywhere you haven't been?

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

I love sweet breads of all kinds, especially when they contain nuts.

I'd love to see Vienna and the Blue Danube. I hope one day to take a river cruise through that area. It looks so beautiful in your photos!

Lori E said...

Mary, this sounds like something my Latvian mother-in-law would make. She bakes wonderful breads of all kinds.
Many years ago we used to drink a white wine called Blue Danube. Far too sweet for my palate now but I remember it fondly.

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

This looks like good bread for mopping up the last drop of a hearty winter soup!

Candy said...

Great day, perfect weather for our Veteran's Day ceremony.
Thanks for stopping by and hope you too, have a wonderful day.
Remembering...

Anonymous said...

That bread looks delicious and the Danube River is beautiful. Thanks you for sharing. Denise@cottagesisters

Carly said...

I love the second picture! beautiful!! and the bread sounds amazing too!!

Pam said...

Another great recipe with beautiful photos to share. Visiting your blog always makes me hungry!

My name is Riet said...

Your pictures are wonderful and that recipe sounds delicious. Thank you for your visit.

Debbie said...

I just love sweet breads. This looks so good.....love the sugar crust.

The Blonde Duck said...

All I read was "lovely butterscotch flavor" and I started to salivate...

Anita Diaz said...

Oh, this looks so good! I will have to try it!!

Happily Retired Gal said...

Lovely outdoor views and tasty looking treat ;-)
Hugs and blessings,

Baba said...

Hi Mary, wow... such great views.. thanks for sharing and the recipe for this sweet bread...I am not much of a baker, but this sounds too good to pass up!!! Have a wonderful day.
Hugs, Baba

Kathleen said...

You are well traveled!
The bread looks wonderful..and made in the USA!

Claudia said...

I loved the walk - the Danube makes my heart sing and I loved the treat at the end - what a lovely slice of bread I'm having.

LV said...

What a lovely path to take leisure stroll down. I love all kinds of bread and loaf cakes. I can almost taste this one. I wish I could get y our left overs.

Glenda/MidSouth said...

Sounds and looks good - thanks for sharing.

Ms. Bake-it said...

Hello Mary,

Great pictures! The Sugar Crusted Viennese Nut Bread sounds great. I am intrigued by your description of how it has a butterscotch flavor and sugar crust. Another must try recipe from you!

Thank you for sharing!

~ Tracy

Katy ~ said...

You photos are like pictures out of a fairytale. Oh, how I would love to see them for real.

And this bread....I am IN LOVE with this bread; it sounds splendid!!

LF said...

Isn't this the Salzach River in Salzburg? I only question it because I took a similar picture just a couple months ago when I was traveling around Europe! It is a beautiful picture though, and the recipe looks wonderful--I'm a sucker for sweet quick breads, and this one is no exception!

From the Old InkWell said...

Yummy looking sweet bread! I've visited Germany and Austria. You brought back some memories. Pleeeese show the pictures sometime. :)

Lori said...

I could so make this bread. It is simply wonderful Mary.

I just got to know. What do you do with all these amazing goodies! Do you give things away? Are you a metabolism-super woman?

Penny said...

Mary, Love the bread and the pictures. I hope you will consider participating in my Kitchen Reveal Challenge. So many beautiful things come out of your kitchen that i would like to see where it all happens. Visit my blog for the details.

Mary Bergfeld said...

LF, yes it is.

Joy Tilton said...

This is just perfect with my morning cup of coffee! Loved your comment today on grannymountain...now that's one even I haven't heard! haha My grandma's peppered their speech with old sayings and folk tales, it stuck with me!

The Cooking Photographer said...

Wow. I was in Vienna years ago, but it was quite cold and snowy. Your pictures still brings back so many memories.

I really liked the information on baking powder. I've read about putting the "pot ash" in food and I wondered why, but now I'm thinking it must have been for rising. I think they must have known to do this for longer than we think.

Cindy said...

Mmm, the bread sounds wonderful and the photos are so lovely. I also loved the recipe for Tuscan Meatloaf. I would love to try the bread.
Thank you for visiting my blog today and leaving a sweet comment.
Hugs, Cindy S.

Ebie said...

You are a very well traveled person, Ms. Mary. Not only are your photos so beautiful your recipes are good too!
I am going to start baking in the winter when its cooler here.

Thanks for the recipe and the other links too!

sherri@lavenderfields said...

MMM!! This looks wonderful with a nice cup of tea, oh about 3 in the afternoon! My husband is on holidays this week. Maybe I can leave him the recipe and it could be waiting when I get off work LOL!! Have a great Thursday! Vienna looks beautiful! Thanks Sherri : )

Unknown said...

i'd love to walk in that path. the 2nd photo is beautiful.

Jean Stockdale said...

Great shots! The bread sounds fabulous!

Thanks for stopping by and commenting on the camellia pictures. They are in a friend's yard and I thought they were gorgeous. We are having a wet and cool fall and that must be good for them. Blessings.

Ms.Daisy said...

Mary,
What a delightful path through the woods...I would love to be able to walk it down to the Danube! I would love to be able to cook and bake like you - it all looks so delicious!

❀~Myrna~❀ said...

The pics are beautiful! Thanks for sharing your trip.8~) The bread looks soooo good , I must try this recipe .
~Myrna

Anna said...

Great photo!

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