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 ½- by 4 ½-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
Printable Recipe
Glazed Pink Grapefruit Quick Bread Recipe
Ingredients
The bread:
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 8 tablespoons 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ⅓ cups granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons grated pink grapefruit zest
- 3 large eggs
- ¼ cup 2% milk
- 3 teaspoons fresh pink grapefruit juice
The Glaze:
- ¾ cup powdered confectioner's sugar
- 4 ½ teaspoons fresh pink grapefruit juice
- ½ teaspoon grated pink grapefruit zest
- Pinch salt
Instructions
The Bread:
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease a 8½- by 4½-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.
The Glaze:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, grapefruit juice and zest, and salt until combined. Drizzle over cooled quick bread.
Rae
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!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
I'm so glad you and your husband enjoyed this, Rae. Thanks for letting me know.
Traci
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.
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
I'm so glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for letting me know.
iscribbler
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!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
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.
Jane
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!
laura
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). 🙂
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Thanks so much, Laura. Let me know how the gluten/dairy-free version works out.
Katrina
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
Alison @ Ingredients, Inc.
This looks amazing!
Delishhh
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 🙂
Peggy
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!
Drick
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
Monet
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!
Melissa @IWasBornToCook
This looks amazing! I'm seriously craving it, and definitely not pregnant! 🙂
Lauren's Latest
How yummy and refreshing! I totally know what you mean about pregnancy cravings! Crazy hormones!
Nell
No more wondering what to do with that grapefruit in my fridge!
Love the spin on lemon bread!
Tia
mmm looks moist, delicious and exactly like what i'm craving right now.
Soma
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.
egbkid
I have made Lemon and Orange breads, but never Grapefruit, i will have to try this one next!
lindsey@lindselicious
Perfect I have 2 grapefruits just waiting to be used! thanks for the great recipe...
Isabelle
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).
kirbie
This cake bread looks so soft and moist! I love the idea of using grapefruit. You rarely see that as a flavor.