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Paleo Morning Glory Quick Bread

Name: Paleo Morning Glory Quick Bread
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 1 loaf of bread
Ingredients: 3 large eggs; 1/3 cup pure maple syrup; 1/4 cup olive oil (see note*); 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice; 2 teaspoons orange zest; 1-1/2 cups almond flour; 1/2 cup tapioca flour; 2 teaspoons baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon baking soda; 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon; 1/2 teaspoon sea salt; 1-1/2 cups grated carrot; 1/2 cup grated apple (about 1/2 an apple); 1/3 cup raw walnuts (chopped); 2/3 cup unsweetened shredded coconut (plus more for garnish)

Grain-free, refined sugar-free, dairy-free paleo morning glory quick bread – with all the flavors of morning glory muffins, and easily prepared in your blender, this quick bread is a marvelous go-to treat.

The older I get, the more importance I attach to life’s little comforts… Whether it be relishing my steamy morning beverage, sweating it out in a hot yoga class, or setting aside a moment to enjoy a slice of quick bread alongside a good read, these are the little “me” sessions that, while small and seemingly insignificant, make waves in helping me stay relaxed and focused.

Everyone has their own approach to treating themselves, but the key for me is to keep my daily comforts well-conceived, uplifting, strengthening, or healthful… Wise indulgences, as I like to think of them. In my late twenties, I would have needed to justify or earn any of these little pleasures before slowing down and taking a breather. You know, because: guilt, self-loathing, self-imposed pressure to embody perfection while still remaining cool, but not displaying any of the effort that goes into it, and yadda yadda baba ganoush. Ohhh momma has that changed.

Being human is hard AF…we deserve to throw ourselves a bone.

Enter: Dis bone.

All the trappings of a morning glory muffin, but in the form of a loaf.

Have you noticed the features of the morning glory muffin are nearly identical to the features of carrot cake? Carrots, applesauce, walnuts, shredded coconut, sometimes raisins, sometimes pineapple? Depending on your approach to either, the two can be one and the same. Which quite honestly is fine by me, because I love both so dearly. Way I see it, whatever adventure you choose, you’re bound to end up with a comforting result.

You’ll observe the recipe here is similar to the Paleo Carrot Cake I showed you last week. Same awesome concept, just a few minor tweaks, and in the form of a quick bread rather than a tiered cake. Psst! If you want to frost this loaf to give it an extra pizzaz, I 200% recommend my Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting!

This bread is everything a good quick bread should be: tender and moist, dense, but airy, sweet but not too sweet, fluffy, full of flavor, the perfect accompaniment to your mug of coffee or tea. Just like carrot cake, there are plenty of ways you can make this recipe your own.

For me, breads like this are that slow morning or afternoon experience, where you cut off a thick slice, pair it with your favorite hot drink, and slowly savor each bite while surfing the internet for quality information or reading a great book, researching getaways, etc. I’ve also been known to down a huge hunk lickety split after a sweaty hot yoga class, so there’s always that option, too.

Potential changes:

Add applesauce, subtract oil
Add crushed pineapple, subtract oil
Add 1 large ripe banana, subtract pure maple syrup
Hazelnut flour in place of almond flour? Sure, we can dig!
Pecans in place of walnuts, or go nut-free
Add raisins
Whip up that Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting I showed you last week and frost the dang thing!
Easily turn this bread into muffins by baking the batter in a muffin tray.

Throw yourself a loaf of morning glory quick bread!