Vegan Orange Cranberry Bread: A Festive Holiday Quick Bread Without Oil
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- All-purpose flour or whole wheat pastry flour: 2 cups (240g)
- Baking powder: 2 teaspoons (10g)
- Baking soda: 1/2 teaspoon (2.5g)
- Ground cinnamon: 1/4 teaspoon (0.6g)
- Ground nutmeg: 1/8 teaspoon (0.3g)
- Ground cardamom: 1/8 teaspoon (0.3g)
- Ground cloves: 1/8 teaspoon (0.3g)
- Salt: 1/4 teaspoon (1.5g)
Wet Ingredients
- Unsweetened applesauce: 1/2 cup (120g)
- Orange juice: 1 cup (240ml)
- Organic cane sugar: 1/3 cup (67g)
- Vanilla extract: 1 teaspoon (5ml)
- Fresh cranberries: 1 cup (100g), plus extra for topping
- Orange zest: 1 tablespoon (6g)
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Prepare Oven and Pan: Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang for easy removal.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, cloves, and salt until well combined.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, mix applesauce, orange juice, cane sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Create Batter: Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients, stirring until just combined. Gently fold in cranberries and orange zest, being careful not to overmix.
- Bake: Transfer batter to prepared loaf pan. Arrange additional cranberries on top if desired. Bake for 50-55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool: Allow bread to cool completely in pan before removing and slicing.
Nutritional Information (per slice, based on 12 slices)
- Calories: 120
- Total Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 2g
- Sugar: 8g
Expert Tips and Tricks
- Measure flour accurately by spooning into measuring cups and leveling off with a knife.
- Use room temperature ingredients for better incorporation.
- Pulse cranberries briefly in a food processor for more even distribution throughout the bread.
- Test doneness with a wooden skewer; it should come out clean or with just a few moist crumbs.
Variations and Substitutions
- Replace cranberries with blueberries or raspberries
- Substitute whole wheat pastry flour for a nuttier flavor
- Use coconut sugar instead of cane sugar
- Add 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans for texture
- Include 1/4 cup dried cranberries for extra sweetness