A unique, sweet, and zesty quick bread that couldn’t be easier! Blood orange, with its “raspberry-like” citrus notes makes the perfect addition to this wintery gluten-free & vegan quick bread!
November’s Theme – Creative Quick Breads: The holiday baking season is upon us. And this month we’re going way beyond grandma’s banana bread. From sweet to savory and whole-grain to gluten-free, show us your new quick bread creation fresh from the oven. And if you have a tip for wrapping and giving your lovely loaf, please share that too! (Recipe ReDux)
I hope you like to bake, or at least, my recipes are making you want to at least try to like it! I’ve always said on this blog, from the very beginning, that I was not a baker, but a cook. I scoffed at baking and the lack of creativity and freewill it allowed. But that is just silly and I apologize to mocking the art of baking. Baking is much more a black and white science, but it is one that I am growing to love o so much. You might have realized this after the influx of baked goods showing up here on Strength and Sunshine, and I hope you’re prepared for a lot more! This is the season of baking and I feel it’s my duty to uphold that (even though I want to post recipes of than baked goods).
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As it comes to be, you may imagine, being a gluten-free vegan baker takes a bit more gusto and determination than just a typical baker. But again, I feel it’s my duty and the mission of this blog to bring the best and tastiest recipes to the table and show you that gluten-free, vegan, allergen-friendly cooking and baking is not an impossible task to undertake. It’s rather fun, enlightening, and really great for stimulating the mind (and waking up those taste buds!). Even if you think you are by no means a “baker”, I want you to think again. It really isn’t all that hard. If you don’t feel confident enough (yet) to wing it on your own, following a tested recipe is a fine way to build that confidence and show you that baking isn’t so scary.
Baking has become my solus therapeutic activity as of late. If I’m feeling antsy, drained, and just plain blah, I usually have a list of recipes to test out that I look to and then get in the kitchen to do just that. Over the last few months, many of those recipe ideas have been of the baking variety. I’ve come to the kitchen with those blah feelings to conquer tasks I’ve always wanted to. From bagels to sourdough, focaccia to gnocchi (okay, that’s not baking), the confidence that these creations have given me, not only with my craft of cooking and baking, but with myself, is something I’m truly thankful for. It may sounds silly, but for this Thanksgiving, I think I would say this craft of baking is what I’m thankful for most in my life right now.
Realizing that baking could be just as creative and whimsical as cooking, is something I hold tight and treasure. Not only has it brought confidence and care-free therapy, but it has been wonderful to be able to share. The thoughts, emotions, passions, love, and creativity that I pour in are expressed through the recipe and then able to be shared and passed over to others besides just myself. I’m not very good at talking about my feelings or what’s on my mind. From my worries, anxieties, triumphs, even happiness, I’m not very good at explaining through spoken word. Sometimes writing is a way to get it all about, but lately that has been hard. That’s why pouring it all into my craft has been the only way for me to let things out.
And those things that get released are always beautiful. Just like the beauty of release in yoga, that is expressed through the movement of the body, the beauty in baking and cooking is expressed through the final product that’s produced. But if you want to take it further, you can see that the components, the ingredients, that go in to the recipe are simply a reflection of the feelings. You may choose dark and stormy ingredients and flavors or you may use something light and airy. The final product is the full expression and culmination of all those thoughts and feelings inside of you. No matter what comes out, however, it is beautiful and unique. It is a part of you, my dear friend, it is everything you can’t necessarily express in words, but rather show with your hands.
For me, on the day that this bread was baked, I was feeling bright and happy. It was a sunny lovely Sunday afternoon, and the urge to bake something whimsical struck hard. I had no one to share my feel good feelings with, so I poured them all into baking a blood orange quick bread. Blood sounds a bit morbid, but when you stop and look at the beauty of a blood orange, you see that is not the case. The rind can range from orange to maroon and red molted. When sliced, the beautiful deep red/maroon color captivates the eye. The color only comes from the low temperatures it encounters at night (the ideal winter fruit). Yes the taste is not the same as a typical orange. Its much more sweet, yet raspberry like, making it perfect for baking.
Blood Orange Quick Bread
- 1 Cup Sorghum Flour
- ½ Cup Quinoa Flakes
- ½ Cup Gluten-Free Oat Flour
- 1 Tsp Baking Powder
- ½ Cup Unsweetened Applesauce
- Juice & Membranes of 1 Large Blood Orange
- ½ Tsp Cinnamon
- ½ Tsp Ground Ginger
- ½ Tsp Pure Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Extract
- ½ Cup Ethrytol
- ½ Cup Unsweetened Non-Dairy Milk (I used Flax)
- 1 Tsp Psyllium Husk
- 2 Large Blood Orange Slices (for topping)
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the sorghum, quinoa flakes, out flour, and baking powder. Whisk together.
- Add the applesauce and blood orange juice next. For the orange, simply cut in half, squeeze in the juice and then take your fingers and scrap out the membranes into the bowl.
- Add in the rest of the ingredients and whisk everything completely together to form the bread batter.
- In a well greased (with coconut oil) 8x4 bread pan, pour in the batter and smooth it out evenly. Add two large blood orange slices to the top of the batter.
- Bake the bread for about 40 minutes. Remove and let cool completely.
- Serve warm, cold, or slice and freeze (easy to reheat in the microwave!)
A simple afternoon bread baking can be all the soul needs to feel alive again. It can help you work out and express feelings and wound up emotions, maybe you didn’t even know you had. It can be an expression of awareness of the feelings you are having. No matter, it will always be a fantastic gift to yourself and those whom you share it with. Baking and cooking may seem like a craft of solitude, but it extends beyond that once you share the creation that comes out of it. For me, it is one way I know I can express myself and for that, I am thankful.
Want more quick breads? Apple Pie Quick Bread – Grain-Free Butternut Squash Bread – Buckwheat Pumpkin Cornbread
So tell me:
+ How are you comfortable expressing emotions?
+ Who here is a fan of blood oranges? Me!
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My college roommate was obsessed with blood orange I’ll have to make this for her next time she visits!
I love them!
This looks fantastic! My kids have found a love for blood oranges so I know they would love this. I might even try it with some other citrus flavors to see what we like.
Of course any orange will work, but blood is so much more pretty!
Those orange slices on top are a great pop of color… Love it!
Haha, thank you! My favorite part 😉
So pretty with those orange slices on top.
Thanks!
This looks pretty good! Blood oranges are great (And I am a fan of quinoa and oats, too.) I wonder if a few small chunks of blood orange tucked into the bread loaf itself would work or not?
Well there are! That’s why to scrap out the membrane after squeezing the juice!
Hi Rebecca,
This sounds delicious and healthy. What a wonderful bread for anytime of the day.
Totally! Thank you!
You had me at blood orange. Something about their deep red hue that has me mesmerized. 😉
They are mesmerizing! Thank you Anya!
What a great recipe and thanks so much for sharing!
Thank you!
Frankly, I have never thought of blood orange into my baking list but hey..they look fantastic. Thanks for sharing it..
Give it a try! You’ll be amazed!
Looks Delicious!
Thanks!
This looks delicious! Pinned and Tweeted to share!
Have a lovely week!
~Laurie
Thanks Laurie!
Looks so delicious.And lovely pictures too…
Thank you Amila!
Mmmm this looks delicious, Rebecca!
Thank you Cathy!
This looks great. The oranges are so pretty.
Thanks!
Oh my goodness this is beautiful! I don’t think I’ve ever had anything like this, but it looks so good!
Well thank you so much!
I love blood organges and my hubby doesn’t eat gluten so this is perfect for me. Is it like banana bread (quite cakey) or more like bread bread?
Quick breads are like banana bread texture, not sandwich bread.
This looks so delicious! I prefer cooking myself, but I’m planning to get into baking soon too so I will have to give this one a go. Glad you’re enjoying your baking journey!
Baking complements the cooking rather well 😉
Yum – I love baking but shy away from bread. This looks delicious and easy
You could so do it!
Your passion for baking really comes across well in this post:) I love blood oranges and this bread sounds delicious
O Thank you!! I’m glad 🙂
This is so lovely! Blood oranges are so stunning, I love your photos and must try this quick bread!
They are a stunning fruit! Thanks Steph!
This looks delicious I must try it – thank you!
Thank you!
This looks lovely! Anything blood orange is on my must try list. Will make this soon!
Thank you so much Anna!
Who knew bread could be so pretty?
It just makes you feel extra cozy!
Looks easy, healthy, and yummy! Can’t beat that! Thanks for sharing 🙂
No you can’t! Thanks Chellie!
This looks so wonderful! I love blood orange! 🙂
Thanks Tara!
This looks lovely! I’ve been branching into gf baking, and it’s a challenge! I love the addition of the blood oranges, so nice this time of year.
Quick breads are an easy lace to start!
Blood oranges are just gerat, Rebecca! And to use them for a bread is just so creative. 🙂 This bred sounds so delicious! Yummy!
They worked beautifully! Thank you Sina! xoxo
AMAZING! You are always so creative, I am totally inspired now 🙂
Sorghum flour, quinoa flakes, blood orange…oh my goodness ♥︎
Just badass baking from my new addiction! Hahaha! Thank you Evi!
Yum, I love blood oranges. They’re so pretty too! Looks delicious! 🙂
Thank you Steph!
I love blood oranges, they’re so pretty. This sounds and looks like a wonderful quick bread, Rebecca. I’m putting it on my list of things to try. 🙂
I know!!! Haha! Thank you Linda! I hope you do make it 🙂
Love this quick bread! You make gluten-free baking look so easy 😀 and the blood orange slices are so pretty!
I do have problems hiding my emotions, my face is an open book to anyone. Hahaha.
Bianca, you would have no problems with gf baking! You create magic 😉
Well yea, people can tell by my face and sensitivity, but I don’t “like” to express or talk things out much 😛
You always come up with the most creative things! Love this Rebecca!
Thank you sweetheart!
Mmmm, looks and sounds delicious! I’m curious why you use ethrytol. I’d never heard of it before.
Thank you!
Just another great “no sugar” no chemical calorie free sugar sub I like instead of stevia!
I love, love, love Blood Orange anything. This looks so amazing!
Best,
Chrystal
They rock! Thank you so much dear!
My Husband loves blood oranges! Totally sharing this with him!
I hope you make it for him 😉
baking cures everything! in bread or muffin form is my preference. and blood orange –> GENIUS!
Exactly what I’ve come to believe 🙂 Thank you Lindsay!!
This is such a unique recipe! What a great idea, and I am thrilled with the opportunity for bread-making to be “quick”! Thank you.
Super simple and easy, but the results are amazing!
So pretty! Love quick breads and I love that you added blood oranges! I love to bake, almost too much, glad to hear you are now enjoying it!!
Haha, yes 😉 I think I’m starting to like it “too much” too! I and I don’t have many people to share it with!
This looks delish! Blood oranges are such an impressive look (and tasting!) fruit!
When it comes to expressing emotions, I’m fine with my family and close friends – but to everyone else I’m never anything but the happy smiley rainbows and glitter Kristy (hence why I’m called “the unicorn of the family” – because my family know that’s how I act around others) because I don’t want to bring anyone else down! But when I get home? Jesse gets the ugly cries hahahaha
They are!
Hahaha, well at least you do get everything out! And family is the right people to do it with, they always can handle it!
I love how healthy and beautiful blood oranges are. Great idea incorporating them into the bread!
One of the most beautiful citrus 😉
Oh my golly, I am such a fan of blood orange. The colour and the flavour are both so magnificent. I have never tried it in a bread before, but this looks sooooo tasty:)
The color is just so stunning to look at since each orange is different!
Blood oranges really are beautiful 🙂 I’ve never baked with them before though, in fact I think I’ve only tried it once or twice. Will see if I can find any in my local supermarket so I can try making this yummy looking loaf 😀
Yea girl, bake with them!!! You will become obsessed!
I only make quick breads! I don’t have enough room in my apartment to make real bread! When I was a kid, we did have a bread maker, and that was about as craaaazy as we got. Love the blood orange. One of the best things that I’ve ever had in my entire life was a blood orange donut. Still one of the most amazing tastes ever.
I have a bread maker, but I never use it 😛
When I post my sourdough recipe….I want you to try it 😉
Well now I need to make blood orange doughnuts!!!
First of all, these photos are amazing! And secondly, the recipe sounds SO DELICIOUS. I will definitely bookmark it and hopefully try it out soon. Thanks so much for sharing! x
I hope you do! Thank you Alina!
yum! delicious recipe! I love blood oranges 🙂
Thank you!
I love blood oranges – but sometimes we only get really really tart ones…which is a pity, because I love the sweet ones so much. I haven’t baked in a long while, I really want to now 😀
Well then get some oranges and bake away my dear!
I am still working on the gluten-free baking. It is just that little bit more complicated… This sounds yummy!!
Haha, also vegan 😉 Double whammy for me!
Such an interesting and unique recipe!
Thanks!
I simply adore blood oranges I haven’t seen them in the store yet this year though. I’m so exited to know they might be out soon. I’m in the same boat with baking lately. It’s such a comforting place to be mentally. Hope you continue to find joy in baking. Now is the best time of year!
They are out!!! It’s just the start of their lovely season 🙂
Yes it is! Thank you Sam!
I love the blood oranges on top! I don’t actually like the taste of blood oranges for eating, but to bake into bread they are just stunning! I made an upside down cake with them once and it was so pretty…but so hard to cut haha! It makes me happy that baking is making you so happy now 🙂 And it also makes me very happy that this recipe has so much oat flour in it. No offense buckwheat, but oat flour is my favorite <3
Why? They taste like oranges, just a tad sweeter???
And how are they hard to cut? You’re baffling me today!
Buckwheat is the quintessential true gluten-free flour 😉
I find they are usually less sweet usually, maybe I haven’t gotten really good ones. And the oranges aren’t hard to cut the cake was because it had oranges all over the top and I had to slice through them. Clearly I’m not making much sense today 😀 ha
It’s okay, it’s Monday 😛
I CAN NOT WAIT until blood oranges are back in stock in my part of the world. I can’t go a day without eating one when I can get them. So good!
I’ve been stocking up with each grocery run! They are fantastic!
I love to bake when I am feeling a bit blah myself, Rebecca! BTW – this loaf sounds wonderful – not sure why, but anything that has the word “orange” in it makes me instantly smile!
It’s just innate! Baking leads to happiness! And yea, so does orange…or yellow, and bright color!
What a great way to use blood oranges! I just bought a bread pan to make pumpkin bread and have been excited to try different recipes. Definitely pinning this for later 🙂 Thanks for sharing and Happy Thanksgiving!
You will have so much fun baking up quick breads!
Have a lovely holiday yourself!
I find things like baking, cooking, crafting, and coloring super therapeutic! I still need to try blood oranges, but I never see them around here. Hopefully I’ll encounter some when I’m home in a couple days!
Anything where you could get creative and express!
Yes! Look, because they are so good!
Blood oranges are the best. I have to give this bread a try. I think this would be perfect for the day after Thanksgiving!
I love them!
And yes it would! A perfect healthy brunch for those lingering guests too 😉
What does the psyllium husk ? Could I just skip it ? Or what could I use to replace it with ? Thanks for your delicious recipe 🙂
Psyllium is a “vegan egg” substitute! You can use a flax egg if you prefer.
thanks for the info. I can get by with this.
The blood orange is gorgeous! I do love baking, however it’s never quite as peaceful as I imagine it to be!
Well, maybe when you don’t have little ones running around 😉
it is the season for baking! Amazing how far gluten-free and vegan baking has come! And the addition of blood oranges? Fantastic (and such a bold flavour!)
It’s perfectly sweet and totally quick bread worthy for anyone to eat! Thanks dear!
Would never have thought of adding oranges to bread. Bet it is lovely
Yes and blood oranges are even better since they’re sweeter!
This bread looks so delicious!
Thank you!
I am a big fan of blood oranges and also quick breads. I’ve never combined the two but imagine the taste is fantastic. Love the orange slice decoration on top. Such a pretty presentation.
I wasn’t sure how the orange would be in the bread actually, but it was amazing! And thank you! Haha, I needed some way to make it “stand out” and show off those pretty blood orange colors!
i can;t get enough of quick breads! They are the most perfect snack, especially with a side of coffee! This looks delicious with blood oranges!
Girl, yes! They really make such a good breakfast or brunch if you can wait that long 😉
Um, I am a fan of blood oranges! Love love love them. I haven’t seen them at the market yet but when I do… oooh, I’ll be taking all of them home with me. This blood orange quick bread sounds delicious! xo
My grocery was loaded with them 2 weeks ago then they vanished…. Hoping they will be back this week!
I am in the same camp as you, identify so much more as a cook rather than a baker. But quick breads seem to be a bit more forgiving and allow for more creativity. This blood orange quick bread is beautiful!
One of the easiest things to bake for sure! But still beautiful and delish!
This bread is gorgeous!! I too, think baking is a great form of therapy. Still tackling the gluten-free baking thing over here!
It really is! The practice of that is all part of the fun 😉
Yay for blood oranges! <3 <3! That quick bread looks so darn good!!!
People think I have really "demonstrative facial expressions"–does that count? :O (I have no poker face to speak of.)
Aren’t they the best!?