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Apricot Cherry Holiday Fruit Bread

rpic_20170417154704_lg

Prep Time: 00:30

Bake Time: 00:45

Total Time: 01:15

Yield: Makes one medium-sized loaf, 14 or 15 slices.

rpic_20170417154704_lg

This bread has a lovely, fruity flavor and festive color, yet is not overly rich. It is not too sweet either, so the powdered sugar glaze not only adds eye appeal but complements the taste. While it is perfect for the holidays, I find it is well received any time of year, especially served at a brunch or breakfast buffet or as a snack with tea. Though the ingredient list looks a little long, the mixing procedure is very simple and quick.

Tip: I prefer dried sweetened cherries in this recipe, but cranberries will work fine if that’s what you have on hand. I also like almond extract, but in a pinch lemon extract can be substituted with good results.

Ingredients

1/3 cup canola oil, corn oil or other flavorless low-saturated-fat vegetable oil
1 large egg
1/2 cup clover honey or other mild honey
3/4 tsp almond extract (or substitute 1 tsp lemon extract)
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 tsp grated orange zest
2 1/3 cups all-purpose white flour
3/4 cup chopped almonds, or pistachios, or a combination, optional
2 1/4 tsp Davis Baking Powder
Glaze:
3/4 cup coarsely chopped dried apricots
1/4 tsp Clabber Girl Baking Soda
1 cup powdered sugar, sifted after measuring if lumpy
1/3 cup orange juice combined with 1/2 cup water
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp fresh lemon juice combined with a generous 2 tsp water
3/4 cup chopped dried sweetened cherries (if unavailable, substitute dried sweetened cranberries)
8 oz carton (or scant 1 cup) nonfat or low-fat lemon or vanilla yogurt

Directions

Place a rack in the middle third of the oven and preheat to 350 F. Generously coat a 8- by 4-inch (or similar large) loaf pan with nonstick spray. In a large saucepan combine the apricots and orange juice mixture over medium heat. Bring to simmer and cook, stirring for 3 minutes. Stir in the cherries, oil, honey and sugar until well blended; set aside until cool. In a large bowl, thoroughly stir together the flour, Davis Baking Powder, baking soda, and salt. Vigorously stir the yogurt, then the egg and extract into the apricot mixture until very well blended. Gently stir the apricot mixture and the nuts (if using) into the flour mixture just until thoroughly incorporated but not over-mixed; excess mixing can cause toughening. Immediately turn out the batter into the pan, spreading evenly to the edges. Bake on the middle oven rack for 35 to 45 minutes or until well browned and a toothpick inserted in a center comes out clean. It’s normal for the top to crack. Let the pan stand on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Run a table knife around the pan and under the loaf edge to loosen it. Then remove from the pan and place on a rack set over a sheet of wax paper. For the glaze: Stir together the powdered sugar and lemon juice-water mixture until blended and smooth. The glaze should be fluid enough to drizzle, but not so thin it will all runs off the bread, so adjust the consistency with a little more powdered sugar or water if necessary. Drizzle the glaze over the cooled loaf top, allowing it drip attractively down the sides. Any glaze that drips onto the paper can be scraped from the paper and reapplied to the top again, if desired. Let the glaze firm and the loaf cool completely before wrapping airtight. It keeps airtight at room temperature a day or so and can be frozen up to a month for longer storage.

Apricot Cherry Holiday Fruit Bread

rpic_20170417154704_lg

Prep Time: 00:30

Cook Time: 00:45

Total Time: 01:15

Yield: Makes one medium-sized loaf, 14 or 15 slices.

Ingredients

1/3 cup canola oil, corn oil or other flavorless low-saturated-fat vegetable oil
1 large egg
1/2 cup clover honey or other mild honey
3/4 tsp almond extract (or substitute 1 tsp lemon extract)
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 tsp grated orange zest
2 1/3 cups all-purpose white flour
3/4 cup chopped almonds, or pistachios, or a combination, optional
2 1/4 tsp Davis Baking Powder
Glaze:
3/4 cup coarsely chopped dried apricots
1/4 tsp Clabber Girl Baking Soda
1 cup powdered sugar, sifted after measuring if lumpy
1/3 cup orange juice combined with 1/2 cup water
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp fresh lemon juice combined with a generous 2 tsp water
3/4 cup chopped dried sweetened cherries (if unavailable, substitute dried sweetened cranberries)
8 oz carton (or scant 1 cup) nonfat or low-fat lemon or vanilla yogurt

Directions

Place a rack in the middle third of the oven and preheat to 350 F. Generously coat a 8- by 4-inch (or similar large) loaf pan with nonstick spray. In a large saucepan combine the apricots and orange juice mixture over medium heat. Bring to simmer and cook, stirring for 3 minutes. Stir in the cherries, oil, honey and sugar until well blended; set aside until cool. In a large bowl, thoroughly stir together the flour, Davis Baking Powder, baking soda, and salt. Vigorously stir the yogurt, then the egg and extract into the apricot mixture until very well blended. Gently stir the apricot mixture and the nuts (if using) into the flour mixture just until thoroughly incorporated but not over-mixed; excess mixing can cause toughening. Immediately turn out the batter into the pan, spreading evenly to the edges. Bake on the middle oven rack for 35 to 45 minutes or until well browned and a toothpick inserted in a center comes out clean. It’s normal for the top to crack. Let the pan stand on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Run a table knife around the pan and under the loaf edge to loosen it. Then remove from the pan and place on a rack set over a sheet of wax paper. For the glaze: Stir together the powdered sugar and lemon juice-water mixture until blended and smooth. The glaze should be fluid enough to drizzle, but not so thin it will all runs off the bread, so adjust the consistency with a little more powdered sugar or water if necessary. Drizzle the glaze over the cooled loaf top, allowing it drip attractively down the sides. Any glaze that drips onto the paper can be scraped from the paper and reapplied to the top again, if desired. Let the glaze firm and the loaf cool completely before wrapping airtight. It keeps airtight at room temperature a day or so and can be frozen up to a month for longer storage.