Holidays are lots of fun and especially for children. Families all over the world can interchange these bread recipes and serve at any party or celebration.
Whether in the Middle East, Germany or in America, these bread recipes can liven up any party. Instead of a traditional bread loaf pan, use a cup cake pan or Bundt pan. Place the decorated breads on a three tier candy dish and let each one at the party try them all.
Holidays are all about families and love. From Muslims celebrating Eid ul Fitr to Americans celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas, these breads will fill the stomachs of the entire family. Holidays were traditionally chocolate covered candies and pumpkin pies, well not any more. Now the theme is diversity and new tastes. Try these breads and then decide which one is really the most delicious. There are many recipes here for all the parties this year.
American Traditions of Pumpkin Bread
This pumpkin bread can be baked in a loaf pan and then cut into slices. Once the slices are cut, cut the slices into long biscotti type bars. These bars can then be put back into the oven and baked on both sides. Ice the bars with a white icing glaze and serve.
Ingredients:
- 4 cups flour
- 3 cups of sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoon pumpkin spice
- 3 eggs, slightly beaten
- 3/4 cup vegetable oil
- 2 cups fresh cooked pumpkin, drained of all the water
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
- In a large bowl mix the dry ingredients. Make sure to sift them twice.
- In another bowl beat the eggs and then add in the pumpkin. With a hand mixer, blend them well.
- Slowly add in the oil and beat again. With a large wooden spoon, mix in the chopped nuts.
- Pour into a well greased and floured large loaf pan or two small pans and bake. Bake this pumpkin bread in a preheated 350 degree oven for 1 hour.
German Easter Bread (Osterbrot)
This German Easter bread can be easily served to Arabs in the Eid holidays or children at Christmas time. The recipe is included due to the ease of the directions and the beautiful taste of the bread. Traditionally this bread is made into braids, but some alternatives would be to put in small ramekins and served individually. Another alternative is to put in tiny loaf pans and serve with powder sugar, after the bread is removed from the pans.
Ingredients:
- 8 cups of flour
- 2 packages of instant yeast
- 4 egg yolks beaten
- 1 cup warm milk
- 3/4 cup of sugar or 1/2 cup of honey
- 1/2 cup of melted butter
- 1 to 1 1/2 cups of warm water
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup of currants
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 cup of slivered almonds
- 1 egg and 2 Tablespoons milk for egg wash
- In a medium size saucepan put the warm milk, butter, sugar or honey and the egg yolks. With a whisk blend the mixture well.
- Simmer on low eat until the sugar is melted. Remove from the stove to cool.
- On a large working surface put the flour, dry instant yeast and salt. Add in the liquid ingredients in the center of the flour mixture.
- Mix all the ingredients together slowly. Add in the warm water and the vanilla to make a pliable, soft dough.
- Add in the currants and knead well. Let the bread double in size.
- When the bread is double in size, put in the greased and floured pan of choice and bake in a preheated 350 degree oven.
- When the bread is 3/4 way done, brush the bread with a egg wash and add the slivered almonds.
- Put back in the oven to finish cooking. The almonds are optional; many will just top the bread with powdered sugar.
Islamic Holidays and Breads Galore
Needless to say Muslims and Arabs eat differently than Americans do. American parties might have egg nog, coconut cupcakes and Pepsi Cola. Middle Eastern parties are more into dates, walnuts and tamarind punch.
On Islamic holidays, such as Eid ul Fitr (holiday after Ramadan) the traditional dessert is mamoul. Mamoul are bread like cookies filled with dates and walnuts. Walnut mamoul is less traditional, but just as delicious. Arabs also have a traditional holiday celebration bread that is made with anise and black cumin and served only on special occasions.
One of the most requested breads on the holidays or any day is zatar (oregano) bread. This bread can be made with a traditional bread dough recipe. The real secret is good quality olive oil.
Zatar Bread
Ingredients:- 3 cups flour
- 3/4 cup yogurt
- 1/4 cup virgin olive oil
- Pinch salt
- 1 Tablespoon instant yeast
- Warm water to mix with
- 1 cup virgin olive oil
- 1/2 cup dried oregano
- 1 Tablespoon sumac
- 1 Tablespoon sesame seeds
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Make the bread dough by placing the flour on a large working surface. Add in the yogurt, oil, yeast and salt.
- Mix all the ingredients together and with both hands combine all the dough together. Add in enough water to make a soft pliable dough.
- Let the dough rise for 1 hour or until double. Roll the dough out into a large circle and put in a oiled pizza pan.
- In a separate bowl add in one cup of olive oil, oregano, sumac, sesame seeds and salt. Mix well.
- Spread the zatar mixture on top of the bread dough. Bake in a very hot 400 degree oven.
- When the bread is done, cut into large triangle pizza type pieces and serve with Arabic coffee. This holiday bread can be served any day of the week.
Photo courtesy of Photobucket: oregon_sunshine
