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My grandma used to make Orange Nut Bread every Christmas. I like to make it every year to think of her, and to use as a holiday food gift. The orange flavor and pecans are perfect paired with a nice cup of warm tea.
(Post modified on 11/30/23.)
My family has been baking this quick bread for many years now. As a young woman, it was one of the few baked items I made for the holidays. Much has changed since then, but I still like to return to this special recipe, if for no other reason than for nostalgia’s sake to remember my grandma.
Orange Nut Bread for Gifting
If you’d like to make some as a gift for your friends or family, you may either bake the batter in small or mini disposable pans or by using a mini loaf pan. Then once the bread has cooled completely, simply wrap it in plastic wrap, followed by tinfoil to keep it nice and fresh.
I like to use colored plastic wrap in green or red for Christmas.
You may also freeze the loaves ahead of time, allowing them to thaw before giving as gifts. Be sure to mark the outside of the tinfoil with the name of the bread, for your benefit as well as the gift recipient.
More Holiday Quick Bread Recipes to Try
Ingredients for this Recipe
(See the full recipe at the bottom of this post.)
- all-purpose flour
- granulated sugar
- orange zest
- baking powder
- salt
- orange juice
- whole milk
- vegetable oil
- large egg
- chopped pecans
Orange Glaze
- powdered sugar
- orange juice
Instructions for This Recipe
Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Gather your ingredients so that you have everything close at hand on the table or counter. Grease or spray 2 medium loaf pans or 4 mini loaf pans.
Grate the orange zest. Chop the pecans.
Using a large mixing bowl, whisk to combine the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, orange zest, baking powder, and salt.
Create a hole in the center and add to it the orange juice, whole milk, vegetable oil, and large egg. Mix on medium speed just until incorporated, 20-30 seconds. Fold in the chopped pecans.
Pour into prepared loaf pans. Bake in preheated oven 55-60 minutes until center of loaves are set and a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean.
Cool for 10 minutes, then remove from pans and finish cooling on a wire rack.
Prepare the Glaze
Make the glaze by whisking together the powdered sugar and orange juice in a small bowl until smooth. Drizzle glaze over warm loaves and sprinkle with colored sugar.
As an alternative to drizzling the glaze over the bread, sometimes I will quickly dip the tops of the bread into the glaze. This works well if you have a big enough bowl to put the glaze in.
This recipe will make 2 medium loaves or 4 mini loaves. Serve this quick sweet bread with hot tea or coffee for snacking or brunch.
See more Bread Ideas Here. View more Holiday Baking Ideas Here. Browse Quick Bread Recipes Here.
Orange Nut Bread
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 4 teaspoons orange zest grated
- 3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup orange juice
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup chopped pecans
Glaze
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 4-5 tablespoons orange juice.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Gather your ingredients so that you have everything close at hand on the table or counter. Grease or spray 2 medium loaf pans or 4 mini loaf pans. Grate the orange zest. Chop the pecans.
- Using a large mixing bowl, whisk to combine the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, orange zest, baking powder, and salt.
- Create a hole in the center and add to it the orange juice, whole milk, vegetable oil, and large egg. Mix on medium speed just until incorporated, 20-30 seconds. Fold in the chopped pecans.
- Pour into prepared loaf pans. Bake in preheated oven 55-60 minutes until center of loaves are set and a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes, then remove from pans and finish cooling on a wire rack.
Prepare the Glaze
- Make the glaze by whisking together the powdered sugar and orange juice in a small bowl until smooth. Drizzle glaze over warm loaves and sprinkle with colored sugar.
- Makes 2 medium loaves or 4 mini loaves.
