Sweet Florida Orange Breakfast Bread

Ingredients

• 3 cups flour all-purpose
• 0.5 teaspoon double-acting baking powder 
• 0.5 teaspoon baking soda 
• 0.5 teaspoon salt 
• 0.8 cup buttermilk at room temperature
• 0.5 cup orange juice freshly squeezed
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract pure
• 0.5 pound butter unsalted (2 sticks)
• 2 cups sugar 
• 4  eggs at room temperature
• 0.3 cup orange zest 
• 0.5 cup brown sugar 
• 0.5 cup brown sugar 
• 4  cranberry-orange relish whole for this recipe.

Equipment

• bowl
• frying pan
• oven
• whisk
• wire rack
• pot
• blender
• loaf pan
• toothpicks
• aluminum foil
• measuring cup

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. Grease and lightly flour loaf pans.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
4. Measure buttermilk, orange juice, and vanilla into a measuring cup. Set aside.
5. In a large bowl, use a mixer to beat the butter until creamy.
6. Blend in sugar and beat for a few minutes until light and fluffy.
7. Mix in eggs, one at a time, and orange zest, and beat until well incorporated.
8. With mixer on low, slowly pour in 1/3 of the flour mixture.
9. Mix in half of the buttermilk mixture.
10. Blend in another 1/3 of the flour mixture and remaining buttermilk mixture.
11. Add remaining flour mixture and mix until just blended.
12. Divide batter between prepared pans, filling about 3/4 full, and bake for 30 to 35 minutes (45 minutes if using a large loaf pan) or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
13. While loaves bake, prepare orange simple syrup.
14. Stir together 1/2 cup orange juice and 1/2 cup brown sugar in a small pot. Bring to a boil over medium heat while occasionally stirring, then reduce heat and simmer for a few minutes.
15. Remove pot from heat and set aside to cool.
16. When cakes are done, cool for 10 minutes before turning out onto wire rack. Set rack over a sheet pan or piece of foil, and using a brush or a spoon, soak each cake with simple syrup. Allow to cool completely.
17. Store in an airtight container or wrap tightly.