Baked Goodness Spiced Zest (Printable)

A warm, spiced quick bread with citrus zest offering a cozy and flavorful treat.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
04 - ½ teaspoon baking soda
05 - ½ teaspoon salt
06 - 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
07 - ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
08 - ¼ teaspoon ground cloves

→ Wet Ingredients

09 - 2 large eggs
10 - ½ cup vegetable oil
11 - ¾ cup whole milk
12 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
13 - Zest of 1 orange

→ Optional Mix-Ins

14 - ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
15 - ½ cup dark chocolate chips

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 9x5-inch loaf pan.
02 - Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves in a large bowl.
03 - In a separate bowl, beat eggs. Add vegetable oil, whole milk, vanilla extract, and orange zest; whisk until smooth.
04 - Pour wet mixture into dry ingredients and stir gently until just combined, avoiding overmixing.
05 - Fold in chopped nuts and dark chocolate chips if desired.
06 - Transfer batter to prepared loaf pan and level the surface.
07 - Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
08 - Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It fills your entire kitchen with a fragrance that makes people ask questions before they even taste it.
  • Once you master the basic technique, you can swap in lemon, grapefruit, or even add grated apple without overthinking it.
  • The texture is tender and moist, never dense or dry, because the timing is forgiving enough for real life.
02 -
  • Overmixing is the enemy of tender quick breads; the moment you see no dry flour, stop stirring immediately.
  • Fresh orange zest is non-negotiable; the oils in the peel are what give this bread its distinctive character and aroma.
  • The toothpick test is more reliable than any timer because every oven is different and pan placement matters.
03 -
  • Room temperature ingredients blend more evenly, so take your eggs and milk out of the fridge 15 minutes before starting.
  • If your chocolate chips or nuts are cold, they hold the batter in their immediate area and create uneven distribution; bring them to room temperature too.

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