Maple Oat Bread

This bread has a subtle but very delicious flavor. It's very moist and makes a perfect breakfast with coffee or tea. I've made it with the dried cranberries, and I think it would have a great texture with the pecans! It's from The First Year by Heather Van Vorous.

• Ready In: 1 hr 20 mins
• Yields: 1 loaf

Ingredients

• 1 1⁄2 cups soymilk
• 1  tablespoon vinegar or 1  tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 3⁄4 cups  all-purpose unbleached white flour
• 1  teaspoon baking powder
• 1⁄2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 2  egg whites or 1⁄4 cup Egg Beaters egg substitute
• 1⁄4 cup canola oil
• 1⁄2 cup maple syrup
• 3  tablespoons  packed brown sugar
• 1  cup rolled oats or 1  cup  quick-cooking rolled oats
• 1⁄3 cup  finely chopped pecans (optional, I use closer to 1/2 cup) (optional) or 1⁄3 cup  chopped dried cranberries (optional, I use closer to 1/2 cup)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F Lightly spray a 9x5 loaf pan with cooking oil.
2. Combine the soy milk and vinegar (or lemon juice) and allow to sour for about 10 minutes.
3. In a large bowl, sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk together until blended.
4. In a medium bowl whisk the egg whites with the oil until smooth. Whisk in the maple syrup, brown sugar, and soured soy milk. Stir in the oats. Add pecans or dried cranberries, if using.
5. Add wet ingredients to dry and stir with a wooden spoon until just combined.
6. Pour into pan, smooth top, and bake until golden brown and a tester inserted into center of loaf comes out clean, about 1 hour.
7. Cool on rack in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out of pan onto rack and cool completely before slicing.
8. This bread freezes beautifully!