Low-Fat Honey Apricot Bread from Inn at Playa Del Rey
For guests at the secluded Inn at Playa dey Rey, a view of the Hollywood sign in the distance might be the only visible clue they’re in the middle of a bustling metropolis. Overlooking the 600-acre Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve, the inn’s decks, balconies, and French doors open to tranquil vistas of native coastal flora and fauna. Just beyond the preserve, guests can watch sailboats drift out to sea from the nearby Marina del Rey harbor. The inn is modeled after a classic New England beach resort, honoring its location just three blocks from the beach at Playa del Rey. With its gorgeous views, playful coastal cottage style, and upscale amenities (including an oversized Jacuzzi tub for two and double-sided gas fireplace in the Grand View Suite), it’s no surprise the inn was awarded the Conde Nast Gold Award, or that it was named One of the Ten Best Urban Inns by Forbes.
The peaceful setting at the inn belies its urban location, but its ambiance is completely in step with Los Angeles’ active outdoor lifestyle. Guests at the inn enjoy taking complimentary cruiser bikes for a spin along the Marvin Braude Bike Trail. The 22-mile path stretches from Torrance to Will Rogers State Beach in Pacific Palisades. South along the path is Manhattan Beach, known for its surf and sand. Heading north, calm harbor waters in Marina del Rey invite stand-up paddleboarding. Even further north, the colorful beaches of Venice and Santa Monica await.
Los Angeles is also known for its health-conscious cuisine, thanks to innovative chefs, amazing local produce, and considerable influence from the local entertainment industry. The innkeepers at the Inn at Playa del Rey offer guests a healthy breakfast buffet each morning, featuring a daily signature entrée alongside fresh fruit, yogurt, granola, and homemade bread. Guests opting for a “cheat day” from their healthy eating regimens can add on a bottle of bubbly and make it a mimosa morning. They can also join other guests for afternoon tea and cookies or an evening wine hour in the lobby.
The innkeepers at the Inn at Playa del Rey have been generous enough to share one of their signature breakfast recipes, a healthy low-fat quick bread that combines the texture of a morning muffin, the flavor of a pound cake, and the airiness of an angel food cake. The inn’s Low-fat Honey Apricot Bread has just the right amount of sweetness and provides a boost of energy to help get the day started, making it the perfect breakfast bread.
The inn’s version of this bread replaces some of the whole eggs with whites only and calls for just a teaspoon of butter for the whole loaf, making it very low in saturated fat. Replacing half the sugar with honey makes the cake even healthier, given its higher nutritional value and smaller impact on blood sugar. The honey also creates a slightly crunchy crust reminiscent of a pound cake, while giving the interior a rich, golden color. Diced dried apricots stud the cake like jewels, adding little punches of sweetness and chewiness to every bite.
This bread is incredibly flexible when hosting a crowd. Guests will love it whether they’re watching their fat intake, carb loading for a strenuous hike, or just looking to feel slightly less guilty about enjoying it with a generous slathering of butter.
Low-Fat Honey Apricot Bread
Courtesy of Inn at Playa del Rey
Makes 8 servings (1 loaf)
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon butter
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 large egg whites
- 1/3 cup milk
- ½ cup honey
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¾ cup diced dried apricots
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Liberally spray a loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar. Add the beaten eggs and egg whites, milk, honey, and vanilla to the sugar mixture and mix until well combined. In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, and baking soda. Sift the flour mixture into the sugar mixture, then gently mix it in, being careful not to overmix. Fold in the diced apricots. Add the batter to the greased loaf pan and bake for 45 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
