Fruit-Filled Soda Bread (Vegan!)

Today, my brother and I wanted to try something other than a dessert, so as we were brainstorming, we both remembered this AMAZING soda bread we were given by the Irish booth at an international festival. They also gave us the recipe for how to make it at home. So, I took the recipe, veganized it, and... added in fruit, because my siblings and I are obsessed with fruit-flavored things. The fruit also moistened the bread, giving it just a hint of sweetness.

You can pretty much use any fruit you want that can hold its shape and is not to runny. I would advise staying away from citrus, for example. We chose bananas and PRUNES.

PLEASE GIVE PRUNES A CHANCE! So many people refuse to try prunes, because of their less-than-desirable reputation and appearance, but they are one of my favorite foods in the world. They are delicious, moist, easy to snack on, extremely good for you, and readily available everywhere. If not in the bread, try them alone and see how much you'll like them! You don't have to be a baby or a senior citizen to enjoy these lovely dried plums.

Ingredients:

***Use these measurements to make 2 loaves of this dish***

• ¾ cup non-dairy milk
• 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 ½ cups of all-purpose OR whole wheat flour
• 1 ½ teaspoons of baking soda
• 1 tablespoon of baking powder
• ½ teaspoon of salt
• 4 tablespoons of white sugar
• ¾ cup of (vegan) butter
• ½ cup of chopped, pitted prunes (or fruit of your choice)
• 1 chopped up banana (or fruit of your choice)
• Optional Toppings: agave nectar, (vegan) butter

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 385°F.
2. Grease a baking sheet with nonstick spray or vegan shortening.
3. In a separate cup, pour the milk and add in the apple cider vinegar and vanilla extract. Do not mix or touch. It will curdle to make a buttermilk-like consistency, which you will use at a later step of the recipe.
4. In a large bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, and salt.
5. Soften the butter in the microwave (until it is SOFT, not melted,) and add to the flour mixture. Mix this thoroughly. 
6. Add the chopped up prunes and bananas (or whatever fruit of your choosing) to the mixture.
7. Once the milk/apple cider vinegar/vanilla mixture is chunky and smells putrid, stir it gently, and then pour it into the flour mixture until it reaches a firm, dough-like consistency.
8. Take the dough to a floured area, and knead gently until a secure ball is formed and the ingredients are certainly combined.
9. Break your secure dough ball into two smaller balls, and place onto the baking sheet.
10. Bake in the oven for 30 to 40 minutes, depending on how crispy you want your bread/how powerful your oven is.
11. Let bread cool to room temperature before serving. 
12. Serve with (vegan) butter or agave for an extra-special treat!

The vegan vanilla 'buttermilk' suspension of soy milk, apple cider vinegar, and vanilla extract. 

The giant ball of dough being kneaded in flour.

 The two dough-balls separated on the greased sheet.

The bread right out of the oven. We wanted it to be crispy and crusty, but not burnt, and it was!

A close up of the bread.

Denali really wanted some... but unfortunately, prunes ARE NOT dog-friendly, so he could only look on at the delicious slice in jealousy.

Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Did you try this recipe out?

Please let me know in the comments!