My Mom's citrus bran loaf is the perfect healthy treat for January! With minimal sugar, this loaf gets its flavor from various citrus fruits.
This is one of my favorite healthy treats my mom would make for me when I was younger. The loaf is somehow dense and light and fluffy all at the same time. There is also minimal sugar in the loaf itself. The sweetness comes mostly from the glaze, which you can adjust to reduce the amount of sugar even more.
This loaf also uses oat bran, which is packed with nutrients and is extremely healthy! Some of the health benefits of bran includes:
It is very high in antioxidants, which help protect your body from harmful free radicals that can cause cancer and other chronic diseases. It also helps to reduce inflammation.
Bran may help control blood sugar levels, which benefits individuals with diabetes.
Oat bran may also aid in weight loss! Due to its high fiber content, it helps keep you full and satisfied for longer.
How to Make My Mom's Citrus Bran Loaf
This recipe is very easy to put together! While the full recipe instructions are available below, here are some tips to make my mom's healthy loaf.
First, you will melt the butter. Let the melted butter cool a little bit, but do not let it solidify. This is important, because you do not want the hot melted butter to cook the egg and milk when you mix it together.
Next, beat together your egg, milk, melted butter, and zest from the citrus fruits. Now we will add the bran cereal and mix it until just combined.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients until they are well combined. Now we will add the wet ingredients to the bowl and stir until it is just combined. Stop stirring as soon as the flour is no longer visible.
Now we will bake the loaf in a greased loaf pan for fifty five to sixty minutes. You will know your loaf is ready when a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean.
Finally, we will pour our glaze onto the loaf! Poke holes throughout the warm loaf and pour the glaze over the loaf. Let it soak in, and enjoy!
Preheat oven to 350F. Beat together the egg, milk, melted butter, lemon and orange zest. Stir in the bran cereal and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all purpose flour, 1/2 cup of the sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add the wet cereal mixture to the dry ingredients in the mixing bowl and stir until just blended. Pour into a greased 8 x 4 loaf pan and bake for 55 to 60 minutes.
Meanwhile, bring 1/3 cup sugar and lemon and orange juice to a boil in a small saucepan. As soon as the loaf comes out of the oven, poke it with a skewer all over the loaf. Spoon the glaze over the loaf immediately and allow to soak in. Cool in loaf pan, then remove and slice to serve.
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