Vegan Cranberry Walnut Bread: What Is It?!
It’s a moist coffee cake!..No, a soft, semi-sweet loaf of bread!..No, so what is it?! Well, both of those things! This vegan cranberry walnut bread is probably best described as fusion between a moist coffee cake and a delectable, non-savory loaf of bread. It’s crumbly on the outside, soft on the inside, and just sweet enough – the perfect confection to share with casual company over warm drinks.
On the outside you have your walnuts, which are crunchy and earthy tasting. When you cut into the bread, inside are the little sour rubies of dried cranberries surrounded by a fluffy, whole-wheat bread-y center..and more ground walnuts, of course. Behind all these flavors is the subtle kick of lemon zest and juice, and the contained sweetness of the brown rice syrup and coconut sugar.
Speaking of sugars, coconut sugar isn’t per say that much better for you than cane sugar is. However, it does have an almost malty (molasses-like) flavor that is very tasty, and also a darker color, giving the bread a richer tone. Brown rice syrup, on the other hand, is very much similar to honey in texture and viscosity – very thick. But unlike honey, which is overtly sweet, brown rice syrup is sweet in a mild, non-cloying way. It’s a great substitute for granulated sugar in recipes that allow the replacement.
For those of you looking to reduce the overall sweetness of this bread, and/or cut out larger quantities of sugar from your diet, I suggest either using half as much coconut sugar, or using an extra tablespoon of brown rice syrup and no coconut sugar. I haven’t yet tested this, so I can’t speak to how this would bake with those modifications.
What more can be said, other than that this loaf of vegan cranberry walnut bread is a fantastic bake that holds its moistness for several days (when properly stored in an airtight container). You don’t have to be an expert baker to bake this – it’s quite simple and easy and low-stress. So, if you’re feeling for something homey and slightly sweet and coffee cake-y, then give this vegan cranberry walnut bread a try!
Cranberry-Walnut Bread
Equipment
- Oven
- 9×5-inch baking dish
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups whole-wheat flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅓ cup coconut oil or vegan butter, melted
- ⅓ cup coconut sugar
- 2 tablespoons brown rice syrup
- ⅔ cup soymilk
- 3 tablespoons ground flaxseed
- ½ tablespoon lemon zest
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 1 cup ground walnuts, divided (3/4 cup in bake, 1/4 cup on top)
Garnish
- Vegan butter, like Earth Balance (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9 x 5 inch (~1 quart) baking dish with a little bit of coconut oil or vegan butter.
- In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the coconut oil (or vegan butter), coconut sugar, brown rice syrup, soy milk, ground flaxseed, lemon zest and juice, and vanilla extract. Allow this a couple minutes to thicken.
- Once the oven is preheated, fold the dry ingredients into the wet, and then fold the dried cranberries and 3/4 cup of ground walnuts into the batter. Careful not to overmix – just until everything is incorporated.
- Pour the batter in the 9×5-inch baking dish, spread evenly throughout, then top with the remaining 1/4 cup of walnuts. Press the walnuts into the top gently with your hand. Bake for 42 – 45 minutes, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean, and the bread is firm and springy to touch.
- After a couple mintues out of the oven, remove bread from the dish, allowing it to cool for 15 – 30 minutes on a cooling rack before cutting into it.Serve warm, with or without vegan butter and a warm drink!
Nutrition
Did you enjoy this vegan cranberry walnut bread? Then leave me a comment and rating before you go!
Also, check out these vegan christmas buns, too. They’re perfect for any special occasion – not just the holidays. And if you love breads – try making this easy Peanut Butter Banana Bread!
May you have good food in good company,
That Vegan Nephew
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This was a really yummy bread, especially with coffee. I liked the tart of the cranberries and the crunch of the walnuts.