How to add fruit to bread and have the bread taste like the fruit as well.

How do you add fresh or frozen fruit to bread (not the whole fruit, more of like pureeing the fruit then add it to the bread batter). I did this and the bread turn out less than decent, but I could not taste the fruit in the bread.

Thank you!
Josh

Jdiaz044
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3 Comments

Nancy August 18, 2024
Long time baker here.
Most fresh or frozen fruit purees don't give flavor to regular bread. For example, the applesauce that Miss Karen mentioned as a fat replacement works in the the chemistry of the bread but doesn't give much or any apple flavor.
For regular bread, if you want a fruit flavor, it's best to use dried or candied fruits which will lend their flavor to the finished loaf. Or small amounts of fruit-flavor extract.
For sweet breads using fresh fruit like banana, most recipes recommend 3-4 bananas, up to 1 lb or half kg.
Another trick for adding flavor and showing what the bread is made of - gently lay slices of the fresh fruit on top of the batter in the pan before baking. Or make a glaze of the fresh fruit to finish it off.
 
Miss_Karen August 18, 2024
Applesauce can be a 1:1 substitute for butter in baking, such as in cakes, muffins, cookies, brownies, and quick breads. This can help reduce the fat and calorie content of baked goods,
Here are some tips for using applesauce as a butter substitute:
Use unsweetened applesauce
Pay attention to the batter or dough: You might not need to change the measurements, but you can add more or less applesauce depending on how the batter or dough feels.
 
Miss_Karen August 18, 2024
Here is a peach bread recipe:
https://www.tastesoflizzyt.com/peach-bread/#wprm-recipe-container-17643

For apple bread,
you can use apple butter and/ or boiled cider (concentrated cider- it's thick & syrupy.)
The trick with fruit is to cut it small and lightly coat it with flour so it doesn’t sink to the bottom. Here is an apple butter bread:
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/cinnamon-sugar-swirled-apple-butter-bread/

Consider using a fruit necter instead of water.
 
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