Sweet Potato Cranberry & Dark Chocolate Bread

Mini loaves of goodness – sweet potatoes, dark chocolate and dried cranberries.   These delightful loaves would make a yummy holiday gift. 

You can customize the loaves – make some with just dark chocolate chips, some with just cranberries and some a delightful combination of the two. 

In addition to using sweet potatoes, which have tons of nutritional benefits, you also use whole wheat flour, applesauce in place of oil and high-antioxidant foods like cranberries (and even dark chocolate).  That makes this a winner in my book. 

Sweet Potato Cranberry & Dark Chocolate Loaves – Adapted from Angie

Ingredients

• 1 1/3 C whole wheat flour {white whole wheat preferred}
• 1/2 C brown sugar
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• pinch of ginger
• 1 C sweet potato puree
• 1/2 C applesauce
• 1 egg
• 1/4 C dark chocolate chips
• 1/4 C dried cranberries, like Craisins

Directions

In a large bowl, combine the 1 1/3 C whole wheat flour, 1/2 C brown sugar, 1 tsp. baking soda, 1/8 tsp. salt, 1/4 tsp. nutmeg, 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, & a pinch of ginger. 

Stir until well mixed. 

In a second bowl, combine 1 C sweet potato puree, 1/2 C applesauce and 1 egg; mix to combine.  Note: You can use pumpkin puree in this recipe, but you may need to increase the sugar by 1/8-1/4 C.  Sweet potatoes are sweeter than pumpkin!

Stir the wet and dry ingredients together. 

At this point, add in the dark chocolate chips and craisins.  For customizable loaves, divide the batter into thirds and add your chocolate and fruit as desired to each separate bowl. 

Divide the batter equally among three small loaf pans.  Or, pour it all into one large loaf pan.  Sprinkle the tops with additional chocolate chips, if desired. 

Bake at 350 for 30-50 minutes (30-40 minutes if you use mini loaf pans and 45-50 minutes if one large loaf pan is used). 

A toothpick will come out of the center clean when the loaves are baked through. 

Cool on a wire rack.  If you are enjoying the bread right away, I recommend popping the loaves out of the pan during the cooling process. 

Enjoy!

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