In a recent email, my friend Hilary suggested that whenever we visited Bayfield, Wisconsin, we should buy some “wine bread “ at the Candy Shoppe. She suggested placing an order for it, the day before. Here is my phone conversation with the shop owner when I called to place an oder for the bread:
Candy Shopper Owner: “Hello, Candy Shoppe.”
Andi: “I’d like to place an order for some wine bread.”
Owner: “What kind would you like?”
Andi: “Well, what kind do you have? (Thinking that it was some sort of appetizer bread) “Do you have Merlot or Chardonnay bread?”
Owner: “No, We have the following flavors: raspberry, blueberry, lemon, strawberry, apricot, blackberry, cherry, pineapple, pumpkin and almond.”
Andi: “So you mix wine with the fruit? Are the breads you bake, Quick Breads?”
Owner: “No, they are yeast breads.”
Andi: “Well then, can I slice them and put the slices in a toaster?”
Owner: “No, they are like coffee cakes.”
Andi: “Ahhh. Well then, why do you call them wine breads?”
Owner: “Because this is a very old family recipe from my mother. She used fermented fruit in her loaves and always called them wine bread.”
We made a trip to Bayfield and bought a couple of loaves of wine bread. This is the only slice left from a raspberry loaf. It is a coffeecake full of puréed fruit and cream cheese with the dough on top, not quite folded together. It's topped with chopped nuts and lots of frosting. YUM! Every bite was delicious. If you are planning a trip to Bayfield, Wisconsin, call the Candy Shoppe to place an order before you go. Their number is: 715-779-3668.
Have you ever heard of wine bread? I did a quick online search and couldn’t find a single recipe for it. I wonder if this is an old-world recipe?