Oatmeal Raisin Quick Bread with Streusel Topping

 

Oats are one of the healthiest grains. They are a naturally gluten-free nutrient loaded with vitamins and minerals. They contain antioxidants and are a good source of dietary fiber.  

A Pantry Special

Oatmeal-Raisin Quick Bread with Streusel Topping
Cook's Notes: A quick bread that's moist and flavorful. A recipe bonus is all the ingredients are pantry staples. The recipe makes one standard size loaf.
Note this recipe is arranged differently than most recipes. The ingredients are bulleted and directions underlined. Old-fashioned oats were used for this recipe. 

Preheat oven to 325 degrees and grease a loaf pan. 

Cooking Tip-to plump raisins place in a small dish and pour boiling over them, drain after 10 minutes. 

Streusel Topping

Whisk together in a small bowl

• 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Dash of nutmeg

Cut in

• 2 tablespoons cold butter with a pastry cutter until pea sized

Mix in

• 1/4 cup oats
• 1/3 cup plumped up golden raisins

Chill

Bread Batter Dry Ingredients with Directions:
Combine and mix well

• 1-3/4 cups flour
• 1-1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup oats
• 1-1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 2/3 cup raisins

Form a well in the center

Bread Batter Wet Ingredients with Directions:

• 2 eggs, beaten

Whisk together

• beaten eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup oil
• 1/3 cup each dark brown sugar and granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients stirring just until incorporated

Pour batter into prepared pan 
Top with chilled struesel topping
Bake 40-45 minutes
Cool in pan 15 minutes and invert to a cooling rack

Test Baking Powder for Freshness

• Place about 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder in a small bowl or measuring cup. Add 1/4 cup hot water. It may take a few seconds, but you should see fizzing with small bubbles.
• If you don’t see any fizzing or only a few little bubbles, then it’s time to replace your baking powder.
• This reaction won’t work as reliably with cold water, so be sure the water is hot from the tap.

How to Test Baking Soda for Freshness

• Place about 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in a small bowl. Add 3 tablespoons of plain vinegar. You should see pretty vigorous bubbling.
• If there are only a few bubbles or no bubbles at all, then it’s time to replace your baking soda.

As a general rule, I recommend testing your baking powder and baking soda if it’s been more than a couple of months since you used it or if it’s been opened longer than six months. Make a note of the date they’re opened either on the container or somewhere you can access easily.
How to Keep Baking Powder and Baking Soda Fresh
There is one simple thing you can do to keep your baking powder and baking soda fresh longer-store baking powder and baking soda in airtight containers.
Most baking powder containers are already airtight, but you can always transfer to another container to ensure that it’s sealed well. Baking soda is often sold in a cardboard box, and it should be transferred to another container that seals well.