Harvest Haven: Rustic Acorn Bread Recipe

Acorn Bread Recipe 🌰🍞

Cook Time: 30 minutes
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 1 loaf
Calories per Serving: 1203.7
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 reviews)

Description:

Very tasty, with a distinctive texture. Great for Thanksgiving! American colonists in the Northeast used all available food sources – acorn bread is an adaptation of a Native American recipe which was somewhat common in the late 17th century until the mid 19th among the poorer working classes.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 egg substitute
• 1 cup milk
• 3 tablespoons oil

Instructions:

1. Preparation:

   • Heat oven to 400 degrees.
   • Grease a loaf pan.

2. Mix Dry Ingredients:

   • In a mixing bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar.

3. Combine Wet Ingredients:

   • In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, egg substitute, milk, and oil.

4. Combine Wet and Dry:

   • Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.
   • Stir gently until just combined. The batter will be a bit lumpy.

5. Baking:

   • Pour the batter into the greased loaf pan.
   • Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

6. Using Acorns:

   • Acorns are very easy to use, similar to chestnuts.
   • First, examine the acorns as you pick or gather them.
   • Discard any acorns that are wormy, moldy, cracked, or otherwise damaged.

7. Shelling Acorns:

   • Early in the season (August-September), the acorn shells are usually soft enough to cut through.
   • Later in the season, you may need a nutcracker as the shells become thicker and brittle.

8. Removing Bitterness:

   • Taste the raw acorns. If they are bitter, they need to be boiled.
   • The bitterness comes from tannic acid, which can be removed by boiling the acorns in successive pots of water.
   • When the water no longer turns brown (resembling tea), the acorns are ready.

9. Roasting Acorns:

   • Preheat the oven to no more than 250 degrees Fahrenheit.
   • Roasting time varies:
     • Unboiled acorns: about 60 minutes
     • Boiled acorns: longer
   • Roasted acorns can be used in place of nuts in various recipes. However, note that they are less oily than most nuts.

10. Usage:

    • Use roasted acorns as a glaze, simmer them in soups, or grind them to use as a flour extender.

Recipe Notes:

Acorn bread is a delightful and historical treat that brings the flavors of the past to your table. The process of gathering and preparing acorns adds a unique touch to this recipe, making it a memorable addition to your Thanksgiving feast or any meal where you want to savor a taste of history. The bread itself is moist, slightly sweet from the sugar, and has a lovely texture thanks to the addition of acorns. Enjoy the journey of making this traditional American bread and share it with friends and family! 🍂🍞