If you like carrot cake, then you’re going to love this vegan orange bread recipe.
In fact, this bread does actually include carrots. So think of this as an even better version of a carrot cake!
Jump to Recipe
First off there’s the sweetness from the dates that permeates the loaf, then we team that up with the delicate spiciness of the cloves and cardamom.
Finally, these flavors all give way to the citrusy freshness of the orange zest which, along with the walnuts, gives a satisfying texture when you bite into the bread.
Can you tell I’m a fan? This bread is so good, I’d even recommend eating it for breakfast (that’s if you have any left over!) It also makes a great morning or afternoon tea treat served up with a nice cup of coffee.
You can decorate it any way you like but I used orange slices, which I think gives it an authentic, rustic look. A traditional carrot cake topping such as a spiced vegan cream cheese icing would also work really nicely on this too.
One thing to make note of: you need to soak the dates, baking soda, and ground flax seeds together for half an hour. So be sure to factor that into your planning before you get started.
Also, just like a carrot cake, this does take quite a while to cook. Keep an eye on the bread towards the end of the cooking time. Depending on your oven, you may have to leave it in the oven a little longer. But once the inserted cake-tester or toothpick comes out clean, you’re good to go!
If you want to decorate it with an icing, make sure you wait for the bread to cool completely.
Also, if you want to make this nut-free, just leave out the walnuts. You could try subbing in toasted pumpkin or sunflower seeds, or even sultanas or raisins (although these last variations could really increase the sweetness, so watch out for that!)
What do you think of this vegan orange bread recipe? Let me know in the comments section below.
Vegan Orange Bread
Ingredients
- 2 Cups dates chopped
- 1/2 Teaspoon baking soda
- 3 Tablespoons ground flax seeds
- 1.5 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 Cup canola oil
- 2 Cups grated carrots
- 1/2 Cup chopped walnuts
- 2 Teaspoons vanilla extract
- Zest and juice of 1 orange
- 2 Cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 Teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 Teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1 Orange sliced for top
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- In a bowl, soak the dates, baking soda, and ground flax seeds for a 1/2 hour.
- Using an electric mixer, beat the powdered sugar and oil until well combined.
- Add the soaked dates mixture, grated carrots, walnuts, vanilla extract, orange zest, and orange juice to the powered sugar mixture. Combine well.
- Add the flour, cloves, and cardamom to the bowl and stir to combine.
- Line a loaf pan with parchment paper. Pour the bread mixture into the loaf pan. Bake for 45 minutes.
- After 45 minutes, add the orange slices to the top of the bread and bake for an additional 30 minutes or until a cake tester or toothpick inserted comes out clean
