I’m definitely one of those people who can’t always have a full breakfast before heading out in the morning–are you with me? These orange cardamom loaves are sweet and citrusy, just perfect for a strong cup of coffee on the go. Actually, it makes for a great dessert with a scoop of ice cream too. 😉

Aside from me being obsessed with citrus, the cardamom spice in these loaves brings such aromatic and floral flavors, which pair nicely. The smell in your kitchen as you’re making these loaves will put you in a happy place. There are so many reasons to make this recipe. To start, oranges are a good source of vitamin C. There are other nutrients that help lower cholesterol, fight infections, help protect your skin and boost your immune system, along with a ton of antioxidants. Oranges smell fresh, and have a calming quality too.

These loaves will have you wanting more than just one slice. My family loved it. The sweetness from the orange, the uniqueness from the cardamom, and the dense texture from the dough is just perfect. It holds up well to slicing, and won’t crumble all over the place. Let’s eat!

Here is the recipe:

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Servings: Varies (Makes two 8 in x 4 in loaves)

Note: I had one 8 in x 4 in loaf pan, and one 9 in x 5 in loaf pan. They worked well for this recipe.

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups of whole milk
• 1 cup of vegetable oil (I used canola)
• 3 large eggs
• 3 cups of all purpose flour
• 1 ½ tsp of baking powder
• ½ tsp ground cardamom
• 1 ½ tsp of vanilla extract
• 2 ½ cups of sugar
• 1 ½ tsp of salt
• 2 Tbsp of orange zest (for the loaf)
• 1 tsp of orange zest (for the glaze)
• ⅓ cup of fresh orange juice, strained (no pulp)
• 2 cups of confectioners sugar
• Non-stick cooking spray

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350° F.
2. Spray the loaf pans with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
3. In a medium size bowl sift together the flour, salt, and baking powder.
4. Now grab your electric stand or handheld mixer and combine the sugar, milk, oil, eggs, orange zest, vanilla, and cardamom. Mix together at medium low speed.
5. Slowly add in the flour mixture. Mix until all the ingredients are smooth and well combined.
6. Divide the mixture evenly into the loaf pans (about ¾  of the way).
7. Cover the pans loosely with aluminum foil.
8. Bake for 30 minutes.
9. After 30 minutes, check the middle of the loaf with a knife or toothpick. If it comes out clean, uncover the loaves and bake uncovered for 30 minutes. (If the knife/toothpick does not come out clean, bake covered for another 3-4 minutes)
10. Remove the pans from the oven. Allow them to cool for 10-15 minutes before removing the loaves.
11. Cool the loaves completely on a wire rack before pouring the glaze.

For the glaze:

1. In a small mixing bowl, combine the confectioners sugar, orange zest, and orange juice and stir until smooth. Drizzle the glaze immediately over the cooled loaves. Enjoy!