This simple, moist Raspberry Mint Bread is perfect for picnics, cookouts or sharing with a friend!
Does anyone remember friendship bread? It’s one of those breads that you have to use a starter for it. Gosh I remember years and years ago I constantly had a starter sitting on my counter. It was the best bread EVER! I kind of wish I had a slice of it.
It had me thinking about the word friendship over the last two weeks. At my ripe old age of 38 I can admit that me and the word friendship do not have a good past. I am kind of the type of person who shies away from friendships because they never turn out quite like I had planned.
Many, way to many, times when I stopped calling a “friend” I actually never heard from them again. Believe me, I get it. It’s hard to manage girl friends when you have husbands, jobs, kids and everything else under the sun. But, yes there is always a but. If the friend actually means something to you, like your phone or coffee cup (I’m talking about myself) then you will make the time.
I am not saying you should call or even talk to your friends every day but a text or phone call from time to time is really important in a friendship. The street goes both ways.
As for me the street seems to always only go (except for two of my friends) in one direction. It gets disheartening. It makes me want to go back into my shell and not come back. Because little did that “friend” know how hard it was for me to come out in the first place.
This is something I have already tried to teach my children when it comes to friendships. There are many kinds of friends, I get that too.
1. The one who just sucks everything from you and really gives you nothing back in return.
2. The one who says they are your friend and then is mean behind your back. That is definitely not the one you want to have.
3. The one who calls you from time to time and visa versa. You hang out and it’s nice because you get “adult time!”
4. The one who has your back no matter what. The one who you share laughs with, heartaches with, your deepest darkest secrets with. The one that is “your person and you are theirs.”
Honestly I am the type of person who wants all friendships to be number 4. Realistically that can’t be the case but it should would be nice if I had a little of number 3 and absolutely no part of number 2 or 1.
So tell me, what is your idea of a friend? I am opening to hearing and learning a new perspective!
Raspberry Mint Bread
This simple, moist Raspberry Mint Bread is perfect for picnics, cookouts or sharing with a friend!
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ⅓ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 6 ounces fresh raspberries
- 2 teaspoons chopped mint
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 and prepare 9×5 inch loaf pan with parchment paper.
- In one large bowl mix flour, baking soda, and salt.
- In another large bowl mix together sugar, brown sugar, sour cream, oil, eggs and vanilla.
- Add wet mixture to the flour mixture and stir well till all is incorporated.
- Stir in raspberries and mint. Pour into loaf pan.
- Bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes.
- Cool before removing from pan. Cut and ENJOY!
Notes
The glaze is optional. It's made up of powdered sugar and milk.
Some breads from around the web:
Cherry Almond Quick Bread from Lemons for Lulu
Lemon Yogurt Bread from Bake. Eat. Repeat.
Cinnamon California Raisin Pull-Apart Bread from Blahnik Baker
Glazed Lemon Bread from Spiced Blog
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I have lots of number 3’s…being a Navy wife for 28 years does that, but I really only have a few number 4’s. I’ve found the older I get the harder it is to make close friends, especially now that kids are grown and there’s no Navy for ‘instant” friends. Oh, and your bread sounds delicious with the raspberry and mint combo!
Nancy P.
Thanks so much for sharing Judy!
David @ Spiced
I couldn’t agree with you more, Nancy! It’s so darned hard to meet good friends once you get older. Back in the college days, it was incredibly easy…but now it seems impossible. And I’ve heard a lot of people say this, too! In the end, I’m ok with just a couple #4 friends, ya know? Either way, this bread looks awesome. I love raspberry, and we have a bunch of mint in the garden right now. Thank you so much for linking back to my Lemon Bread, too! Have a great day!
Nancy P.
I am okay with a couple of #4 as well. So glad I have a few of them! Thanks for sharing David!
Krista @ Joyful Healthy Eats
OH… love the mint addition to this and that glaze!! Don’t even get me started! Pretty sure this bread needs to happen at my house asap!
Nancy P.
Thanks Krista!
Becky | The Cookie Rookie
SO pretty! And this flavor combination sounds like perfection!
Joan Hayes
What a gorgeous tea bread! I love the idea of the mint and the raspberry together in a bread like this (versus a popsicle or sorbet, or something). And I’m with you on wanting most (if not all) of my friendships to be like #4. The older I’ve gotten though, the more I realize not everyone is the same kind of friend you are, and that doesn’t mean they’re any less of a person or a friend. Everyone’s just different, and the friend who takes more than they give, or doesn’t initiate getting together as much, or doesn’t call as often may not even realize it. Their perception may be totally different than yours. So I’ve learned to try and be more patient and accept the fact that not all of my friendships will be equal or balanced, and I’m in a better place with that.
Nancy P.
Such wise words! Thanks so much Joan!
The Food Hunter
this bread looks and sounds amazing
Ginny McMeans
That is a beautiful bread worthy for the best of friends.
Marjory @ Dinner-Mom
It’s a beautiful bread! Love to share it with a friend!
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Love this bread Nancy… I’m more of the quality vs quantity type when it comes to friends. I don’t want to spend energy on people that I know aren’t really good friends. And the older I get, I love that I’m a mom AND a friend to my girls!
Lora @cakeduchess
I can’t tell you how badly I’d love a slice of this gorgeous bread with my coffee right now! As for friends, I’m with you on teaching my kids about the different types of friends. Honestly, I find that everyone is so busy and I have so many friends that work full-time, I connect with many of them on FB and it takes lots of planning to get together and meet in person. 🙂 But I cherish those rare and real friendships.
Angie | Big Bear's Wife
I totally understand. I have 2 friends that I can always count on. The others are just here when they need me, they literally suck the life and energy outta me.
But I’d much rather chat about this bread instead of crappy friends haha. And YES, I totally remember amish friendship bread! I use to love making that stuff!!
marcie
This bread looks so delicious, Nancy, and I love how you added some freshness with the mint! 🙂
Nora @ Savory Nothings
OK first of all – I’m all over the mint is this raspberry bread! Genius!
And friends? To be honest, most of my friends are moms with babies the same age as mine. It’s just what suits my life right now! I have given up on number 1 and on number 2 people, it’s so not worth it. I have a lot of #3 people, because a lot of my friends from before I had a family are still single or without kids – we just don’t have that much in common anymore. And #4? So cheesy, but that’s 100% my husband 🙂
Rachael
This bread looks amazing! I love the mint with the raspberry!
Jamie @ Love Bakes Good Cakes
I love this bread, Nancy! And yes, I remember that friendship bread back in the day – it seemed like I was always giving that starter away! haha!
I totally agree with you on the friends thing …. my mom once told me that you are lucky to have 2 or 3 true friends in a lifetime. I always thought that was so negative and discouraging … but like many things, I found out my mom was right. I can say I have numerous acquaintances …. but very, very few friends. I think part of it is my own doing because I don’t usually let people get too close to me and other times, I think it’s just too easy to see through people.
Rose | The Clean Dish
I have never heard of friendship bread – interesting concept! Your Raspberry Mint Bread looks amazing! I would totally make one of those for a picnic. Yum!
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Love love love the addition of mint! This is a must try recipe!!
Nutmeg Nanny
I love having the type of friends you know will always be there for you but like you said – they cannot all be like that. I like think we have different types of friends in our life to fulfill our needs for the moment. Now this bread is perfection and I would happily make a loaf for my BFF 🙂
Colleen (Souffle Bombay)
Mint in bread, I’ve never come across that before…sounds really good!
Jess @ whatjessicabakednext
This bread looks delicious! Love the tangy raspberries and fresh mint flavour!
Melissa | Persnickety Plates
So funny because I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately! Even my 3s & 4s seem to never reach out, it’s always me sending a text. Oh well. Anyway, this bread looks delicious. I love sour cream in baked goods 🙂
Nancy P.
Me too Melissa! Thanks!
Carlee
Yum! I have never put mint in a bread, but that sounds so delicious. What a great idea!
Nancy P.
Thanks so much Carlee!
Kellie @ the suburban soapbox
I love the flavors in this bread….and I used to make a friendship bread when I first started cooking for myself. Time to bring that back. As for teaching kids about friends…that’s tough…I try to explain that you will always have difficult friends in life, it’s how you choose to “love” them that matters.
Ashley
I LOVE the friendship bread! Just tried making a starter and sadly it did not work so will be trying again since no one seems to remember it where I am in order to gain a starter. Thank you for the recipe as it is delicious and my Mojito Mint plant will allow me to make this often! Have a great day!