Healthier Orange Bread

This healthier orange bread is a fragrant, summery treat that is so delicious but still wholesome. It is made with whole wheat flour and almond flour along with fresh orange juice. It’s perfect with a cup of tea and it’s not too sweet like most orange cakes. It’s a huge hit with my family and the orange flavor shines throughout. A bonus plus is that it makes your kitchen smell absolutely amazing!

Tips:

This recipe only uses 3/4 cup of orange juice so I like to just squeeze it on the spot but if you don’t want to do that, you can use fresh squeezed orange juice from the store.

It’s really important that you don’t overmix this batter so that the gluten doesn’t develop too much as this could lead to a tough bread.

After the bread is done baking, I like to poke some holes in the bread with a skewer and then pour some orange juice over the top to add even more moisture and flavor.

This bread is also designed to not be too sweet so I recommend topping it with a simple glaze if you want something a little sweeter.

Healthier Orange Bread

Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: 55 minutes Servings: 1 9×5 inch loaf

Ingredients

• 1 cup almond flour
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• Orange zest from one orange
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 2 eggs, room temperature
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup fresh orange juice
• 1/4 cup fresh orange juice, for pouring over
• For the glaze (optional):
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 375ºF. Line a 9×5 inch loaf pan with parchment paper or butter liberally.
2. In a medium mixing bowl, add the almond flour, whole wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk until well combined.
3. In a large bowl, add the melted butter, orange zest, and the granulated sugar. Using an electric beater, beat until well mixed. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. The mixture should be lighter in color. Then add the vanilla extract and greek yogurt and beat until well incorporated. Then add the orange juice and whisk until combined.
4. Pour the dry mixture into the wet mixture and stir gently until just mixed. Then pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake at 375ºF for 25 minutes. Then turn the temperature down to 350ºF and bake for another 30 minutes without opening the oven door. When done, an inserted tester should come out clean. Transfer the bread to a wire rack to finish cooling.
5. Poke the bread with a skewer to create some holes and pour over the 1/4 cup of orange juice slowly so that it absorbs into the bread.
6. For the optional glaze, mix the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract and drizzle over the bread once cooled.

Enjoy!