This isn’t the type of recipe I would normally choose to make.
Lots of steps. Sort of odd-ball ingredients. Lots of chopping.
But…I thought the ingredients were interesting and I wanted something special to give as gifts to a few friends.
Something I made…that came from my kitchen.
Seriously…these little loaves were worth every last minute they took to make.
They are chuck full of taste and texture. The fresh orange peel adds a brightness that is unbelievable. I think I’m going to start adding a little fresh fruit peel to all my bread and muffin recipes.
The best part was the way my kitchen smelled when I was grating the orange peel.
Mmmmmmmm.
I made just a few tweaks to the recipe. It was featured in the November 2012 Better Homes and Gardens.
I added a little more orange juice to the glaze and didn’t use any nuts. Here is my printable version.
- 2 c. all purpose flour
- 1½ t. cinnamon
- ½ t. baking soda
- ½ t. baking powder
- ⅓ c. butter softened
- ½ c. brown sugar
- ½ c. white sugar
- 1 c. whole milk ricotta cheese
- 1 egg
- 1 T. finely shredded fresh orange peel
- 1 T. fresh orange juice
- ½ t. vanilla
- 1½ c. fresh cranberries, coarsely chopped
- 2 T. finely chopped crystallized ginger
- 1 recipe Orange Glaze (below)
- ½ c. walnuts or pecans toasted and chopped
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Grease 15 muffin cups. (I made mini loaves and got 8.)
- In a bowl combine flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder and a pinch of salt.
- In a mixing bowl with an electric mixer beat butter and sugars until fluffy.
- Beat in ricotta, egg, orange peel, orange juice and vanilla.
- Stir in flour mixture just until combined.
- Fold in cranberries and ginger.
- Fill prepared muffin cups or loaf pans ⅔ full.
- Bake 20-25 min. until toothpick inserted near center comes out clean.
- Cool in pan 5 min.
- Remove; cool slightly.
- Spoon on glaze. Sprinkle with nuts and additional orange peel if desired.
- Orange Glaze: Combine 1 c. powdered sugar, 2 T. orange juice and ½ t. vanilla. Stir in 2 T. melted butter and 1 t. shredded orange peel.
I will definitely be making these loaves again next week for gifts. From start to finish they took about an hour.
Please don’t forget to join Yvonne at StoneGable tomorrow night (12-13) for the finale of our Homespun Christmas Link Party. She is hosting recipes and tablescapes. See you there!
I will be announcing the winner of the Linkel Designs giveaway tomorrow.
There is still time to enter…click the graphic to go to my giveaway post.
This post is partying here…
They look delish, Ann! Adding to my recipes to try! Thanks for sharing.
Ann,
Your style, your taste and your cooking are just so classy and inviting.
Thanks for always inspiring me. I enjoy your blog very much.
Now I am going to got try this delicious recipe!!
They look wonderful! Yummy!
Oh, how gorgeous! And I totally agree about the orange peel! I add it to my cinnamon raisin flax muffins and it really brings out and enhances the flavor!
And you photos are BEAUTIFUL, Ann!
Thank you so much for sharing at the Heirloom Party! I can see how these bad boys could easily become a holiday must-have!!!
These are beautiful. I bet your friends are going to LOVE ‘em. PS: the way you styled them is gorgeous!
I have loved every one of your recipes that I’ve tried. This one looks like a keeper too. Will be trying it soon. Thanks for sharing. Love your blog.
My mouth is already watering … wonder which one of my friends I can get to make me this? :)
Yum Ann! Looks delicious. Plus, your blog is so pretty it always makes me happy to stop by :) Thanks for sharing at the party too! Pinning this to try this Christmas!
Looks delicious, Ann. Beautifully presented!!
Very pretty display of the coffee cake. Love the look:)
That sure does look good.
Beautiful photos of a lovely delicious bread! Yum!
They look amazingly delicious !
YUMMY! Can’t wait to try this out on my teaching staff!! Thanks for sharing this delicious dish!
1 – I couldn’t pick a picture for Pinterest they are all SO gorgeous! 2 – these look amaaaaaazing!!
These little breads look delicious Ann. Great photos too!
Hi Ann, I’ve loved all the recipes of yours that I’ve tried too! Thanks so much.
Ann, if your fabulous photos didn’t entice me to make this, your list of ingredients would! I may be a little weird, but I can eat plain ricotta cheese. So it must be really good in this bread along with the crystallized ginger. Definitely pinning this so that I can make some for neighbors!
Oh they look good and lovely. I bought one of these tins for baking up these types of little gems so I am glad to add this to my recipe collection. thanks so much Ann.
YUM! The pics are so lovely they look like they came out of a magazine! Makes me want to reach through my screen and grab some!
That does sound and look delicious!
Ann – did I tell you how absolutely gorgeous these photos are? I think I did, but in case I didn’t WOW – beautiful!
They look so delicious! Your photos are amazing!
I LOVE the combination of fresh cranberries and oranges. I’ll definitely give this a try!
I saw the DIY Village share your photo on FB and I HAD to come over to see more! Ann your photos are gorgeous! I love cranberry orange bread. I’m sure your kitchen smelled divine! ( I pinned it too! )
looks so pretty, and doesn’t sound too hard…i’m going to pin it for making on a slow day…ha ha, when will that be?
they look delicious Ann and I will try them. your photographs are great as well! elaine
Love the addition of ricotta cheese. I am very intrigued. It is not something I would have thought to add. I will have to make your gorgeous coffee cakes. Would LOVE for you to share on Thursdays Treasures http://fooddonelight.com/thursdays-treasures-week-64/
If I can get some ricotta cheese, I want to make some of those for my friends and neighbours. Thank you for the recipe, and your photos are lovely.
Hugs, cindy
I love your smaller cake pans. Perfect for giving and for small households.
Fondly,
Glenda
Thanks Ann for linking up to the Holiday Heirloom Recipe Linky Party! This coffee cake recipe looks so delish – I love the mini loaves! Perfect for gift giving/hostess gift too!
I’m featuring your recipe tomorrow in my Linky Party Features Post! Have a great day :D
These look so yummy. Orange and berry is one of my favorite flavors of muffins so I’ll have to give these a try.
Hi Ann! I featured your delish recipe here today! Thanks so much for sharing! http://www.settingforfour.com/2012/12/featuresholiday-heirloom-recipe.html
These look delish!!! I love the cranberry-orange flavor combo. I have some muffins like this that I looove. thanks so much for linking up to the Homemade Christmas party!
Orange and Cranberry are two of my favoritest flavors! These look yummy AND pretty :) Thanks for sharing at the Homespun Christmas party, I love them :)
~April
Hi Ann! I’m featuring your Berry Orange Coffee Cake today as one of my favorites from the Heirloom Recipe linky party! Thanks for linking it up!
Thanks for sharing such a delicious sounding recipe!