Description
A moist and tangy cranberry orange bread recipe that combines fresh cranberries, zesty orange, and a perfectly balanced texture for a bakery-quality loaf that’s ideal for holidays, brunch, or everyday baking.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 large egg
- ¾ cup fresh orange juice
- ¼ cup vegetable or canola oil
- 1 tbsp orange zest
- 1 cup chopped fresh or frozen cranberries
- Optional: ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
- Optional: 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Optional: ½ tsp nutmeg
- For the Glaze: 1 cup powdered sugar, 2–3 tbsp orange juice, ½ tsp orange zest
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan and line the bottom with parchment paper for easy removal.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk egg, orange juice, oil, and orange zest until smooth and slightly frothy.
- Pour wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir gently until just combined—do not overmix.
- Fold in chopped cranberries and optional nuts using a spatula.
- Pour batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly.
- Bake for 50–60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool in the pan for 10–15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Optional: Whisk together glaze ingredients and drizzle over the cooled loaf before serving.
Notes
Use fresh orange juice for the brightest flavor. Avoid overmixing to prevent dense texture. For added crunch, include nuts or seeds. Allow bread to cool completely before glazing or slicing for clean cuts and best presentation.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Baking
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
Keywords: cranberry orange bread, moist bread, holiday baking, orange glaze, brunch loaf, quick bread recipe