Tiramisu bread

You'll love this tramisu bread -- all the delicious flavors of the classic dessert in a simple quick bread.

Happy Valentine's Day!

OK, I know it's not really Valentine's Day (heck, we haven't even quite reached the end of Detox January), but you are going to feel like it is a holiday all about love with today's post. Why? Two reasons:

1. I am giving you a spectacularly yummy recipe for tiramisu quick bread that is perfect for Valentine's Day. 
2. I've teamed up with some other blogging buddies to give you a chance to win a $500 gift card from Tiffany and Co., which would pretty much be perfect for choosing a Valentine's Day gift! (The giveaway deets follow the recipe below.)

Booyah for Valentine's Day!

Now, before you get all cray cray about the giveaway, let's talk about this tiramisu bread.

ERMERGAHD. This stuff is like candy -- well, if the candy was coffee-mocha-marsala-flavored. Just as with the traditional tiramisu dessert, the key to this recipe is rich mascarpone cheese, which I love because it's not too sweet. Add to that a great mocha-espresso flavor, accented with sweet marsala wine and you've got all the awesomesauce of tiramisu without any of the hard work.

I love the marbling in this bread and, happily, it's not difficult to achieve the effect. Just alternate spooning the two different flavors of batter (see recipe below) in the pan and then give it a little swirl with a skewer or a butter knife.

And because this tiramisu bread is only slightly sweet, it's just as good for breakfast as it is for dessert.

HA! Yes! The Ninj just gave you permission to eat cake for breakfast. Plus a chance to win a $500 gift card (be sure to enter by February 2nd).

Who loves ya, baby?!

Happy Valentine's Day. 

Tiramisu Bread

(adapted from Cuisine at Home)


Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
2 teaspoons instant coffee granules
1 tablespoon water
1 8-ounce package mascarpone cheese (I use Vermont Creamery brand)
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon white vinegar
1 1/2 ounces marsala wine

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In a separate, small bowl, whisk together the cocoa, coffee granules and water until well combined. Set both bowls aside.

Add the white vinegar to the milk and let stand for at least 5 minutes.

With a mixer, cream together the mascarpone and sugar until fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing after each, then mix in the vanilla. Alternately beat in the flour mixture and the milk, starting and ending with the flour, until just combined. Remove half the batter and place it in a separate bowl. Add the cocoa mixture to it and stir until thoroughly combined.

Into a prepared loaf pan, alternately spoon half of each flavor of batter (you'll end up with four sections in the pan -- a plain one next to a cocoa one next to a plain one next to a cocoa one -- get it?). Swirl a skewer or butter knife through the alternating section to create the marbling effect.

Bake for about 50 minutes or until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Using a skewer, poke a bunch of holes into the top of the bread and pour the marsala wine all over the top (it will soak into the holes). Cool the bread in the pan for 15 minutes, then unmold it and cool it completely on a wire rack.

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www.yankeekitchenninja.com
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Note: The giveaway will be open from Monday, January 27, 2014 at midnight EST until Sunday February 2nd, 2014 (at 11:59pm EST). You must be 18 years old to enter and you must live in the United States. One winner will receive a $500 Tiffany and Co. gift card. The giveaway is sponsored by the participating bloggers, not by Tiffany and Co.

Be sure to visit each of of the other sponsoring blogs for more delicious Valentine-themed recipes:

Ari's Menu  |  Around My Family Table  |  Cookie Monster Cooking  |  Country Cleaver  |  Crazy for Crust  |  Eat. Drink. Love.  |  Fabtastic Eats  |  Healthy Seasonal Recipes  |  Macaroni and Cheesecake  |  The Marvelous Misadventures of a Foodie  |  The Messy Baker  |  Peanut Butter and Peppers  |  The Wanderlust Kitchen