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Orange Glazed Zucchini Bread With Dates
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5 from 1 vote

Orange Glazed Zucchini Bread With Dates

This Orange Glazed Zucchini Bread With Dates as well as pistachios, cardamom and saffron is a light and refreshing treat with a cup of coffee
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time40 minutes
cooling and icing45 minutes
Total Time1 hour 45 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Date & Pistachio Bread, Orange Glazed Bread, quick bread, Zucchini Bread
Servings: 10 slices
Calories: 191kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 ¼ cups flour
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp cardamom (SEE NOTES)
  • ½ tsp saffron threads (SEE NOTES)
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ¼ cup yogurt
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 ½ cups grated zucchini
  • ½ cup cooking oil
  • cup pistachios
  • cup chopped dates

Orange Glaze

  • 1 tbsp orange zest
  • 1 tbsp orange juice
  • ½ tsp vanilla
  • ½ tsp cardamom
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 4 tbsp heavy whipping cream
  • 1 cup powdered sugar

Garnishing

  • ½ tsp orange zest
  • 2 tbsp chopped pistachios

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  • Grease a 9x5 loaf pan with cooking spray and then line it with parchment paper.
  • Combine all the dry ingredients in a bowl and set aside.
  • stir the saffron into the yogurt and set aside.
  • Shred the zucchini with the skin on {SEE NOTES}
  • Squeeze all the water out of the zucchini and lay it flat on a towel till you're ready to use it.
  • Beat the eggs with a fork.
  • Mix the beaten eggs with the saffron infused yogurt, the shredded zucchini and the cooking oil.
  • Mix this wet mixture with the dry ingredients by hand.
  • Stir in the dates and the pistachios and once everything is mixed well pour it into the prepared loaf pan.
  • Bake at 350°F for 30-40 minutes until a tester or toothpick inserted comes out clean (SEE NOTES)
  • Cool Completely Before Pouring the glaze and Garnishing.

Orange Glaze

  • Zest an orange and collect 1 tbsp of orange zest
  • Juice the orange and measure 1 tbsp of orange juice and set aside (SEE NOTES)
  • Deseed and crush the seeds of about 10 pods of cardamom to get the ½ teaspoon you need (SEE NOTES)
  • Soften the butter
  • Mix all of the above with the heavy whipping cream and start mixing in the powdered sugar a few tablespoons at a time
  • Whisk in the sugar with a fork to help it dissolve and keep mixing until it is all incorporated (SEE NOTES)
  • Once the bread is totally cool, pour the glaze down the center and let it trickle down the sides (SEE NOTES)

Garnishing

  • Sprinkle the ½ teaspoon of orange zest and 2 tablespoons of chopped pistachios on top and serve!

Notes

The Zucchini - The Zucchini, once cooked, almost disappears into the bread, so leaving the skin on gives it a little texture and saves time. The flecks of green from the skin also add a nice pop of color in the bread.
The Cardamom - For the best flavor, it's always recommended to use cardamom pods, extract the seeds and grind them. These are now available at most grocery stores, on Amazon and at many other specialty stores online. However, you can always substitute with cardamom powder if the actual pods are difficult to source.
The Saffron Threads - The saffron adds a beautiful floral note to the bread and is a wonderful pairing with all the other ingredients. Saffron is also easily available at grocery stores, on Amazon and other specialty stores online.
The Baking Time - Since ovens and baking conditions vary, baking time may take longer for some people. Rely on your cooking tester and extend the baking time if necessary.
The Orange Juice - One orange is usually sufficient for the quantity of zest and juice needed. If for some reason the juice is not sufficient, you can squeeze another orange or use store bought juice if that's more convenient.
Mixing The Glaze - If you mix the sugar in a little at a time and whisk it should dissolve evenly. But if you notice any lumps, just let it sit there for a while and it will eventually dissolve on its own.
Pouring The Glaze - This recipe is for a thick opaque glaze. If you want it thinner, increase the liquid in the recipe. Regardless of the texture, pour it in a straight line down the middle and let it pour outward and down the sides. If you need some assistance, use a butter knife to help spread the icing.
 

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 191kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.004g | Cholesterol: 33mg | Sodium: 240mg | Potassium: 123mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 87IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 77mg | Iron: 1mg