This stuff is so insanely good! I made it over the weekend and have loved starting each day with a slice…
Loaf cakes are one of our very favorite things to bake because they come together easily – once you get the gist of it down, you can easily whip up countless different versions – and they’re the perfect snack regardless of the time of day. A slice of this “bread†for breakfast? You betcha. A little afternoon snack? Yep. Midnight dessert? Sure, why not?! The best part about these is, as we already mentioned, they’re so ridiculously easy to customize.
Serves 8
1 hour 30 minutes
INGREDIENTS
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/4 cup orange juice
1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese, room temperature
3 large eggs
1 tablespoon orange zest
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon orange extract, optional
1/2 teaspoon salt
Glaze:
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
3-5 tablespoons orange juice
1 teaspoon orange zest
PREPARATION
Preheat oven to 350º F and generously grease a 9×5-inch baking dish with butter or non-stick spray. (Could use 2 loaf dishes if desired.)
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, orange zest, baking soda and salt, and set aside.
In a large bowl or mixer, cream together butter and cream cheese and sugar for 3-4 minutes, or until smooth, then mix in eggs, orange juice, vanilla and orange extract.
Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet, mixing until just combined, then transfer mixture to greased baking dish.
Place baking dish in oven and bake for 45-50 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
While loaf is baking, whisk together powdered sugar, orange juice and orange zest together to make glaze, adding more orange juice for a thinner glaze and less for a thicker glaze.
Remove loaf from oven and let cool 15 minutes before running a knife around the edge of pan to loosen the loaf.
Invert loaf onto serving platter and pour glaze on top. Let glaze harden and serve at room temperature. Enjoy!
