An Amazing Cranberry Orange Bread Recipe
This delightful Cranberry Orange Bread combines the tartness of cranberries with the bright citrus flavor of fresh orange zest and juice. Moist and tender with a hint of cinnamon and almond extract, this quick bread is perfect for breakfast, snack, or dessert. Easy to prepare and baked to golden perfection, it offers a wonderful balance of sweet and tangy flavors in every bite.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 1 loaf (10-12 slices) or 8 muffins 1x
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Wet Ingredients
- 2 large eggs, slightly beaten
- 8 oz canned whole cranberries in sauce
- 1 large orange, zested and juiced
- 2 tablespoons applesauce
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 2 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease or spray a bread loaf pan to prevent sticking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Stir well to evenly distribute all dry components.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, canned cranberries with sauce, orange zest and juice, applesauce, almond extract, and vegetable oil until thoroughly mixed.
- Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures: Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and gently stir until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the bread tender.
- Pour Batter into Pan: Transfer the batter into the prepared loaf pan, spreading it evenly.
- Bake: Bake the bread for 50-60 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and allow to cool before slicing.
- Optional Muffin Variation: For muffins, spoon about 2/3 cup of batter into greased muffin tins and bake at 350°F for 20-23 minutes until toothpick clean.
Notes
- This bread freezes well; slice and freeze individually for easy thawing.
- Ensure not to overmix the batter to maintain the bread’s light texture.
- Use fresh orange zest and juice for the best citrus flavor.
- Substitute canned whole cranberries in sauce with fresh cranberries and cranberry sauce if desired.
- Adjust baking time slightly if using a different pan size.
Keywords: cranberry bread, orange bread, quick bread, citrus bread, holiday bread, easy bread recipe
