Cranberry Orange Bread
I know I keep saying it but…
Can you believe Christmas is a little over a month away?
I can’t! But I’m super excited that it is!
Because Christmas is definitely my FAVORITE time of the year!
I’ve already hung the lights outside, and I’m just starting to decorate inside. As for shopping, well, that’s going to be done online this year, so I’ll get that taken care of soon enough.
And soon I will be in a big baking frenzy, so I’m making a list of all the goodies I’m going to make for family and friends.
I will have gift baskets to fill, cookies to frost, and plenty of yummy sweet treats to deliver before Christmas arrives!
As I mentioned in my Christmas Morning Gift Basket post a couple of years back, one of the quick bread recipes I love to gift is this Cranberry-Orange bread.
Sometimes the bread made around the holidays can be SUPER heavy and even worse, SUPER sweet. Not so with this bread.
It is actually quite light and the tartness of the cranberries definitely complements the sweetness of the orange.
what you need to make this recipe:
The ingredient list is pretty simple and other than the cranberries, you probably have everything in your refrigerator and pantry.
- Flour
- Sugar
- Eggs
- Butter
- Orange juice (I usually use fresh squeezed)
- Cranberries
- Baking Soda/Powder
- Spices
I also make a simple orange glaze to drizzle over the cooled loaves as well. It’s totally optional but why not? It adds a little bit more sweetness and ‘dazzles’ up the bread a bit!
how to make cranberry orange bread
This recipe is so quick and easy to put together! I guess that is why they call it a ‘quick’ bread! LOL!
- Grease your bread pan (s)
- Preheat your oven to 350
- Cream together the butter and sugar/ add in the eggs
- Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl and add them to the batter
- Fold in the cranberries
- Spoon into pan (s)
- Bake
- Cool
- Drizzle tops with glaze
You can also change the recipe up a bit by making one large loaf instead of three mini loaves. It just takes a bit longer to bake. Both can be stored in an air-tight container for up to a week and in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Here is the recipe!
Cranberry Orange Bread
A light and airy loaf of bread filled with orange and cranberry
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/2 stick butter softened
- 1 cup white sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 tsp grated orange peel
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1 cup coarsely chopped cranberries
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 Tablespoon chopped nuts (optional)
Orange Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 Tablespoons orange juice
Instructions
-
Preheat oven to 350. Combine dry ingredients set aside. Beat butter and sugar until smooth. Add eggs one at a time. Add in vanilla and orange juice. Slowly add in dry ingredients. Mix until just incorporated. Fold in cranberries, nuts, and orange peel. Pour into 3 greased mini loaf pans or one regular. Bake for 35 minutes(for mini pans) 1 hour for regular pan or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let cool 5 minutes before removing from pans. Place a piece of waxed paper underneath the cooling rack. Combine ingredients and whisk until smooth. Drizzle over bread. Store bread in an airtight bag or container, or freeze for up to 6 months.
Recipe Notes
You can also give these delicious-festive loaves as gifts during the holidays too!
how to wrap and decorate loaves inexpensively
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First, I wrap the loaves in parchment paper. (I’ve found that whenever I used to use saran wrap the loaves got sticky on the outside.) I forgot to take a photo of that process but here’s a quick instructional on how:
- cut a sheet of parchment paper triple the size of your loaf
- place your loaf in the center and fold either side up
- bring the two sides together and fold over until firm to the top of the loaf
- fold each side in a V and tuck under the loafÂ
Next, I cut a piece of kraft paper to wrap around the loaf once. I tape in place on the underside of the loaf. Then it’s all about the decoration. I LOVE the old-fashioned look of the red & white twine, but you could use raffia, colored ribbon, whatever you like.
For the tag, I usually make them in word and print them off. But I just ran out of printer ink so I improvised. I bought the kraft paper gift tags at the Dollar General for $1 and then some fun-festive stick-on tags there too for $1. Then I just stuck one of the fun tags onto the kraft paper tag and VIOLA!
Lastly, I tuck in a bit of greenery, berries, or a pine cone! You could also use dried fruit or anything you can forage from your yard.Â
You could also use the decorative cardboard bread loaf pans that the Dollar Store has as well. However you decorate the loaves, your family and friends are SURE to love them!
Homemade gifts truly come from the heart, and they are one of my favorite ways to say, “I LOVE you!”
I hope today’s post inspires you to give homemade and I hope you enjoy this recipe for Cranberry Orange Bread!
Thank you so much for stopping by!
That bread looks so good – when I’m at the grocery store I must grab a bag of cranberries so I can try this. Looks simple enough and I’m wondering if I could take that batter and just do muffins?
Totally obsessed with this fantastic idea, Christine! It’s the perfect way to wake up on Christmas morning and would make such a fabulous gift idea too. I swear everything you to do perfection! Sending this to my Mom right now 🙂 Hugs, CoCo
Oh my goodness, CoCo! That means SO much coming from someone as talented as you! Thank you so much! I hope your Mom enjoys the recipe! Hugs!
Love the citrus flavor, and the red cranberry fruits bites on the bread. I’m sure warm slice of bread will tastes so good , and this will make a great holiday dessert too, thank you for sharing it!
Thank you so much, Aarthi! This is one of my favorite combos!