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Clementine-Vanilla-Bean Quick Bread

This loaf gets its sunny sweetness from clementines. The fruit's segments, zest, and juice are mixed into the batter, and there's more juice in the glaze that's brushed on top. Vanilla-bean seeds add heady fragrance. Serve slices with cups of tea or with ice cream for dessert.
Martha Stewart Living, November 2009
  • Yield Makes one 5-by-9-inch loaf
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Ingredients

  • 10 clementines or tangerines
  • 3/4 cup heavy cream
  • 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for pan
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 4 ounces (1 stick) unsalted butter, plus more for pan
  • 1 1/4 cups sugar
  • 2 vanilla beans, split and scraped, pod reserved for another use
  • 2 large eggs

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour a 5-by-9-inch loaf pan. Zest 4 clementines to yield 1 tablespoon zest. Juice 2 zested clementines and 6 remaining unzested clementines to yield 3/4 cup juice. Cut pith from 2 remaining zested clementines. Slice fruit along membranes to release segments into a bowl; discard membranes and any seeds.
  2. Combine 1/4 cup clementine juice, the cream, and vanilla extract in a medium bowl. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in another bowl.
  3. Beat zest, butter, 1 cup sugar, and the vanilla seeds with a mixer on medium speed until combined, about 4 minutes. With machine running, add eggs, 1 at a time. Reduce speed to low, and beat flour mixture into butter mixture in 3 additions, alternating with cream mixture, beginning and ending with flour.
  4. Fold clementine segments into mixture, and pour into pan. Gently smooth top using an offset spatula.
  5. Place pan on a rimmed baking sheet, and bake until a tester inserted into center comes out clean, 55 to 65 minutes. Meanwhile, bring remaining 1/2 cup clementine juice and cup sugar to a boil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Reduce heat, and simmer for 3 minutes.
  6. Remove bread from oven, poke top all over with a skewer, and brush with half the clementine syrup. Transfer pan to a wire rack; let cool for 15 minutes. Invert pan to remove bread. Let cool completely on wire rack, top side up.
  7. Brush remaining clementine syrup onto sides and again on top of bread. (Bread can be stored, wrapped, at room temperature overnight or refrigerated for up to 5 days.)

Recipe Reviews

  • bredalis
    13 Sep, 2012

    I baked this bread first time today, added nutmeg to the dry ingredients. Not to darken I covered with aluminum foil.
    Delicious aroma in the kitchen, so did the flavor and taste. I'll definitely make again and again...

  • 120schoolhouse
    25 Jan, 2012

    Wonderful! I used 2 tablespoons vanilla extract in place of the 2 vanilla beans (saving the $16), worked well (tho I miss the black flecks of vanilla bean). I baked in two smaller bread pans and had to tent with foil at the end as the top of bread turned golden brown before it was fully baked through. Came out lovely. Next time I will add some ground almond for a little extra texture and taste.

  • XimeBCN
    12 May, 2011

    OMG this is so delicious! and not as complicated as the long instructions may make it seem. Try it, you wont regret it, this is definitely a keeper!!!

  • arharper662
    13 Apr, 2011

    This clementine vanilla quick bread is absolutely delicious. The recipe says to pair it with coffee or ice cream, but I whipped up some citrus honey butter to spread over the warm bread, and the combination is to die for! I will definitely make this again.

  • eak1517
    4 Jan, 2011

    This recipe is a bit fussier than I usually go for, but I needed something to use up the bags of tangerines a friend gave us, and I am so glad I did. This bread is totally worth it! It is everything I want in this type of food, good strong vanilla flavor paired with a lovely citrus and despite the syrup soak, not too sugary. The texture is like a pound cake in density and moistness. YUM!

  • eak1517
    4 Jan, 2011

    Though this recipe is a bit fussier than I usually go for I needed something to help use up the bags of tangerines we had been gifted, and I am so glad I did! This recipe is totally worth it. The bread is absolutely

  • jpvincent4
    29 Dec, 2010

    I made this for Christmas last year and it was a hit! It was a lot of work though as I had a pretty junky zester. This year I have a nice microplane amd a juicer! It has made all the difference. I made mini loaves and adjusted the time for backing. Everyone loved it especially my kids. I plan on making a large loaf at the beginning of the year!

  • dianastyles
    5 Dec, 2010

    Delicious and moist! I made these as 8 miniature loaves and reduced baking time to 30 minutes. These were great as the perfect hostess gift for a Sunday Brunch.

  • badgerchicrah
    20 Oct, 2010

    i love this recipe - i did a variation by making small loaves and did not have the problem of the other comment - cutting the clementines is time-consuming but worth it! also, i was able to freeze these after applying the syrup with great success.

    enjoy!

  • sharib
    27 Jan, 2010

    The flavor of this bread was amazing, but it didn't quite acheive the consistency of the photo. The top was overdone and the bottom was still doughy. What can I do to fix it?