Orange Chocolate Walnut Loaf

This aromatic sweet loaf gives you all the warmth and sunshine of summer in every slice. Perfect plain, however a lashing of butter would not go a miss; making it so easy to settle down with a slice and a cup of tea.  

Orange Chocolate Walnut Loaf

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1 egg, beaten

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 cup brown sugar, packed

juice and grated rind of 1 orange

1 cup milk

1 teaspoon maple extract

2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt 

1 cup chopped walnuts

1 cup dark chocolate chips

extra chopped walnuts to scatter over the top

extra grated orange rind 

Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Grease and flour a loaf tin and line with baking parchment paper.

In a large bowl, combine the egg, sugar, oil, orange juice and grated orange rind. Stir to combine. Add the milk and maple flavouring. Stir. 

In another bowl combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, walnuts and chocolate chips. Stir together and then add the flour mixture, in 3 equal additions, to the milk mixture. Stirring after each addition. When all the flour has been incorporated and blended together, pour the batter into the prepared loaf tin, smooth the top, sprinkle the top with chopped walnuts. Bake in the preheated oven for about 35 to 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean.

Allow to cool slightly before removing the loaf from the tin and then allow to cool further on a wire rack. Sprinkle with freshly grated orange rind before slicing.

The temperatures have been hot, +30ºC hot! and with that comes plenty of blue skies and sunshine. With more days of rising temperatures ahead, it does not make one retreat to the kitchen to cook or bake. We will be doing what we can to beat the heat. - JD