As the holiday season hustle winds down, I’m always on a mission to get rid of all the rich buttery cookies and piles of chocolate — it’s time to be a little healthier, right? But then I look around and think, I still need something sweet. Enter: olive oil. Yes, I use the pantry staple for dessert, too: my sweet-but-not-overly-sweet mini almond olive oil loaves.
The first thing I did for this recipe was combine olive oil with Country Crock® Plant Butter to give the loaves a beautiful, light cake crumb. I love how delicate it is, so I made sure the other ingredients were just as elegant.
There’s orange juice and zest in the batter, and the golden-brown topping mixes sugar with sliced almonds and more olive oil. It’s the perfect bite with a cup of tea in the afternoon. Or with coffee at breakfast. Or after dinner — honestly, it hits the spot every time. To get the recipe for my Mini Almond Olive Oil Loaves, simply scroll down. And check out my friends at Women’s Health’s Tahini Sesame Loaf and Delish’s PB&J Banana Bread Muffins.
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Yields:
3
– 12
Prep Time:
0
hours
15
mins
Cook Time:
1
hour
5
mins
Total Time:
1
hour
20
mins
c.
plus 1 tsp extra-virgin olive oil
c.
plus 1/4 cup granulated sugar
c.
all-purpose flour
tsp.
orange zest plus 1/4 cup juice
1. Heat oven to 350F. Coat 3 5 1⁄2 x 3- in. loaf pans with oil and line with parchment paper, leaving a 2-in. overhang on the long sides; spray parchment. In a small bowl, toss the almonds, 1 tsp oil and 1⁄4 cup sugar; set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.
3. Using an electric mixer, beat the eggs in a large bowl to combine. Add the remaining 3⁄4 cup sugar and beat until light and fluffy (it should more than doubled in volume), about 4 minutes. With mixer on high, slowly pour in melted Country Crock® Plant Butter with Olive Oil and remaining 1/2 cup oil. Reduce the mixer to low and mix in the orange zest and juice.
4. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pans and sprinkle the almond-sugar mixture on top. Bake until golden brown and a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool for 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
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Source : Goodhousekeeping
