Cranberry-Maple Soda Bread

 

1

cup Fiber One® original bran cereal

3 2/3

cups Gold Medal® all-purpose flour

1

cup sweetened dried cranberries

1

tablespoon grated orange peel

1

teaspoon baking powder

1

teaspoon baking soda

1

teaspoon salt

1/4

cup butter or margarine

1

cup buttermilk

1/4

cup applesauce

1/4

cup maple-flavored syrup

2

eggs

• 1 Heat oven to 350°F. Grease large cookie sheet with shortening or cooking spray. Place cereal in resealable food-storage plastic bag; seal bag and crush with rolling pin or meat mallet (or crush in food processor).
• 2 In large bowl, stir together cereal, flour, cranberries, orange peel, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Cut in butter, using pastry blender (or pulling 2 table knives through mixture in opposite directions), until mixture looks like fine crumbs; set aside.
• 3 In medium bowl, stir together buttermilk, applesauce, maple syrup and eggs. Stir into cereal mixture until dough forms. Place dough on lightly floured surface. Knead 30 seconds to 1 minute or until smooth (if dough is too sticky, knead in additional flour, 1 tablespoon at a time). Shape dough into 7-inch round; place on cookie sheet. Cut X shape, 1/2 inch deep, on top of dough.
• 4 Bake 55 to 60 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack. Cool 30 minutes.