One of my favorite holiday traditions is helping my grandma in the kitchen. My passion for baking and cooking runs deep, and I attribute that love to my grandma. For many years, I have had the pleasure to stand alongside my grandma and watch her prepare wonderful meals for family and friends. My grandma actually co-authored the cookbook, Just What the Doctor Ordered, has been on a number of local cooking shows, and has taught crowds of people how to cook. She is known for many great recipes, but one of my favorites is her bread. At the holidays every year, I look forward to tremendous amounts of her baked goods, but my all-time favorite is her poppy seed bread. This poppy seed bread recipe is straight out of her cookbook, and it never disappoints. As stated at the top of the recipe, this is our family’s favorite holiday bread, and it truly is great for gifts! Watching my grandma share her love for food has showed me that the best part is really about sharing and bringing everyone together. I am thrilled to be able to share this recipe with you, and I hope your friends and family enjoy this recipe as much as ours!

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Poppy Seed Loaf Delight

This is our favorite Christmas bread. Great for gifts!

tacky-sweater

Bread:

3 cups flour

2 ¼ cups sugar

1 ½ cups milk

1 1/8 cups vegetable oil

3 eggs

1 ½ tablespoons poppy seeds

1 ½ teaspoons salt

1 ½ teaspoons baking powder

1 ½ teaspoons vanilla

1 ½ teaspoons almond extract

1 ½ teaspoons butter flavoring

 

Glaze:

¾ cup sugar

¼ cup orange juice

½ teaspoon vanilla

½ teaspoon almond extract

½ teaspoon butter flavoring

 

Combine all of the ingredients for the bread and mix 1 to 2 minutes with electric mixer. Pour into 2 greased and floured 9×5-inch loaf pans. Bake 350 degrees for 1 hour. Let cool in pan about 5 minutes, then glaze. Mix all glaze ingredients well and pour over warm bread while still in pans.