Orange You Going to Make this Bread?

If you don't have a big sweet tooth, I'm going to apologize in advance because things are about to get pretty sugary here for the next couple of weeks ahead of the holidays. First up: Cranberry Orange Bread with Whisky Glaze.

I associate the holidays with sugar cookies, gingerbread animals, fluffy scones, traditional Polish cakes, etc. This is partly because I adore desserts and would eat them non-stop if that weren't frowned upon by polite company and medical professionals, but it's also due to the fact that baking, especially around the holidays, feels so communal. This bread is a perfect example! The scents of cranberries and orange will make your kitchen smell warm and cozy, and the recipe is super simple so it's easy to make together with a friend or while chatting with family.

Obviously the eating part of the process is also very much a group activity. You can whip this easy bread up for a holiday brunch, or take it to your office party, or serve with tea after an evening with friends. Don't skimp on the whisky glaze!

Cranberry Orange Bread with Whisky Glaze
Adapted from Doron Petersan's Sticky Fingers' Sweets

Makes 1 loaf

1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons Earth Balance
1/2 cup almond milk
2 tablespoons orange juice
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/3 cup and 1 teaspooon coconut oil
2 tablespoons water
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 1/4 cups flour
3/4 cup fresh cranberries

2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup orange juice
1 tablespoon whisky

Preheat your oven to 350 F and line a bread pan with aluminum foil. In a medium bowl, use a mixer to cream the granulated sugar, brown sugar, and Earth Balance. Then, in a separate small bowl, whisk together the almond milk, orange juice, vanilla, and 1/3 cup coconut oil. Pour this delicious-smelling mixture into the butter-sugar bowl and mix again until it's more or less combined. It's going to look a little gross, but don't worry!

Told you so. 

In a cup or yet another small bowl, combine the remaining 1 teaspoon coconut oil with 2 teaspoons baking powder and the water. Whisk it up really well - this is your egg substitute! Pour it into your batter and give it another whirl with the mixer.

In a large bowl, mix up the remaining 1 teaspoon baking powder with the cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, salt, and 2 cups of the flour. Add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients and mix only until everything is blended together. Leave some lumps! Don't overmix!

Nice and lumpy. 

Chop up those cranberries - make sure they bounce first! Dump these suckers into a small bowl with the remaining 1/4 cup flour and stir to coat. I have no idea why and for once in my life the Google didn't yield any useful answers. Anyone know what the point of this is? Anyway.

Flour berries!

Once the berries are nice and floury, fold them into your batter then pour the whole mess into your bread pan. Bake for 40 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean when you poke it into the loaf. Wait until your creation is totally cool, then make your whisky glaze - just whisk the powdered sugar, orange juice, and whisky together until smooth - and drizzle it generously over your bread. Slice, serve, and enjoy!