The Secret Ingredient for Better Banana Bread
Quick breads like pumpkin bread, banana bread and zucchini bread are quick and easy to whip up and are also great recipes for showcasing your culinary creativity. You can easily make the recipe your own by stirring in your favorite spices, a handful of toasted nuts or chocolate chips—or being a little bolder and swapping in brown butter or even bacon fat in your recipe.
And according to the baking enthusiasts on Reddit, there's another way to upgrade your quick breads: orange juice. They say the breakfast beverage provides a bright flavor contrast against the warming spices in those easy bakes and it also improves the texture of your treat.
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Why Add Orange Juice to Pumpkin Bread and Banana Bread
As reddit user JMSidhe mentioned, adding orange juice into quick bread batters contributes a very faint juicy, acidic zing of flavor that will be a welcoming surprise in what may otherwise be a simple-tasting loaf. Another commenter chimed in that the trick works for carrot cake, too. The orange juice can also help make your quick breads more tender and help them stay that way for days. But quick breads are just the beginning. A splash of OJ is also a tasty addition to fruit crumbles and pies, where it will enhance the flavors without stealing the spotlight.
Related: 41 Easy Banana Bread Recipes
How Much Orange Juice to Add to Pumpkin Bread and Banana Bread
According to Redditors, it doesn't take much to brighten up your bakes. Depending on the recipe, 3 tablespoons to 1/4 cup should do the trick.
Related: I Tried Willie Nelson's 'Famous' Banana Bread Recipe
The Best Orange Juice for Pumpkin Bread and Banana Bread
Reddit user JMSidhe noted they have only used bottled orange juice for this hack. Freshly squeezed orange juice would also work. It might contain some pulp, but it's unlikely that you'd notice that with such a small amount added to the batter. If the orange juice is extra pulpy, you can strain the juice before using.
Related: 59 Best Pumpkin Bread Recipes
When to Add Orange Juice to Pumpkin Bread and Banana Bread
This is an easy one: just stir the orange juice in with the wet ingredients (think eggs, oil, bananas).
Related: 25 Best Orange Juice Recipes
The Best Pumpkin Breads and Banana Bread Recipes
Curious to try this orange juice trick? Here are six of our best recipes for pumpkin bread and banana bread that are ripe for experimenting.
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