Saffron Orange Pine Nut Bread

This is Rancho La Puerta’s agave-sweetened take on a traditional Swedish treat — Saffron Buns.   The buns are also popular in the UK and are baked for special occasions, including festivals, feasts, and receptions.   Unfortunately, most commercial saffron buns and cakes are artificially colored because saffron is such an expensive spice. Fortunately, a little goes a long way, and the flavor is unique, so find the good stuff if you can.  This is a low-sugar version of this favorite treat.

Saffron Orange Pine Nut Bread

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 3 hours hours

Cook Time: 1 hour hour

Total Time: 4 hours hours

Course: Baked Goods

Cuisine: Healthy Spa Cuisine

Keyword: Rancho La Puerta

Servings: 16 Servings

Calories: 242kcal

Courtesy Of: Rancho La Puerta Health Resort

A colorful and fragrant Saffron Breakfast Bread. Cut into thin slices and toast. A low-sugar version of a favorite treat.

Ingredients

• ▢ 4 cups warm water
• ▢ 1 cup Agave Nectar (or honey)
• ▢ 2 tablespoons active dry yeast
• ▢ 2 teaspoons saffron - finely ground
• ▢ 1 tablespoon Sea Salt
• ▢ 1 stick unsalted butter
• ▢ ½ cup pine-nuts - toasted
• ▢ 4 cups whole wheat flour
• ▢ 4-5 cups unbleached flour or more whole wheat
• ▢ Zest of 2 oranges

Instructions

• Mix water, syrup, and yeast. Let stand until frothy. Add in the saffron, orange zest, salt and butter. Stir well.
• Add half of the flour with the pine nuts, mixing until smooth.
• Stir in the remaining flour. Turn out onto a floured board. Knead until smooth and elastic.
• Return dough to bowl and cover with a damp tea towel to prevent the dough from drying out. Let dough rise in a warm, draft free place until double in bulk, about 2 hours.
• Punch dough down. Divide into 2 equal portions. Spread each into a rectangle.
• Roll up into loaves. Seal edges by pinching.
• Place loaves in oiled loaf pans. Cover and let rise in a warm draft free place until nearly double, about 40 minutes.
• Bake loaves in preheated 375 degree oven for one hour or until tops are browned and the loaves sound somewhat hollow when tapped.

Spa Index Kitchen Notes

Agave is a succulent plant native to Mexico and surrounding countries. The syrup is low glycemic (around 11 – 20 on the glycemic index).

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Nutrition

Serving: 1 Slice | Calories: 242 kcal (12%) | Carbohydrates: 38 g (13%) | Protein: 5 g (10%) | Fat: 9 g (14%) | Saturated Fat: 4 g (25%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1.7 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2.5 g | Cholesterol: 15 mg (5%) | Sodium: 1.2 mg | Potassium: 38 mg (1%) | Fiber: 4 g (17%) | Vitamin A: 220 IU (4%) | Iron: 0.3 mg (2%)

About:

Rancho La Puerta Destination Spa has been welcoming guests for more than 70 years, in Baja, Mexico.  Rancho La Puerta translated means “Ranch of the Door.”  A Ranch vacation invites you to “open your door” to a healthier, more balanced life.