How to Make Dry Nut Bread Moist

by Clare Bills

Overview

Nut bread is comfort food that appeals to nearly everyone. But when it is dry, for whatever reason, it takes on a chewy texture that is rarely pleasing. There are remedies that can help if you have over-baked your bread, left it out uncovered or forgotten to eat it within a few days. Nut breads should be served within a few days. According to the Joy of Cooking, they "wither young." So slice them while they're still warm and serve immediately.
Ideas to Refresh Dried-out Nut Bread

Step 1

Slice an apple and put the apple and the bread in an airtight container. Be sure the apple isn't touching the bread or the bread will turn soggy where they touch. This should draw the moisture out of the apple and inject it into the bread.
Step 2

Toast your dry nut bread and spread butter, cream cheese or jam on it. Serve while it's still warm and you won't notice that it was once dry.
Step 3

Place a cup of water in a microwave and heat it up for one minute. Leave the hot water in the microwave. Add a few slices of the dry nut bread on a paper towel in the microwave and warm for about 10 seconds. Warm longer if there are more than a few slices.

Preventing Nut Bread from Drying Out

Step 1

Add less flour to your nut bread recipe if the moisture in your home is low, as it is in cold climates during the winter. Eliminate only a few tablespoons.
Step 2

Increase the oil in the nut bread recipe by two tablespoons to help it stay moist. In place of the oil, you may add two to four tablespoons of applesauce for additional moisture.
Step 3

Add dried fruit, such as craisins, raisins, prunes or apricots to give your bread more moisture. You do not have to adjust the other ingredients. However, if you wish to add fresh fruit, such as bananas, you will need to decrease the amount of liquids, such as milk. In this case, finding a recipe made specifically for bananas is the best option.
Step 4

Decrease your oven's temperature by 25 degrees if you are baking in a glass bread pan. You may also put a single recipe of nut bread into an 8-by-8 inch pan so that the baking time can be cut nearly in half.
Step 5

Wrap your bread in foil after it has cooled and store it in the refrigerator. It is best used within a few days.

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Nut bread Apple slice Storage container Butter Cream cheese Jam or jelly Oil Applesauce Dried fruit Aluminum foil
Nut bread
Apple slice
Storage container
Butter
Cream cheese
Jam or jelly
Oil
Applesauce
Dried fruit
Aluminum foil
Remove your bread from the oven as soon as a toothpick inserted into the highest part comes out clean. Cut the baking powder or soda in the recipe by 1/4 if you live in a high altitude.
Remove your bread from the oven as soon as a toothpick inserted into the highest part comes out clean.
Cut the baking powder or soda in the recipe by 1/4 if you live in a high altitude.
Don't try to warm an entire loaf of nut bread in a microwave because it will make it very chewy.
Don't try to warm an entire loaf of nut bread in a microwave because it will make it very chewy.