Crazy Delicious Healthy Cherry Orange Pistachio Bread

Amazing Cherry Orange Bread bursting with bright citrus flavor and bejeweled with sweet tart cherries! This super moist bread is naturally sweetened with maple syrup and made with wholesome ingredients like almond and oat flour. Gluten free, dairy free, and amazing with coffee or tea.

Meet the cousin of my Lemon Poppyseed Bread...blissful Cherry Orange Bread! Perfectly sweet, dotted with sweet tart cherries, and bursting with divine notes of orange and vanilla. Moist, fluffy, and healthy quick bread heaven I tell you.

Like my Fluffy Orange Muffins, Gluten Free Banana Bread, and Healthy Cherry Crisp had a baby. How delish does that sound!

Ingredients

• Almond flour: we want the super fine blanched kind versus almond meal (which has the skins). I get Kirkland brand at Costco.
• Oat flour: another favorite gluten free flour because it's whole grain but doesn't taste like it. Use certified gluten-free if you have a gluten intolerance.
• Maple syrup: my favorite natural liquid sweetener.
• Eggs: to bind everything together and contribute to rising. Sub flax eggs for a vegan banana bread.
• Coconut oil: for moisture and rich crumb.
• Vanilla extract: an amazing flavor enhancer in baked goods.
• Orange juice and orange zest: adds brightness, sweetness, and lovely fresh citrus notes.
• Salt: key for flavor and helps bring out the sweetness.
• Baking soda and powder: for proper rising.
• Dried cherries: add a delicious sweet tart flavor pop.
• Pistachios: Nutty and crunchy! Feel free to omit or sub pecans.

See recipe card for full list of ingredients and exact quantities.

Substitutions and dietary modifications

• Vegan: Omit eggs and use 2 flax eggs. I've made the recipe this way and it works, it's just a bit flatter.
• Cherries: I've tested this recipe with dried cranberries and they work great, too! You could also do dried blueberries or even chocolate chips for a chocolate orange loaf.
• Pistachios: You can swap walnuts, pecans, or omit them.
• Sweetener: I tested this recipe with honey instead of maple and it pairs great with this recipe!
• Zest: Swap orange zest for lemon zest for a different flavor!

How to make (step-by-step instructions)

Which cherries to use

The ruby red jewels that are U.S.-grown Montmorency tart (also known as sour) cherries are my favorite for baking.

Did you know...

• they're not imported like other types of tart cherries, helping to support local agriculture and preserve generations-old family farms?
• they're grown locally in Michigan, Utah, Washington, Oregon, Wisconsin, New York and Pennsylvania.
• they're always in season, since they're available year round frozen, canned, juiced, and dried.
• they're not in the fresh produce section because they’re picked at the peak of freshness. I typically buy the frozen ones at Whole Foods and the dried ones at Costco.

Health benefits

As a dietitian, I love that tart cherries...

• have a high concentration of anthocyanins---a polyphenol in the flavonoids family.
• Research suggests Montmorency tart cherry juice may help aid exercise recovery, making 8-12 ounces of 100% tart cherry juice a great post-workout choice.
• Melatonin-containing tart cherries have been the focus of multiple sleep studies, as well!

How to store

The best part about this bread is that it stays moist in the fridge for over a week. I'm telling you...like a fine wine, this baby improves with age!

You can store in an air-tight container on the counter for up to 4 days. Then you can store in the fridge for 1 week or longer.

Freeze for up to 4 months, tightly wrapped.

I hope you're as in love with this delectable Cherry Orange Pistachio Loaf as I am! If you make it, feel free to leave a comment letting me know how it turned out. I'm so grateful for your feedback!

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Recipe by Alexis Joseph of Hummusapien™. Photos by Eat Love Eats.