Welcome to this week’s edition of our AI Food Art and Recipe series, where we celebrate the rich culinary traditions of Manitoba and emphasize the importance of food security and digital literacy in the food sector. This week, we bring you a delightful recipe that pays homage to a beloved staple of Canadian cuisine—bannock. Imagine warm, golden-brown bannock, with a crisp, flaky exterior and a soft, airy interior, all while highlighting the importance of local ingredients and sustainable cooking practices.
Our featured dish is a mouthwatering twist on traditional bannock, infused with melted chocolate chips and adorned with fresh, vibrant berries. This rustic bread, with its imperfect yet charming surface, invites you to experience a taste of home and heritage. The contrast of sweet chocolate and juicy berries, paired with a steaming mug of tea, creates a cozy atmosphere perfect for gatherings or quiet moments by the fire. Join us as we explore this delectable recipe and capture the essence of warmth and nostalgia in your kitchen!
Recipe: Chocolate Chip and Berry Bannock
This delicious bannock recipe is sure to warm your heart and home. With its beautifully imperfect, golden-brown crust and fluffy interior, it’s a delightful treat that combines the rustic charm of traditional Canadian baking with the indulgence of chocolate and fresh berries. Perfect for enjoying on a chilly day, this bannock brings together the best of local flavors and the comforts of home.
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
- 1 cup fresh mixed berries (blueberries, raspberries, blackberries)
- Optional: extra butter for brushing
- Optional: powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Mix well to ensure all dry ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Using your fingers, rub the softened butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.
- Pour in the milk and mix gently with a wooden spoon until the dough comes together. Be careful not to overmix; it should be slightly sticky.
- Fold in the chocolate chips and half of the fresh berries, ensuring an even distribution throughout the dough.
- Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and gently knead it a few times until it forms a cohesive ball. Pat the dough into a round shape about 1 inch thick.
- Transfer the shaped dough onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- If desired, brush the warm bannock with melted butter and sprinkle with powdered sugar for an extra special touch.
- Let the bannock cool for a few minutes, then serve warm, topped with the remaining fresh berries. Enjoy with a steaming mug of tea for the ultimate cozy experience!
This chocolate chip and berry bannock is not just a meal; it’s an experience that invites you to embrace the warmth of home cooking and the joy of sharing. We encourage you to try this recipe, capture the beauty of your creation, and recreate the inviting image that showcases the rich textures and flavors of this beloved Canadian dish. Happy baking!
Prompt Engineering: How You Can Make This Image:
Here’s the prompt we used to create the image:
Capture the warmth and texture of traditional Canadian bannock, a golden, rustic bread with a crisp, flaky exterior and a soft, airy interior. Highlight its rich, golden-brown surface, slightly uneven and beautifully imperfect, showcasing its homemade authenticity. Incorporate melted chocolate chips oozing from the warm folds of the bannock, their dark richness glistening under soft natural light. Scatter fresh berries—plump blueberries, deep red raspberries, and vibrant blackberries—on the plate and in the background, creating a sense of abundance and rustic charm. Use a weathered wooden cutting board as the backdrop to emphasize the bannock’s traditional roots. Capture close-up shots of a torn piece, revealing the fluffy interior studded with melted chocolate and juicy berries. Include a steaming mug of tea beside the plate, with a blurred background of a cozy cabin setting. Use natural, diffused lighting from a nearby window to highlight the textures and shadows, evoking warmth and nostalgia. Experiment with a 50mm lens at f/2.8 to ensure well-defined textures. Present the scene from a slight angle, focusing on the inviting layers and details of the bannock, inviting the viewer to experience the rich flavors and heritage of Canadian bannock.
About Our 2025 Winter Program
Welcome to our Come Eat With Me Manitoba Recipe Series, where every week we whip up a brand-new recipe and image inspired by Manitoba’s amazing culinary scene. It’s not just about creating mouth-watering food images—it’s about exploring the world of sustainable agriculture, and discovering how digital tools are changing the way we think about food security and creative entrepreneurship. With AI tools as our creative sidekick, artists craft beautiful food visuals while learning the ins and outs of design, digital media, and food product development!
Each week, we’re not just building skills in creative problem-solving and technology—we’re pushing boundaries, experimenting with new ideas, and having fun with the process. So, join us each week to learn, create, and explore how technology and food can mix to shape a deliciously creative future!. This program was funded by the OpenAI Researcher Access Program and we thank them for their support in making our activities possible.
