August 25, 2016

Blueberry Pie Quick Bread

posted by Julie in Breakfast, Desserts, Freezer Friendly, Fruit Desserts, Quick Breads, Recipes
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Bored with the same old blueberry quick breads?  Try something different with a blueberry pie bread — homemade blueberry pie filling swirled into the batter and topped with an almond crumble topping.

a slice of purple swirled blueberry pie bread on a decorative blueberry plate

It’s time for yet another in the 2016 Quick Bread of the Month series!  

Fresh peaches have been abundant now, so I’ve been dreaming of some sort of peach bread for August. But.. blueberry pie bread is not peach.

A choosey toddler had different plans, and left me with an awful lot of unconsumed blueberries, and I couldn’t possibly let all those fresh blueberries go to waste!

hand whisked quick bread batter with a saucepan of blueberry pie filling

Ryan is digging other summer fruits much more than blueberries right now, and a blueberry bread is a perfect way to use up an unexpected excess.  But what kind of bread?

Blueberry bread is kind of like banana bread.  There are hundreds and hundreds of basically the same recipe out there.  

My goal with Quick Bread of the Month is to do something a little off the beaten path each month, like this candied grapefruit bread, or cinnamon streusel rhubarb bread, or a savory Italian herb tomato bread.

Not just any blueberry bread will do – it has to be something a little different.

purple swirled blueberry pie quick bread batter

And so, I converted my favorite almond crumble blueberry pie recipe into a quick bread.  Same blueberry filling, simmered on the stove.  

Except instead of pouring it into a pie crust, we’re going to swirl it into a quick bread batter.

This was one of those recipes that I was really excited about, especially since I came up with the idea and had the finished baked bread sitting on my counter in a matter of hours.  I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I loved the outcome.

The bread itself is not super sweet.  The blueberry swirl filling is completely reminiscent of a pie (goal achieved!) and the almond crumble topping adds both a great flavor and textural contrast.

While this is certainly appropriate as brunch/mid-day snack option, I also wouldn’t say no to a slice with a big scoop of ice cream for dessert.  Blueberry pie bread a la mode.  Yes, please!

blueberry swirled bread batter in a loaf pan with a measuring cup full of almond paste

Homemade Blueberry Pie Filling

The star of this bread is the homemade blueberry pie filling.  It’s swirled into the batter, and it’s both delicious and beautiful!

You might realize that there’s a high ratio of cornstarch to berries in this.  

You know how blueberry pie is sometimes a little goopy and juicy and delicious?  That works great in a pie, but I didn’t want that much in the swirly part of a bread.

We’ll cook down the blueberries (fresh or frozen – this also works great with frozen berries!) until they’re more of a jam-like consistency.

I purposely kept the batter on the less-sweet side; after all, this is a bread and not a cake.  (Although, if we’re being honest, the line between the two is seriously blurred with many quick breads!).  

I used the same almond crumble topping as the blueberry pie and baked it right on top of the bread.

And thus: blueberry pie bread.

a loaf of blueberry pie bread in the loaf pan covered with a toasted almond crumble

Almond Crumble Topping

The almond crumble, just like the pie, uses crumbled almond paste.  

If you have a nut allergy, or really don’t like almond, then you can always substitute a traditional brown sugar and butter streusel topping.  

But if neither of these apply to you, I really, really recommend that you pick up some almond paste or even marzipan.

You should be able to find one or the other in the baking aisle of major grocery stores, or pick it up from Amazon (above links are affiliate).

The unexpected almond crumble really adds a great new flavor and a crumbly deliciousness to the bread.  

an uncut loaf of blueberry pie bread on a wire cooling rack

Tips and Tricks for the Best Blueberry Pie Bread

  1. The blueberry pie filling can be made using either fresh or frozen blueberries.  Frozen blueberries may require cooking down for a few additional minutes.
  2. Use room temperature eggs and butter for the best incorporation of ingredients while mixing.
  3. If you can’t find almond paste, marzipan can be substituted – it has a similar flavor, but a higher sugar content.
  4. For a nut-free topping, replace the almond paste with an equal amount of brown sugar.
  5. If the almond crumble topping is browning too quickly, tent the loaf pan with foil for the last 15-20 minutes of baking.
  6. The bread can be stored at room temperature for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.  To freeze, wrap fully cooled bread in plastic wrap, followed by a layer of aluminum foil.  

a slice of blueberry pie quick bread on a plate with the rest of the sliced loaf in the background

More Blueberry Dessert Recipes:

2016 Quick Bread of the Month Series

Blueberry Pie Quick Bread: homemade blueberry pie filling swirls with an almond crumble topping. {Bunsen Burner Bakery}

Blueberry Pie Quick Bread

Yield: 1 loaf
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

An easy quick bread swirled with homemade blueberry pie filling and topped with an almond streusel crumble.

Ingredients

For the Blueberry Pie Filling:

  • 2 cups (170 grams) blueberries
  • 1/4 cup (50 grams) granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons (14 grams) cornstarch
  • 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice

For the Bread:

  • 1/3 cup (75 grams) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 cup (198 grams) granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup (113 grams) milk, room temperature
  • 1 1/2 cups (180 grams) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Almond Crumble:

  • 2 1/2 tablespoons (35 grams) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/3 cup (40 grams) flour
  • 1/3 cup (66 grams) granulated sugar
  • 1/3 cup (86 grams) almond paste

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 °F.  Grease a 8.5x4.5-inch loaf pan.
  2. Make the blueberry pie filling. Combine the blueberry pie filling ingredients in a small, heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat.   Cooking, stirring frequently, about 10 minutes, until mixture is quite thick.  Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
  3. Make the bread batter. In a large bowl, stir together the butter, sugar, eggs, and milk.  Gently stir in the flour, baking powder, salt, and vanilla, until just combined. Fold in the blueberry pie filling until the filling and batter are swirled together. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and gently smooth the top.
  4. Make the almond crumble. Combine the melted melted butter, flour, sugar, and almond paste in a small bowl.  Using your fingers or two forks, break the almond paste into small pieces and stir together until a clump forms.  Break the clump into small bits and sprinkle over the bread.
  5. Bake the bread. Bake at 350 for 50-60 minutes, until a tester inserted into the bread comes out with a moist crumb.  Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

  1. Fresh or frozen blueberries can be used for the blueberry pie filling.
  2. Marzipan can be substituted for almond paste. For a nut-free version, replace the almond paste with brown sugar.
  3. If the almond crumble topping is getting too dark during baking, tent the loaf pan with foil for the last 15-20 minutes of baking.
  4. Blueberry pie bread can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for four days or frozen for up to 3 months. To freeze, wrap fully cooled bread in plastic wrap, followed by a layer of aluminum foil.  Thaw unwrapped at room temperature.

A Bunsen Burner Bakery Original Protocol

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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1 slice
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 303Total Fat: 10.5gCarbohydrates: 49.1gProtein: 4.1g

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© Julie (Bunsen Burner Bakery)
Cuisine: American / Category: Quick Breads

Blueberry Pie Quick Bread: homemade blueberry pie filling swirled into an easy quick bread recipe, topped with an almond crumble streusel.  #bunsenburnerbakery #quickbread #blueberrybread #blueberrypie

posted in Breakfast, Desserts, Freezer Friendly, Fruit Desserts, Quick Breads, Recipes
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