Summer is the season of lots of house sales and moves! This can mean your neighborhood is about to welcome in lots of new neighbors. Skip the typical bottle of wine and opt for something a bit more creative. This welcome basket idea with delicious orange bread loaves is the perfect way to usher in new residents with a joyful welcome!
New neighbors are often unloading dozens of boxes and not even sure where their typical kitchen items are, let alone a stocked refrigerator. This is the reason I love to give homemade foods to neighbors who truly appreciate a nice snack during all that unloading! Some recipes aren’t conducive to travel, but these mini orange loaves are perfect. I make mine in mini loaf pans because they’re easy to eat and pack down in a cute wire basket (or even just a cellophane bag with bow). Include a few fresh oranges and a gift tag (free printable below) and you’re good to go!
Your new neighbors will love the homemade treat, sweet basket, and note. Taking the time to do a sweet little something is the perfect way to get to your know your neighbors and perhaps strike up a fabulous friendship!
Orange Bread
INGREDIENTS:
- 3/4 cup softened butter
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 3 eggs (lightly beaten)
- zest of 1 orange
- juice of ½ orange
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
For the orange glaze:
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons warm water
- zest of 1 orange
- juice of ½ orange
- Heat oven to 350F degrees and grease baking pans. You can also make these as mini muffins too!
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together butter and sugar until pale and fluffy.
- Slowly add the eggs to the mixer (on low).
- In a mixing bowl, combine flour with baking powder and salt. Add half of the flour mixture and milk and mix on low until incorporated. Add the remaining milk and flour mixture as well as zest and juice.
- ake for 15-20 minutes for mini muffins or mini loaves. For larger pan sizes (large loaf, bundt pan, etc) start with 30 minutes and watch carefully. Bread is done when edges are golden and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
- Use a toothpick to poke holes throughout the cake so the syrup will be able to moisten all the bread.
- In a saucepan, combine sugar, water, zest, and juice. Heat or 2-3 minutes or until sugar is dissolved. Pour syrup over bread and add more zest for garnish.
- Allow to cool.
