After the mild days for this time of year, we have been smacked down with a blistering cold.
I hate being cold.
I was born in January, yet it's the worst time of year in my opinion. Go figure!
There is one thing I like about Winter. The only thing I look forward to when it's 20 degrees outside.
It's my afternoon tea. I love my steaming hot cup of tea! My favorite flavor is peppermint but a traditional black one with a slice of lemon will make me happy too. 🙂
I do start with coffee every morning, despite the season, but every Winter afternoon - I have tea.
I wanted to make a sweet bread that would go well with my tea. Aaaaaand because it's January, and we are supposed to have healthy food ( who said that? ), or at least healthier, I came up with this combo: carrots, orange and of course cranberries. ( Didn't you know I still have 5 bags of cranberries in my freezer? ).
To really get the orange flavor through, I grated zest from two oranges. It was perfect!
Knowing that I could ( and probably will ) inhale a whole loaf myself, I decided to make a double recipe - for two loafs. Hey, you can always share with your neighbors! 🙂 Right?
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Anyhow, if you enjoy an afternoon with a cup of something hot ( be it tea or coffee ), you need this bread to go with it. Trust me, you do.
Cranberry Orange and Carrot Bread
makes 2 loafs
3 ½ c all-purpose flour
2 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 ½ c grated carrots
zest of 2 oranges
1 cup of frozen cranberries ( cut big ones in half )
1 c sugar
4 eggs, slightly beaten
½ c canola oil
¼ c milk
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Grease your loaf pans with shortening or spray with cooking spray.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk dry ingredients together ( flour, baking powder, soda, salt and cinnamon ).
In a medium mixing bowl, combine the rest of ingredients and mix by hand using wooden spoon or spatula.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix gently, do not over mix.
Divide batter among your prepared pans. Bake 50 to 55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cool for few minutes in a pan and then invert onto a cutting board. Cool completely before cutting.
Do you have a favorite tea flavor?
What do you like to have with your tea?
Please, feel free to share!
Tina says
I am wanting to try the orange/cranberry/carrot blend here-yum! Getting fruit and veggies in one slice is something that is always welcome but not too easily found. Delicious and unique post!
Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
Exactly! I got to bake something and felt good about it since it had veggie in it 🙂 Thank you, Tina!
Mother Rimmy says
Lovely bread. I haven an abundance of oranges waiting for me to do something with them. This looks like a good way to make a dent.
Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
That was my motivation for making this bread 🙂 Thank you!
Zoe says
I hate the cold weather too! I was from the sunny Singapore before migrating to Australia...and now I complained about the cold weather and I think I'm asking for too much :p Now, I hate being upside down...being in Australia, I can't relate our current season to everyone who are mostly opposite of us...LOL
I love your cranberry bread. Cranberry and orange is always my fav combination.
Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
Dear Zoe! Just the other day I saw photos of Australians enjoying their time on the beach Down Under 🙂 I miss Summer! Thank you for your comment! Hugs!
SerenaB says
I love afternoon tea too! I love this bread it looks delish! I wish you lived closer so we could get together and have a afternoon cup of tea and a piece of your bread! Have a wonderful week!
Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
Dearest Serena! This sounds wonderful! We should make a virtual cup of tea afternoon 🙂 Hugs!
Eftychia says
It is raining now in Cyprus. I think your bread would be perfect now with a cup of tea...!
Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
I am glad you like it! Thank you!
Baking Serendipity says
I also hate being cold! I live in Phoenix now, and while I'm lucky to have warm winters, I think my definition of cold has changed, and now mornings in the upper 30's have me freezing! I could definitely go for a cup of tea and a slice of this bread then. I love the cranberry orange combination, but the addition of carrot is something I wouldn't have thought of...definitely a health food addition! PS: I have a giveaway going on now that I think you might be in to!
Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
You don't even know how I envy you living in AZ! Warm Winters.... Oh yes! Thank you for stopping by!
Vicki Bensinger says
Thank you for paying me a visit. I love tea. My favorites are Tzso mint and Aveda's tea. It's so soothing and comforting - its my new favorite.
I have my tea with almost anything but love it with my Jammie's and socks on all curled up on the sofa either watching tv or reading a book. Although I think I'd enjoy it with your cranberry orange bread as well.
Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
That sounds soooo good! Thank you Vicki!
Pam says
I so agree with you about winter and your bread is perfect for afternoon tea! It's 15 degrees here now and how I'd love a slice of this bread. Yum! The color of it is great and it's bookmarked. I'm new here and so glad to follow your blog! I'll be looking around at all your goodies now. Thanks!
Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
Dear Pam! Welcome to my blog! Let me know when you will be making this bread so we can have a virtual cup of tea together 🙂 We can clink through the screens!! lol
I'm At Home Baking says
What a beautiful bread, love the color! Looks delicious.
Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
Thank you so much! 🙂
Elpiniki says
Looks wonderful!
Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
Thank you!
Curry and Comfort says
I totally agree with you, I hate the cold. I say it's because I come for a tropical island and my body can't adjust. 🙂 I would hibernate if I could... pretty much do. I come from Sri Lanka and that's the land of tea. We get a lot of tea from there and truthfully my favorite is some plain tea with lemon. I actually like ice tea (defeats the purpose in winter). Now onto your beautiful bread. It's really wonderful. I just used up my cranberries last week and I'm already missing them. I would have loved to make this kind of bread. Lovely recipe with the oranges and carrot.. beautiful pictures too. Have a great weekend! Ramona 🙂
Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
Dearest Ramona! I am dreading the moment I will run out of cranberries. I love their color and flavor in my baked goods and jam! Thank you so much for your comment! Hugs! 🙂
Jenn says
yum!!!! I would eat this and have mango green tea on the side! hot of course! love!
Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
Hi Jenn! I am so excited to see you here! Mango green tea sounds great! I had white pear green tea before and it was sooo good - I will be on the look out for the mango kind. Thank you and welcome to CCS! Hugs!
Christine says
I'm more of a coffee drinker then tea. Great recipe. Slice of your bread with a cup of coffee would be great.
Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
I actually tried it with my morning coffee the next day and it was great! Thank you, Christine!
Ann says
This looks delicious and your tea ritual sounds lovely! I'm not a huge fan of tea, but I LOVE the ritual of tea so I'm always happy to serve it.
Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
Thank you so much, Ann! Have a lovely weekend!
Ruth Reynoso-Sance says
That bread looks amazing! I am really craving an afternoon tea like yours right now ( more like a dinner tea!, I should say)
Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
Thank you, Ruth!
Martha says
sounds delicious!!
Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
Thank you!