Bread, perhaps the most humble of foods, has been a staple in our diets for thousands of years. But amongst the countless loaves of bread out there, there’s one that holds a special place in my heart – the Hobo Bread. No, it’s not just because of its quirky name, but because of its unique taste, its history, and the sheer simplicity of making it. Hobo Bread, also known as Brown Bread, traces its roots back to the Great Depression, when ingredients were scarce and people had to make do with what they had. Made with leftover coffee, raisins, nuts, and a handful of other simple ingredients, it’s a bread that’s as rich in history as it is in flavor. What I love about this bread is its slightly sweet taste, complemented by the unique flavor of the coffee and the crunch of the nuts. Despite its name, there’s nothing ‘hobo’ about its taste – it’s simply delicious. Plus, it’s incredibly easy to make! All you need are a few basic ingredients, a couple of coffee cans, and you’re good to go. So, if you’re looking for a bread recipe that’s different, easy to make, and packed with flavor, then you must try my Hobo Bread recipe.
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 c. leftover coffee or prepared instant
- 4 tsp. baking soda
- 2 c. raisins
- 1 c. white sugar
- 1 1/2 c. chopped nuts
- 4 c. sifted flour
- 1/4 tsp. salt
Baking Instructions
- You will need 3 coffee cans.
Calorie: 250
Total cooking time: 2 hours
Difficulty level: Easy
Hobo Bread: A Culinary Journey on the Rails of Taste
The Dawn of a New Espresso-laden Era
Ah, the smell of coffee brewing in the morning! It wakes you up, gets you ready for the day, and, in my case, serves as a key ingredient in my favorite recipe – Hobo Bread. Now, before you look at me sideways and question my sanity, hear me out. This isn’t your average cup of joe. It’s a delicious blend of 2 1/2 cups of leftover coffee (or prepared instant if you’re feeling lazy), combined with some staple kitchen ingredients, all baked together in a coffee can! Yes, you read that right, a coffee can.
Please Don’t Feed the Baking Soda to the Pigeons
The first step to creating this culinary masterpiece is to soak 2 cups of raisins in your leftover coffee. Now, if you’re like me and often forget about soaking raisins, don’t worry! After you’ve realized your mistake and picked yourself up off the kitchen floor (because let’s face it, cooking can be emotional), sprinkle 4 teaspoons of baking soda over the raisins. This will help them plump up and become extra juicy. Just be sure not to feed any to the pigeons, unless you want a flock of caffeinated birds dive-bombing your windows.
Sugar, Spice, and Everything Nuts
Next up, combine 1 cup of white sugar, 1 1/2 cups of chopped nuts, 4 cups of sifted flour, and a 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Now, you may be thinking, “nuts and coffee? Really?” Trust me on this. The nuts add a fantastic crunch that complements the soft, moist bread perfectly. And the sugar? Well, that’s just to make your taste buds do a happy dance.
Can-Do Attitude
Once your mix is looking like the Frankenstein’s monster of breakfast ingredients, it’s time to get your cans. Yes, you heard me right, cans. This recipe calls for three coffee cans. Why coffee cans? Well, because it’s Hobo Bread, not Posh Bread, silly! Also, they’re a surprisingly effective way to bake bread. Just make sure to clean them out first, unless you want your bread to taste like a weird combination of coffee, nuts, and… whatever else you had in there.
Baking: The Final Frontier
Now that your ingredients are mixed and your coffee cans are clean, pour the batter into the cans and put them in the oven. Bake at 350 degrees for about an hour, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Then, sit back, relax, and pat yourself on the back for successfully navigating the wild world of hobo culinary arts.
The Grand Reveal
Once your bread is baked, let it cool, and then slide it out of the can. It should come out looking like a loaf of bread that’s been working out – round, firm, and with a lovely brown tan. Slice it up and serve with butter or cream cheese, or just eat it plain. It’s that good.
So there you have it. The tale of how I, your humble food blogger, have fallen in love with a bread made in a coffee can. With its unique combination of coffee, baking soda, raisins, white sugar, nuts, flour, and salt, it’s a surefire way to start your day off right. Or end it. Or fill the middle. It’s bread. It’s always the right time for bread.
Remember, life’s too short for boring food. So why not add a little hobo flair to your kitchen? Just remember to lock up the baking soda. Those pigeons are still watching.
