Pregnancy can be blamed for many odd food cravings. Let me clarify first, please – I am not pregnant (I’m talking to you, Mum). We are perfectly content with our two boys and are determined not to let our kids outnumber us. When I was pregnant – several years ago – I went through a period of insatiable longing for an unlikely food combination. Doritos and pink grapefruit juice. Not just Doritos, not just pink grapefruit juice. They had to be consumed in the same sitting. Thinking of that now makes me feel like a foie gras goose after its daily force-feeding.
Thankfully, pink grapefruits and I have developed a much healthier relationship and I typically get my fill of the citrus fruit at breakfast a few times each week. My youngest son and I each take half of the fruit, sprinkle it with a little sugar, and scoop out the sections. The most anticipated treat, however, is squeezing out every last drop of the juice into our bowls and spooning it into our eager mouths.
As for Doritos. Well, we have had a little falling out, mostly due to the fact that they were sabotaging my attempts to fit into my skinny jeans. Of course, eating three slices of glazed quick breads has nothing to do with those failed attempts.
This quick bread – okay, cake – follows the same formula as my Glazed Lemon & Dried Cherry Quick Bread. In this case, the lemon zest and juice are replaced with the juices and zest of pink grapefruits. While the taste is reminiscent of a lemon bread, it has a slight sweetness that clearly comes from fruit rather than just sugar. Served with a cup of tea or coffee, it works beautifully as an afternoon treat, dessert, or brunch offering.
The recipe:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease a 8 1/2- by 4 1/2-inch loaf pan with butter or cooking spray.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt.
In the bowl of a stand mixer (or a large bowl, using a hand mixer) set on a medium speed, beat together butter, sugar and grapefruit zest until light and fluffy, 4 to 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating to combine after each addition.
Turn the mixer to low and gradually add the flour mixture, milk and grapefruit juice. Beat until just combined. Take care not to overbeat or the bread will be tough.
Pour the batter into prepared pan and level with a spatula.
Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with only a few crumbs attached, 50 to 60 minutes. Let the bread sit in the pan for 10 minutes. Run a knife around the outside and turn the pan upside down to release the bread. Let cool on a wire rack for 1 hour, then glaze.
Glaze:
In a medium bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, grapefruit juice and zest, and salt until combined. Drizzle over cooled quick bread.
Slice and serve.
Other citrus quick breads:
Cookin’ Canuck’s Glazed Lemon & Dried Cherry Quick Bread
Madhuram’s Eggless Cooking’s Blueberry Orange Bread
Baking Bites’ Lemon Coconut Bread
Healthy Happy Life’s Lemon-Poppyseed Chamomile Tea Bread
Glazed Pink Grapefruit Quick Bread
Adapted from The America’s Test Kitchen Family Baking Book
Bread:
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
8 tbsp (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
2 tbsp grated pink grapefruit zest
3 large eggs
1/4 cup 2% milk
3 tsp fresh pink grapefruit juice
Glaze:
3/4 cup powdered (confectioner’s) sugar
4 1/2 tsp fresh pink grapefruit juice
1/2 tsp grated pink grapefruit zest
Pinch salt
Bread:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease a 8 1/2- by 4 1/2-inch loaf pan with butter or cooking spray.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. In the bowl of a stand mixer (or a large bowl, using a hand mixer) set on a medium speed, beat together butter, sugar and grapefruit zest until light and fluffy, 4 to 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating to combine after each addition.
Turn the mixer to low and gradually add the flour mixture, milk and grapefruit juice. Beat until just combined. Take care not to overbeat or the bread will be tough. Pour the batter into prepared pan and level with a spatula.
Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with only a few crumbs attached, 50 to 60 minutes. Let the bread sit in the pan for 10 minutes. Run a knife around the outside and turn the pan upside down to release the bread. Let cool on a wire rack for 1 hour, then glaze.
Glaze:
In a medium bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, grapefruit juice and zest, and salt until combined. Drizzle over cooled quick bread.
Makes 1 loaf.
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{ 48 comments… read them below or add one }
I've never been pregnant so I cannot comment on that..lol… but this bread would work in any situation I am sure. It looks delicious!
What a unique idea! This sounds so tasty!!
i love the flavor combination…seriously, so good!
I never had pregnancy cravings like that. I craved bowls of cereal and Snickers ice cream bars (not at the same time). This quick bread sounds so delicious! I love grapefruit. Yummy!
Dara you pregnancy cravings had me rolling. Mine were along the lines of Scottish smoked salmon & hot chocolate. In one sitting of course. What's with the sweet salty thing?? This grapefruit cake is a gem & a must try
xo
Oh boy pregnancy cravings are a funny thing aren't they?! I had to have a bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal every morning or it wasn't pretty around my house, lol! Love it and love this gorgeous bread recipe!
Beautiful bread Dara. Pregnancy cravings are interesting:)
Looks delicious! The grapefruit makes it so unusual too! Very clever.
I love the use of grapefruit instead of lemon!
Yea!! I have grapefruits in my fridge. Guess I know what I'm making for my breakfast tomorrow!! Thanks for the inspiration!
This sounds absolutely lovely!
Looks great! I love grapefruit so I'll have to try this!
What a gorgeous bread
I've heard a lot of funny pregnancy craving…this is, too
What a terrific idea! I was just discussing with a friend about my cravings for acidic foods when I was pregnant. It never occurred to me to replace lemons with grapefruit in something like this but I love the sound of it.
Btw – we enjoyed your turkey cannelloni last night for dinner!
least you didn't want to decorate with doritos
looks wonderful, haven't tried grapefruit zest, on the to do list.
I'm sure your mom just did a "Oh! Oh." What an interesting combination…Doritos? This quickbread looks so moist and flavorful.
What a wonderful flavor the grapefruit must give to this luscious cake! I've never baked with it before but your recipe makes me want to try!
Thanks for sharing.
I love the sounds of this, sweet and tart! I love Doritos and will continue to take the stairs to my apartment if it means I can eat lots of them
This bread looks beautiful, and so unique! I've never used grapefruit in baking before. This has been added to my must-make list for spring!
What a wonderful quick bread. I love the grapefruit flavor.
This cake bread looks so soft and moist! I love the idea of using grapefruit. You rarely see that as a flavor.
I already have all sorts of bizarre and random food cravings, so I dread to think of what'll happen if I ever get pregnant. I'm sure it'll involve Nutella and pickles, or something equally disgusting.
I can totally get on board with this bread, though. I'm a total pink grapefruit addict (actually, just a citrus addict in general).
Perfect I have 2 grapefruits just waiting to be used! thanks for the great recipe…
I have made Lemon and Orange breads, but never Grapefruit, i will have to try this one next!
I had no pregnancy cravings
and i wanted to. I could not eat much at all. The only thing that felt good, however was the anything citrus. I would keep orange peels in the car and squeeze and spray them as air freshener:-)
Love citrusy flavor in cakes or quick breads and this is a keeper for sure.
Looks so delicious.
mmm looks moist, delicious and exactly like what i'm craving right now.
No more wondering what to do with that grapefruit in my fridge!
Love the spin on lemon bread!
How yummy and refreshing! I totally know what you mean about pregnancy cravings! Crazy hormones!
This looks amazing! I'm seriously craving it, and definitely not pregnant!
I adore grapefruit too..but I've never tried it with doritos….that may just have to wait till I get pregnant! Thank you for sharing this delicious loaf. I hope you have a beautiful weekend. Thanks for getting mine off to a sweet start!
this grapefruit taste I could stand anytime, not sure about the Dorito combo though… like the sound of this bread, will be great for breakfast and with afternoon tea
Haven't had to deal with weird pregnancy cravings yet (and it'll be a while lol) – but I already eat enough odd things as it is. I've been seeing a lot of grapefruit recipes lately and really am getting intrigued by them! This quick bread sounds great!
Love grapefruit. I also love Campari because of that. I assume you do too. Campari and OJ one of my favorite apéritifs. I have no idea why but grapefruit flavors are one of those flavors that just quench my thirst. Great recipe. Very funny on the Doritos and grapefruit. I will not allow Doritos into my house
This looks amazing!
Oh wow! This is in my "Recipes to Try" folder! Wow! I can just imagine the flavor that the grapefruit gives to the bread. And that glaze? Yes please!!! ♥- Katrina
love it!! so creative. thanks for sharing.
i’m going to try with a vegan milk and maybe even gluten free flour. saving to my online cookbook (http://cookmarked.com).
Thanks so much, Laura. Let me know how the gluten/dairy-free version works out.
I substituted the grapefruit with lemons that I had on hand. I didn’t add the water, but added a little more lemon juice. Also, I separated and beat the egg whites and added them in last.
This recipe was amazing!
I tried this last weekend and it’s delicious! I didn’t have enough eggs and made it with 1 cup egg substitute and that worked out just fine.
I only had to increase the baking time. I can’t wait to try this with other citrus fruits! Thank you for the recipe!
I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe. Thanks so much for letting me know. It’s good to hear that the recipe will also work with egg substitute.
Just made this last night (thank you pregnancy cravings!!) and it was delicious!! The perfect combination of grapefruit and sweet. I’ve been nibbling (devouring) it all day.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for letting me know.
I finally tried this bread last night and it was wonderful! Very delicate grapefruit flavour in the bread itself and the glaze really takes it over the top. Even my grapefruit-hating husband loved it. The bread turned out very moist which is sometimes hard to accomplish living in Colorado!
I’m so glad you and your husband enjoyed this, Rae. Thanks for letting me know.
I was confused by the title above your ingredients, but then realized it must be a typo…left in from the one you copied from before adapting.
It sounds delicious…I love grapefruit-flavored things. I recently found some grapefruit gummies and thoroughly enjoyed them a few at a time for a couple of months…the flavor is so uniquely refreshing. Then, more appropriate to my diet, I discovered that LaCroix is now making a grapefruit-flavored seltzer. It’s my sole “pleasure” at the moment, but your bread will get tried eventually. After I’m down a few sizes. =)
Thanks so much for catching that, Diane. Indeed, I copied and pasted the basic recipe from one of my other posts and forgot to change the title. Fixed now!
I just made a loaf of this and forgot to put the glaze on, but let me tell how much I LOVE this bread. It is amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Couldn’t give it a high enough rating if I tried. Thanks for the weird cravings and awesome recipe!
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