Adapting Recipes / Cranberry White Chocolate Chip Bread

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My friend, Liz, brought over this delicious sweet bread (what a great neighbor!) and she asked how it could be made healthier. I’ll give you the “before” and “after” version next to eachother and show you how simply this can be done:

Cranberry White Chocolate Chip Bread

(photo by ME! I’m just starting to take my own pics – which is why it looks so unprofessional!)

• 2 cups all-purpose flour > for most recipes I use organic whole wheat flour for 1/3 to 1/2 (or more) of the flour called for in recipes, depending on your preference. For this recipe, since it’s the first time I’m making it, I’m going to only do 1/2 c. organic whole wheat pastry flour for a little extra fiber (maybe more next time after I see how this does) and 1 1/2 c. Bob’s Red Mill organic white flour (unbleached, unbromated – less refined), because sadly, muffins usually just do better with less whole wheat flour. (But at least this is homemade and has other good ingredients in it, except for the sugar…)
• 3/4 cup white sugar > organic evaporated cane sugar (or you could experiment with Stevia, honey, etc.)
• 3/4 teaspoon salt > Sea Salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder > I use Bob’s Red Mill with no aluminum
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda > Bob’s Red Mill with no aluminum
• 1 cup chopped dried cranberries > organic
• 1/2 cup white chocolate chips > I added just a few extra, shhh
• 1 Tablespoon orange zest > I used 3 small organic oranges, then squeezed them for the juice (needed below)
• 1 egg > best are eggs from pastured chickens
• 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil > this is an important change: 2 T. softened butter (I use org.)
• 3/4 cup orange juice > fresh squeezed, from 3 small organic oranges

I made 12 muffins instead of a loaf of bread. 350* 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. (Don’t forget to check out my kitchen tip on how to make extra and freeze some to bake later.)

For bread: preheat oven to 350*. Grease (with a cold stick of butter) one 9 x 5″ loaf pan. Combine the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Add the cranberries and white chocolate chips, stir to coat with flour. Combine the egg, oil, orange juice and grated orange peel. Add the egg mixture to the flour mixture and stir until just combined. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let bread sit for 10 minutes and then remove from the pan and place on cooling rack. Let cool completely before slicing.

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