Easy Homemade Spiced Apple Pecan Sourdough Bread

This bread is incredible as toast or used for French toast, but we are particularly fond of it as the bread for a good chicken salad sandwich. With all the varieties of apples available this time of year, look for a tart variety with a little crunch. Anything good for pie making will be fantastic for this bread.

Spiced Apple Pecan Sourdough Bread

6 cups Panhandle Milling Organic Bread Flour

1 1/2 cups lukewarm filtered water

1 tsp. salt

1 cup sourdough starters

1 cup peeled and chopped tart apples

1 Tbsp. Cinnamon

1 tsp. ground cardamom

2 tsp. culinary lavender

1 Tbsp. vanilla bean paste

1/2 cup honey

1 ½ cup chopped toasted pecans 

Directions: 

• Mix all the ingredients except the pecans in a large 2-quart bowl and knead for 3-5 minutes until smooth and elastic. 
• Add the nuts and fold in. Form the dough into a ball. 
• Cover and let it rise at room temperature for about 12 hours or until it is doubled. 
• When you’re ready, shape the dough as desired. 
• This recipe will yield two standard loaves of bread. Place lightly mist into a greased loaf pan or brush the top with oil. 
• Let rise for about 2½ hours or until doubled in size. 
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Bake 35-40 minutes until golden brown (at least 195°F internal temperature). Yield two loaves.