Orange, Date and Nut Loaf
A tasty quickbread for lunch, afternoon tea, or just a nutritious treat! Low in fat and refined sugar, full of fruit and nut goodness, it is guiltless pleasure!
| Servings | Prep Time |
| 1large loaf | 20minutes |
| Cook Time |
| 45 minutes |
|
|
Ingredients
- 1 1/2cups flour
- 1/2cup almond flourIf you don’t have this, just increase regular flour to 2 cups.
- 1teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4teaspoon allspice
- 1/4teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/2teaspoon salt
- 1 finely grated rind and juice of one orange
- 1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauceor Applepear Sauce!
- 1 teaspoon real vanilla extract
- 1/2teaspoon almond flavouring
- 1/3cup vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2cup chopped dates
- 1/2cup roasted almondsroughly chopped
- 1cup dried cranberries or “craisins”I like to freshen these up by pouring boiling water over them and letting them sit for a few minutes. Pat dry before using.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare a 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 inch loaf pan, or two small loaf pans, by spraying lightly or greasing.
- SIft together the flours, the baking soda, the salt, and the spices into a large bowl.
- In another bowl, stir together the orange juice and rind, applesauce, flavourings, oil, and brown sugar .
- Gently stir the wet ingredients into the dry until just combined.
- Fold the fruit and nuts into the batter until evenly distributed.
- Spoon into your prepared pan(s). I like using two small loaf pans, as they cook faster and more evenly.
- Sprinkle with a little coarse sugar rubbed with some orange rind.
- Bake for 45 minutes in the large loaf pan or 30 minutes in the smaller pans. Test for “doneness” with a skewer. If it comes out clean (no uncooked batter stuck to it) then it is done!
- Cool in the pan for a few minutes and then put out on a wire rack to cool. This slices much better when it is cool. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
This bread is great fresh, but it also toasts up so well, as it makes the nuts all roasty flavoured again!
