A Guide To Making Quick Breads

A quick bread is any loaf that is leavened with baking soda or baking powder instead of yeast — banana bread is a good example. The process of making a quick bread is quite simple.

To make a quick bread, start by blending the dry ingredients — which include flour, salt, ground spices, and one of the said leavening agents or a mix of both — in one bowl.

In a second bowl, mix all the wet ingredients, like eggs, liquid fat, milk, or an acidic liquid, such as buttermilk or sour cream, which will help activate the leavening agent.

Combine everything, add chunks of nuts, dried fruit, or chocolate, and bake in a loaf pan in a moderate oven. As the weak acid meets the weak base, a chemical reaction will occur.

The reaction will produce carbon dioxide, which, in turn, will create air pockets in the dough, boosting volume, lightness, and softness, yielding a swollen, cracked top.