Savory quickbreads, apple or pear desserts, apple cider cocktails

October 13, 2014 8:54 PM

I'm having a birthday party for myself Saturday, and I've put off planning far later than I normally do. Help me out, hivemind! Looking for recipes for: 1) A great savory quickbread that doesn't have onions or garlic (or anything related to those, due to allergies of a couple attendees); 2) A dessert made with apples and/or pears that can either be prepared in advance or prepared up to the point of baking in advance, and then just needs to be put in the oven; 3) Tasty cocktails involving apple cider. Thanks!
posted by skycrashesdown to Food & Drink (16 answers total)

Best answer: Savory quickbread: My favorite is this Yogurt Herb Bread in Molly Katzen's The Enchanted Broccoli Forest. I haven't compared that linked recipe word for word to my cookbook to be sure it's identical (since it looks like the cookbook has been revised) but it seems to be the same as I remember. I like to brush the top with some butter while it's still hot to give the bread a bit of a salty crust.
posted by Secretariat at 9:12 PM on October 13, 2014

Olive Oil Quatre Quart. I actually make this like an upside-down cake, cooking the fruit in a little butter and brown sugar, then spreading that on the bottom of the pan.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 9:41 PM on October 13, 2014 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Found some tasty sounding cocktails on Serious Eats:
Pumpkin and Apple Cider Cocktail
Hard Cider Cocktails
Spiked Hard Ciders
5 Cider Cocktails
Hot Ginger Apple Cider
And more....

Happy Birthday!
posted by Beti at 10:37 PM on October 13, 2014 [1 favorite]

Apple or pear crisp (sprinkle fruit with lemon, top with mix of oatmeal, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter - try Smitten Kitchen or Epicurious for recipes - can't find mine!); I actually think it's better cooled. Also a classic French pear or apple tart (also better at room temp).

I think a good cheese bread (homemade crackers, cheese straws, or pull-apart bread with cheese) would be good and would compliment the fruit desserts well too.
posted by jrobin276 at 11:14 PM on October 13, 2014

Best answer: Apple cider, spiced rum, a splash of ginger ale, garnish with an orange slice.
posted by erst at 11:47 PM on October 13, 2014

Best answer: This pear and cardamon cake is delicious.
posted by goo at 12:55 AM on October 14, 2014 [1 favorite]

Super simple Apple Cake. Wrap it in plastic and it will keep perfectly!
posted by DarlingBri at 4:49 AM on October 14, 2014

A super easy and delicious apple dessert:
Swedish Apple Pie
It's halfway-between a traditional apple pie and an apple crisp.
Envision a crustless apple pie topped with a giant cinnamon-sugar cookie.
posted by Ardea alba at 6:03 AM on October 14, 2014 [1 favorite]

I will always refer people to Smitten Kitchen. Her vanilla roasted pears would be a good fit for the occasion and I would trust the author to give me a fool-proof recipe that wouldn't require a test beforehand (which is perfect for a last minute party).
posted by thefang at 6:30 AM on October 14, 2014

Apple Cake (my Mom's old recipe)

First peel and cut 5 or 6 apples in square chunks about the size of a thimble. Sprinkle 2 teaspoons of cinnamon and 5 tablespoons of sugar on the apples, mix well, and set aside.

Into a large bowl measure
2 cup flour
2 cups sugar
2 cups of a mild cooking oil
4 large eggs
1/4 cup orange juice
3 teaspoons baking powder
2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon salt

Beat these ingredients together until smooth, and pour half this batter into a greased Turks-head pan. Arrange half the apple mixture over it. Pour in the remaining batter and top with rest of apple mixture.

Place in preheated 350 F oven and bake about 1 1/2 hours until done. When done cake should be golden brown. Remove from pan & let stand on a rack to cool.

This is great made the day ahead of a party. For fancy, you can serve with a bit of whipped cream, but it is fine on its own.
posted by gudrun at 6:42 AM on October 14, 2014

Best answer: Beer bread is an easy quickbread recipe that's easy to play with. The basic recipe calls for 12oz beer, and the resulting bread flavor can be adjusted by going lighter or darker on the beer variety. Personally I haven't enjoyed IPA bread, the hops are a bit much, but brown ales are excellent, and Oktoberfest would be great too. I like adding cheese and herbs; cheddar/sage/thyme or swiss/rosemary are good, use 1-2c grated cheese and 1-2tsp herbs.
posted by aimedwander at 6:52 AM on October 14, 2014 [2 favorites]

Best answer: Bannock is the bread you're looking for, and it can be tarted up in a million different ways.

Hot apple cider + Jameson's + a cinnamon stick = perfection.
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 7:45 AM on October 14, 2014 [1 favorite]

A dessert made with apples and/or pears that can either be prepared in advance

Poached pears. So much deliciousness for so little effort! The longer they sit (up to five days), the more flavorful they get. I like to poach them whole in red wine - they look so elegant.
posted by caryatid at 8:37 AM on October 14, 2014

I am absolutely in love with the idea of a pineapple upside-down cake, but using pears instead of pineapple and using gingerbread cake instead of white cake. I used these recipes from Smitten Kitchen as inspiration, then made my own by using half of the Gramercy Tavern cake (it's a big recipe) on top of a simple layer of melted butter sprinkled with brown sugar and then pear slices. I didn't cook the butter/sugar to make a syrup.

Gramercy Tavern Gingerbread Cake
Gingerbread Apple Upside Down Cake
posted by CathyG at 8:55 AM on October 14, 2014 [1 favorite]

You'll need some more ingredients, probably, but the Northern Spy might be the cocktail you are searching for.
posted by bink at 12:22 PM on October 14, 2014

On the drink front, I can say from experience that Bulleit Rye and fresh cider on ice topped with a sprinkle of cinnamon is amazing.
I bet you could also serve it hot (but I don't care for hot adult beverages) :)
posted by sleepykitties at 7:49 PM on October 14, 2014 [1 favorite]