Paleo Almond Flour Morning Glory Quick bread made grain-free, refined sugar-free, and dairy-free! This flavorful, healthful bread includes all the flavors of morning glory muffins, and is so easy to make! A marvelous go-to healthy treat.โ
I first shared this recipe for paleo morning glory quick bread back in 2017 and it has been made thousands of times since!
โJust peruse the comments section below to read over one hundred reviews!
In fact, this morning glory breakfast loaf has been my own personal favorite quickbread recipe for years. And for great reasons!
First and foremost, it is positively mouth-watering tasty with warm flavors and a lovely nuttiness to it. The texture is fluffy with moist crumbs for a delicious way to enjoy healthy ingredients.
Plus, it is made with all healthy ingredients! Almond flour, grated carrots, shredded apple, unsweetened coconut, walnuts, and a touch of pure maple syrup are the main ingredients.
All the trappings of morning glory muffinย recipes , but in the form of a morning glory loaf.ย
โAnd yes, this recipe is grain-free, low in sweetener, refined sugar-free, and dairy-free! But you don’t need a host of medical conditions to enjoy a hearty slice. In fact, I’m betting your loved ones won’t know it isn’t made with flour and regular sugar!
In case you’re new to it, here’s the skinny.
What is “Morning Glory” Quick Bread?:
What exactly is a Morning Glory Muffin (or in this case, Morning Glory Quick bread)? It’s a sweet baked treat filled with grated carrots, applesauce, walnuts, shredded coconut, sometimes raisins, and sometimes pineapple.
Quite honestly, morning glory baked goods are very similar to carrot cake!
Depending on your approach to carrot cake or morning glory muffin recipes, the two can be one and the same. ย You’ll observe the recipe here is similar to my Almond Flour Carrot Cakeย recipe.
Let’s chat about the basic ingredients for this morning glory bread recipe.
Ingredients for Almond Flour Morning Glory Bread:
Almond Flour and Tapioca Flour: Taking the place of regular all purpose flour, we use a combination of almond flour and tapioca flour. This results in a light and fluffy texture that makes this delicious bread so tasty.
For the best results, stick with a finely ground almond flour instead of almond meal, which is a coarser grind.
Large Eggs: A couple of regular eggs help the batter rise for the perfect texture. I don’t recommend swapping them for an egg replacer like flax eggs.
Avocado Oil: Bringing rich flavor and moisture for a moist crumb, we need a little oil. Melted coconut oil or butter works here too.
Pure Maple Syrup: The pure maple syrup can be replaced with one to two overripe bananas, mashed up.
This will result in a whole30 bread as it will only contain natural sweeteners. On the flipside, add 1 to 3 tablespoons of coconut sugar, brown sugar or regular cane sugar for sweeter bread.
Baking Powder and Baking Soda: The leavening agents. These two ingredients help the batter rise and bake evenly.
Morning Glory Goodies: Orange zest, ground cinnamon, shredded coconut, grated apple, grated carrots, and walnuts.
These goodies are what give this morning glory loaf its name. Some people like adding raisins or other dried fruit, or even adding crushed pineapple. I like sprinkling sunflower seeds on top.
Sea Salt: Salt is a big flavor enhancers. Don’t skip it!
Now that we’ve covered the simple ingredients, let’s bake this amazing quick bread recipe!
How to Make Morning Glory Bread:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and line a 9″ x 5″ loaf pan with parchment paper. You can also oil or spray the pan with cooking oil if you don’t have parchment paper.
Add the eggs, pure maple syrup, avocado oil, lemon juice, vanilla extract, and orange zest to a large mixing bowl. Mix until the wet ingredients are combined.
In a separate large bowl, stir together the almond flour, tapioca flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and sea salt until the dry ingredients are combined.
Pour the flour mixture into the bowl with the wet ingredients and stir until a smooth batter forms.
Add in the grated carrots, grated apple, walnuts, and shredded coconut and mix well until everything is well distributed throughout the batter.
Transfer the batter to the prepared loaf pan and cover it with aluminum foil. Bake for 40 to 60 minutes, or until the bread is firm in the center.
The best way to tell if quick bread is fully baked is by taking its internal temperature.
To do so, insert a digital thermometer into the center of the bread and wait until the numbers stop moving. The ideal temperature is 190 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit.
Remove the bread from the oven and allow it to cool completely to room temperature before slicing.
When you’re ready to slice the bread, pull the loaf out of the pan using the edges of the parchment paper. Use a sharp knife to cut thick slices and enjoy!
Alternative Blender Method:
Add the first 11 ingredients (eggs through salt) to a blender or a food processor and blend until smooth. Stir in the remaining ingredients until the batter is well-combined.
Follow the regular instructions above as normal once the batter is formed.
Storage Options:
- Room Temperature: Wrap the loaf pan with plastic wrap and store on the counter at room temperature for up to 2 days.
- Refrigerator: Transfer the loaf to an airtight container or a zip lock bag and refrigerate for up to 1 week.
- Freezer: Store any leftovers in a freezer bag or zip lock bag and freeze for up to 3 months.
What Does Morning Glory Bread Taste Like?:
This bread is everything a good quick bread should be! Tender and moist, dense, but airy, sweet but not too sweet, fluffy, full of warm earthy flavor.
It is the perfect accompaniment to your mug of coffee or tea. You could compare it to a less sweet version of carrot cake, and without the raisins.
Just like carrot cake, there are plenty of ways you can make this recipe your own by customizing the recipe.Here are some great options for changing up the recipe.
Recipe Customizations:
- Replace the oil with unsweetened applesauce or pumpkin puree.
- Incorporate up to 1/2 cup of crushed pineapple. If you do so, omit the oil.
- Add 1 large ripe banana. Mash it well, and omit the pure maple syrup.
- While hazelnut flour can be used to replace the almond flour, I don’t recommend using coconut flour, as you will also need to add more eggs and liquid.
- Use pecans in place of walnuts, or skip the nuts.
- Add 1/3 cup of raisins or other dried fruit.
- Whip up a batch of myย Vegan Cream Cheese Frostingย and frost the dang thing!
- You can easily turn this bread into paleo morning glory muffins by baking the batter in a muffin tin.
For me, breads like this are the perfect way to start the day. It is 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.
A warm, thick slice is a great companion while surfing the internet for quality information or reading a great book, researching getaways, etc.ย
Iโve also been known to down a huge hunk lickety split after a sweaty hot yoga class, so thereโs always that option, too.
If you love baking with whole grains, also try my Healthy Morning Glory Quick Bread, which is made with oats.
And that’s it! A great option for those who love to honor their sweet tooth using mindful ingredients.
The next time you’re craving a homemade treat, whip up this wholesome loaf!
Looking for more healthy grain-free quick breads? Here are some reader favorites.
More Quick Bread Recipes:
- Paleo Double Chocolate Banana Bread
- Blueberry Oatmeal Cottage Cheese Breadย ย
- Paleo Strawberry Banana Bread
- Almond Flour Protein Cinnamon Roll Breadย ย
- Paleo Carrot Cake Banana Bread
- Blueberry Lemon Breakfast Breadย
- Paleo Cranberry Orange Bread
Throw yourself a loaf of morning glory quick bread!
Almond Flour Morning Glory Quick Bread Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 large eggs
- 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
- 1/4 cup avocado oil see note*
- 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice or orange juice
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract optional
- 2 tsp orange zest
- 1 1/2 cups finely ground almond flour
- 1/2 cup tapioca flour
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp 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
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and line a 9″ x 5″ loaf pan with parchment paper. You can also oil or spray the pan with cooking oil if you don’t have parchment paper.
- Add the eggs, pure maple syrup, avocado oil, lemon juice, pure vanilla extract, and orange zest to a large mixing bowl. Mix until the wet ingredients are combined.
- In a separate large bowl, stir together the almond flour, tapioca flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and sea salt until the dry ingredients are combined.
- Pour the flour mixture into the bowl with the wet ingredients and stir until a smooth batter forms. Add in the grated carrots, grated apple, walnuts, and shredded coconut and mix well until everything is well distributed throughout the batter.
- Transfer the batter to the prepared loaf pan and cover it with aluminum foil. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until the bread is firm in the center. The best way to tell if quick bread is fully baked is by taking its internal temperature. To do so, insert a digital thermometer into the center of the bread and wait until the numbers stop moving. The ideal temperature is 190 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Remove the bread from the oven and allow it to cool completely to room temperature before slicing. When you're ready to slice the bread, pull the loaf out of the pan using the edges of the parchment paper. Or, if you sprayed the pan with oil, run a paring knife along the edge of the bread and turn it out onto a cutting board. Use a sharp knife to cut thick slices and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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I’m totally going to give this a try with the hazelnut flour- it sounds so tasty!
I’m so happy to hear it, Shelby! Enjoy! xo
This bread is amazing. It tastes just like carrot cake but without all the sugar and nasties. It is regularly baked in our home and is a favourite! thanks
I’m so happy you like it, Kellie!! Thanks so much for the sweet note. xo
Cannot wait to make this. It looks wonderful.
Can I substitute almond meal for the almond flour?
Many thanks.
Hi Nicki! Yes, absolutely! Hope you enjoy ๐
Sooo good! Didn’t have tapioca starch so I used coco and almond flour to replace it, and it worked, but it’s just a tad crumbly. I’ll definitely go for the tapioca next time as well as some crushed pineapple for added depth. I love how you can basically do whatever you want which whatever you have on hand, and it still taste amazing!
I canโt wait to make this bread! You think I could add zucchini maybe half zucchini half carrot? I have so much zucchini to use up.
I wasn’t able to find nutritional information…especially the carb count. Can you help please?
Thank you for this recipe, Iโm looking forward making it! Does it freeze well?
Hi Darlene,
Yes, it freezes super well! I wrap the loaf in plastic wrap and then put it in a zip lock bag to avoid freezer burn ๐ Enjoy!
Perfect!!!
Thanks!
We enjoyed this! I made it 2 times in one evening! The first time, I made it as written except I subbed applesauce for the oil and I omitted the walnuts (for the kids). The 2nd time, I omitted the apple, subbed applesauce for oil again, added walnuts and a banana and a little maple syrup! I also added extra cinnamon and some nutmeg. We liked this version better. It was super moist and flavorful! Thanks for a wonderful recipe that our whole family can enjoy! The kids went to bed asking if they could have some in the morning. ?
All of that sounds amazing! Thanks for letting us know your adaptations! So happy you and your family enjoyed the bread! xx
@Christin, I was wondering how it would be with banana, since I love banana bread! Iโm going to try your version. ๐
Hope you enjoy it, Angela!! Feel free to circle back and tell us how it went once you make it ๐
Hi Julia!
This looks delish! Have you substituted coconut oil instead of the olive oil or other oils you suggested? I just happen to have that on hand today.
I haven’t tried an oil substitution, but any oil like coconut, avocado, or almond oil would work great! ๐
Could this be made in a mini muffin tin?
Hi Sarah! Absolutely! The muffin version would be awesome! I would bake the muffins at 350 for 18 to 22 minutes, then allow them to cool at least 20 minutes. Hope you enjoy!! xo
Could I use monk fruit instead of maple syrup? Or would that dry it out? Thanks!
Hi Kristine,
I wish I could give you an easy answer, but I’ve actually never worked with monk fruit before ๐ I would say you could try it and add some oil to make up for the loss of liquid. Let me know if you give it a go! xo
What can use in place of the shredded coconut? I love coconut oil, but have never been a fan of the shredded coconut. Thanks in advance for the awesome recipe! I’m making this tonight for tomorrow morning.
Hi Misty! No worries, you can simply omit the shredded coconut and add just a touch more almond flour (say 2 tablespoons). The coconut is mainly for flavor, so leaving it out won’t effect the recipe. Hope you enjoy! xo
Can you just use the almond flour and leave out the tapioca flour?
Hi Kim,
I’ve never tested the recipe with almond flour only, but my guess is it would work. It may turn out a bit crumbly, as tapioca flour helps bind the bread together. As long as you’re okay with the texture being a little dense and/or crumbly, I’d say give it a go! Let us know how it turns out! xo
This looks amazing!
I’ve given up refined sugar just over a year ago and I’m very much enjoying the journey of discovering the healthy sweets and desserts.
Could not live without them and frankly why should I if they’re good for me?!
Is there anything I could use instead of tapioca flour, please?
Thank you!
Hi Joanna!
I’m so glad you’re interested in baking the bread! I haven’t tested the recipe without tapioca flour yet, but my guess is it can be made using more almond flour as a replacement. Tapioca flour works as a great binding agent, so my only concern is the bread may be a bit crumbly without it. If you can do grains, rice flour may work, too! I’ll update the post once I test the recipe again using an alternative to tapioca flour ๐ Hope you enjoy! xo
I totally hear you on life’s little comforts. I think we get more and more routine as we age!! Morning glory muffins are my absolute fave, so I am SO looking forward to trying this one out. Happy Friday!
How much pineapple do you use if you want to leave out the oil?
Hi Sonia! You’d replace it in a 1:1 ratio. So you’d use 1/4 cup of crushed pineapple and omit the 1/4 cup of olive oil. Hope you enjoy! xo
What can you use instead of tapioca flour?
Hi Lynette, You can use arrowroot flour, potato starch, or more almond flour. Just note if you use almond flour, the muffins won’t hold together as well. Hope you enjoy! xo