Mystery Lovers' Kitchen: Spiced Apple and Brown Sugar Spoonbread

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Spiced Apple and Brown Sugar Spoonbread: An Easy Bread Pudding by Cleo Coyle #apples

The earliest published version of spoonbread dates back to the Carolina Housewife cookbook by Sarah Rutledge, 1847.

To make Sarah's version, you take...

"One pint of corn flour; boil half to a mush; add, when nearly cold, two eggs, a table-spoonful of butter and a gill* of milk, and then the remaining half of flour. Bake on a griddle, or grease a pan and drop in spoonfuls."

*A gill equals 1/2 cup. (And, yes, I had to look it up.)

So there you are. You can try Sarah's recipe or give mine a go. This Spiced Apple and Brown Sugar Spoonbread has layers of harvest flavor added to make a lovely, warm breakfast bread pudding for apple season.

With our own New York apples in the markets now (or a short drive away to pick-your-own orchards), this is a great time for apple dishes...

May you eat (and read) with joy!

~ Cleo

Cleo Coyle, author of The
Coffeehouse Mysteries, has
a partner in crime-writing--
her husband, Marc.

Cleo Coyle's
Spiced Apple
and Brown Sugar
Spoonbread

An Easy Bread Pudding

Spoonbread is said to have its roots in a Native American dish called suppawn, a type of cornmeal porridge. English colonists added eggs and milk to enrich the dish, and (as I mentioned above) the first published version appeared in 1847.

I built on the classic recipe, adding harvest flavors to create an easy, tasty breakfast bread pudding, perfect for chilly fall mornings. Serve it plain or with a drizzle of maple syrup for a tasty alternative to pancakes or waffles. And don't forget that fresh, hot pot of coffee to warm your bones while you're waiting to eat with joy... ~ Cleo

🍎

To download my recipe in a free
PDF document that you can print,
save, or share click here.

This recipe is perfect for a 1-1/2 quart casserole dish. In a pinch, however, you can use an 8-inch square baking pan. Whatever you use, be sure it is well greased with butter or cooking spray to prevent sticking. For a larger batch, double the amount of ingredients and use a 2-1/2 quart casserole dish or a 9 x 9 x 2-inch pan. Cooking time may be a bit longer for a larger casserole, check for doneness as indicated in the recipe.

Ingredients:

1 large ripe apple (or 2 small), peeled and shredded
using a boxed grater (or food processor)
(about 1-1/4 cups shredded apple)

3 tablespoons melted butter

2 tablespoons white, granulated sugar

¼ cup (packed) light brown sugar

1 teaspoon apple pie spice

¼ teaspoon salt

1-1/2 cups milk whole or low fat (1% or 2%, not skim)

½ cup apple juice (or apple cider)

¾ cup cornmeal (yellow or white)

(optional) ½ cup raisins or craisins (sweetened dried cranberries)

2 eggs

2 teaspoons baking powder

Directions: First preheat your oven to 350° F. Into a medium size saucepan, place the shredded apples and butter, warm over medium heat, stirring while butter melts. Add the white and brown sugars, apple pie spice, and salt and stir to blend the flavors. Add the milk, apple juice, 3/4 cup of cornmeal, and (optional) raisins or craisins (or a combination of the two). Cook and stir this mixture over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes, until mixture thickens and resembles porridge.

IMPORTANT: Remove from heat and allow the mixture to cool off for at least ten minutes before whisking in the eggs and baking powder. Transfer immediately to a well-greased 1-1/2 quart casserole dish. Bake in the preheated oven for 40 to 50 minutes (depending on oven). When spoonbread is set on top (no longer liquid and jiggling) and slightly browned, it’s finished cooking. As the name implies, spoon the bread pudding onto plates right from the baking dish. You can eat it plain or drizzle pure maple syrup on it for an amazing breakfast.

Foodie

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