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Healthy blood orange yogurt loaf naturally sweetened with maple syrup, fresh orange juice, and topped with a sweet blood orange glaze. This delicious, healthy yogurt bread is dairy-free with a gluten-free option.

Glazed blood orange yogurt loaf; healthy yogurt loaf dairy-free, gluten-free.

This healthy blood orange yogurt loaf is perfectly moist and bursting with zesty citrus flavor. While it’s naturally sweetened with maple syrup and fresh squeezed orange juice, it’s made a little extra indulgent with a blood orange glaze. I love enjoying a slice with a cup of coffee or tea for a sweet afternoon treat or lighter dessert.

I wanted to make a loaf cake that was slightly healthier and not overly sweet. I’ve tested a version using cane sugar, monk fruit, and maple syrup. I much preferred the maple syrup sweetened for the added moisture. But all of the sweeteners worked great. Keep in mind this bread isn’t as sweet as your traditional loaf cake. The glaze adds an extra layer of sweetness that makes the bread taste extra indulgent.

Glazed blood orange yogurt loaf; healthy yogurt loaf dairy-free, gluten-free.

Blood Orange Yogurt Loaf INGREDIENTS

These are the main ingredients you need to make this glazed blood orange yogurt loaf. Keep in mind that these substituting these ingredients may result in a slightly different taste or texture.

  • White spelt flour or gluten-free flour blend: To keep the loaf light and cakey, I opted for white spelt flour or a gluten-free flour blend with xanthan gum. These flours work wonderfully. If you can’t get your hands on white spelt flour and don’t need a gluten-free bread, regular all purpose flour or whole wheat pastry flour should work just fine.
  • Avocado oil or coconut oil: These are my favorite baking oils for their neutral flavor. These healthy fats add moisture and a tender crumb. If using coconut oil I recommend refined coconut oil and make sure it’s melted!
  • Maple syrup: Adds a touch of natural sweetness. This bread isn’t super sweet so it offsets the sweetness of the glaze perfectly. Keep in mind, your loaf won’t be as sweet if you don’t add the glaze.
  • Eggs: Two eggs are used in this recipe for a cake-like texture. I haven’t tried flax eggs but this could work for a vegan, egg-free option.
  • Fresh orange juice and zest: fresh oranges provide the main flavor in this loaf. Make sure you use freshly squeezed orange juice and zest for the brightest flavor. I love Cara Cara oranges for flavoring the bread and blood oranges for the glaze. You can use blood orange juice in both!
  • Almond milk: This adds moisture while also keeping the loaf dairy-free. You can easily substitute any plant-based milk of choice.

Glazed blood orange yogurt loaf; healthy yogurt loaf dairy-free, gluten-free.

HOW TO MAKE THIS Glazed Blood Orange Yogurt BREAD:

Quick breads are incredibly easy to make. There are just a few simple steps to make this blood orange yogurt loaf.

    • Mix the ingredients: You’ll start by mixing the dry and wet ingredients separately. Then pour the wet ingredients into the dry and fold stir until just combined.
    • Bake: Pour the batter into a parchment-lined or lightly greased 8×4 or 9×5 loaf pan. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. If using a 9×5 loaf tin, your bread may take slightly less time.
    • Glaze: Let the bread cool completely before adding the glaze. This is important Mix the powdered monk fruit (lower sugar option) or powdered sugar, blood orange juice, and almond milk in a small bowl. Pour the glaze on to the loaf and spread out slightly so it covers the top and just slightly runs down the sides.

Glazed blood orange yogurt loaf; healthy yogurt loaf dairy-free, gluten-free.WHAT MAKES THIS Orange BREAD HEALTHIER?

This recipe is a healthier version of a classic dessert bread or loaf cake with glaze. Here what makes it healthier:

Naturally sweetened: Maple syrup adds a touch of natural sweetness to the loaf. The bread isn’t overall sweet so keep this in mind if you forgo the glaze. Powdered monk fruit is a natural, low-glycemic sweetener that adds sweetness without spiking blood sugar.

Lower sugar: Most loaf cakes or even quick bread can have 30 grams or more of sugar. Using powdered monk fruit for the glaze keeps the sugar content low while still tasting indulgent. One slice of this orange yogurt bread only contains 11 grams of sugar. Which is pretty good for a dessert bread!

Flour options – I typically bake with whole grain flours like sprouted spelt or oat, or grain-free options like almond or coconut. To keep this bread light and cakey, I use white spelt flour or a gluten-free all-purpose blend. I love baking with spelt flour. It has lower gluten content which makes it easier to tolerate for some people who are more sensitive to gluten. So is it really healthier than wheat flour? Not unless you’re sensitive.

Also, keep in mind that all-purpose gluten-free blends are similar to white all-purpose flour. This doesn’t make them unhealthy but they’re typically lacking fiber and less nutritious than a whole grain flour.

Glazed blood orange yogurt loaf; healthy yogurt loaf dairy-free, gluten-free.

OTHER HEALTHIER BREAD RECIPES

If you make this healthy blood orange yogurt loaf, be sure to leave a comment and rate the recipe below. I’d love to hear from you and it encourages others to make the recipe too.

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Blood Orange Yogurt Loaf

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  • Author: Jessica Bippen
  • Prep Time: 10 min
  • Cook Time: 45 min
  • Total Time: 55 minutes
  • Yield: 10 slices 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups (240 grams) white spelt flour or gluten-free 1:1 flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup fresh squeezed Cara Cara or Blood orange juice (about 2–3 oranges)
  • zest from 2 medium Cara Cara or Blood oranges
  • ⅓ cup maple syrup
  • ¼ cup avocado oil
  • 2 large eggs
  • ¾ cups dairy-free greek yogurt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon almond extract

Blood Orange Glaze

  • 1 cup (120g) powdered sugar or powdered monk fruit
  • 2–3 tablespoons Blood orange juice

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350F. Line an 8×4 inch pan with parchment paper or spray with nonstick cooking spray.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, maple syrup, avocado oil, yogurt, orange juice, and orange zest until smooth. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix until just combined.

Pour batter into prepared pan and spread out evenly. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack before glazing.

For the glaze: Mix together powdered sugar or powdered monk fruit, blood orange juice, almond extract and salt until smooth. You may need to add in more orange juice to thin out the glaze if using monk fruit. Keep in mind, you want a thicker glaze but still pourable. Pour over the top of the loaf and spread towards the sides. Let the glaze firm up slightly before slicing.

Store the bread in an airtight container in the fridge for 5 days. The bread can be frozen for 3 months but I recommend freezing without the glaze.

Notes

Spelt flour: sub white whole wheat or whole wheat pastry flour. Using a whole spelt or whole wheat flour may require slightly more liquid.

Maple Syrup: This loaf is slightly sweet. If you want a sweeter bread, use ½ cup maple syrup instead of ⅓ cup. This is especially necessary if you aren’t using the glaze.

Make into muffins: Most quick breads can be made into muffins. Simply, pour the batter into a greased or lined muffin tin and bake for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the center.

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?

I’d love to hear how it turned out for you! Leave a comment below and share a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #nourishedbynutriton.