Cranberry Orange Bread

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This Cranberry Orange Bread is moist, buttery and sweet with a bright orange flavor and fresh cranberries in every bite! It’s easy to make from scratch with simple ingredients.

a loaf of Cranberry Orange Bread with glaze and two slices cut out of it

This Cranberry Orange Bread is a festive and delicious quick bread perfect for dessert or breakfast.

It’s made from scratch with simple ingredients, including fresh cranberries (also try this recipe for the best cranberry sauce), orange juice and orange zest.

Topped with an orange glaze that hardens with a perfect shine, it’s even more delicious than your favorite bakery!

two slices of Cranberry Orange Bread with glaze

Cranberry Orange Bread Ingredients & Substitutions

overhead photo of the ingredients in this Cranberry Orange Bread recipe
  • Salted butter. unsalted butter works well in this recipe.
  • Granulated sugar. white sugar or organic cane sugar are both great choices.
  • Orange juice. use pulp-free, pure orange juice for the best results.
  • Sour cream. plain Greek yogurt or canola oil can be used in place of sour cream.
  • All-purpose flour. make it gluten-free by using a 1:1 all purpose gluten-free baking flour.
  • Whole milk. heavy cream or half and half are great substitutes.
a loaf of Cranberry Orange Bread with 2 slices cut out of it

How to Make Cranberry Orange Bread

Let’s walk through how to make this orange cranberry bread together, and don’t forget to watch the video.

Begin by preheating your oven to 350ยฐF and buttering & flouring a 9×5″ loaf pan.

a buttered 9x5" loaf pan

Then, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a medium bowl and set it aside.

two photos showing how to make Cranberry Orange Bread - combining dry ingredients

Next, whisk together the melted butter, sugar, orange juice sour cream, eggs, and vanilla in a large bowl until smooth.

two photos showing how to make Cranberry Orange Bread - whisking together wet ingredients

Then, add the dry ingredients to the smooth wet ingredients and stir until there are no lumps or pockets of flour.

two photos showing how to make Cranberry Orange Bread - combining wet and dry ingredients

Then, gently fold in the cranberries and orange zest until evenly distributed throughout the batter.

two photos showing how to make Cranberry Orange Bread - stirring in cranberries and orange zest

Next, spread the batter evenly intothe prepared loaf pan.

Cranberry Orange Bread in a loaf pan before baking

Bake on the lower rack in the preheated oven for 50-55 minutes (check at 50), or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Let the cranberry orange bread cool completely in the loaf pan (about 6 hours or overnight).

Cranberry Orange Bread in a baking pan after baking on a wire cooling rack.

Once the bread is completely cooled, remove it from the loaf pan, releasing the sides with a sharp knife. Turn it out onto a cutting board or serving plate.

two photos showing removing Cranberry Orange Bread from the baking pan and putting it on a plate

Make the Glaze

Once the cranberry orange bread is completely cooled, make the glaze by whisking the glaze ingredients together in a medium bowl until smooth.

two photos showing how to make the glaze for Cranberry Orange Bread

Then, pour the glaze over the top of the cooled orange cranberry bread.

glaze being poured onto Cranberry Orange Bread

Transfer the bread to the refrigerator until the glaze is set (about 30-60 minutes).

two photos showing Cranberry Orange Bread after the glaze has hardened.

Serve

Once the glaze is set, slice the cranberry orange bread and serve. It’s best served slightly chilled or at room temperature.

We like to serve it as a dessert, sweet breakfast or festive snack.

a loaf of Cranberry Orange Bread with 3 slices cut out of it

Store/Freeze

Store leftover cranberry orange bread in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 1 month

I suggest freezing it in individual slices so you can take them out and enjoy as you wish!

a piece of Cranberry Orange Bread on a plate with a fork taking a bite

Cranberry Orange Bread Recipe FAQS

Can I used dried cranberries instead of fresh?

Yes, you can. Just decrease the amount to 1 cup dried cranberries.

Should you cut cranberries before baking?

You do not have to cut the cranberries before baking them in this cranberry orange loaf recipe.

Can I double this recipe?

Yes, double it and bake it in two, 9×5″ loaf pans.

a loaf of Cranberry Orange Bread with 2 slices cut out of it

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Cranberry Orange Bread Recipe

Laura
This Cranberry Orange Bread is moist, buttery and sweet with a bright orange flavor and fresh cranberries in every bite! It's easy to make from scratch with simple ingredients.
5 from 1 vote
Course bread, Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12 servings
Calories 295
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Cooling2 hours
Total Time3 hours 10 minutes

Ingredients 
 

Glaze

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Butter and flour a 9×5โ€ loaf pan, set aside.
  • In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together melted butter, sugar, orange juice sour cream, eggs, and vanilla until smooth.
  • Add dry ingredients and stir until combined and there are no lumps or pockets of flour.
  • Then, fold in the cranberries and orange zest until evenly distributed throughout the batter.
  • Transfer batter to the prepared loaf pan.
  • Bake on the lower rack in the preheated oven for 50-55 minutes (check at 50), or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  • Let cool completely in the loaf pan (about 6 hours or overnight).
  • Remove from loaf pan, releasing the sides with a sharp knife. Turn it out onto a cutting board or serving plate.

Make the glaze

  • Once the bread is completely cooled, make the glaze.
  • Whisk the glaze ingredients together in a medium bowl until smooth.
  • Pour over the top of the cooled orange cranberry bread.
  • Transfer the bread to the refrigerator until the glaze is set (about 30-60 minutes).
  • Then slice and serve.

Video

Notes

*Note: if you prefer a more subtle orange flavor, use only 1 teaspoon of zest.
Ingredient Substitution Notes
  • Salted butter. unsalted butter works well in this recipe.
  • Granulated sugar. white sugar or organic cane sugar are both great choices.
  • Orange juice. use pulp-free, pure orange juice for the best results.
  • Sour cream. plain Greek yogurt or canola oil can be used in place of sour cream.
  • All-purpose flour. make it gluten-free by using a 1:1 all purpose gluten-free baking flour.
  • Whole milk. heavy cream or half and half are great substitutes.
Store/Freeze
Store leftover cranberry orange bread in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 1 month
I suggest freezing it in individual slices so you can take them out and enjoy as you wish!
ย 

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 295kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 50mg | Sodium: 217mg | Potassium: 134mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 32g | Vitamin A: 327IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 46mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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5 from 1 vote

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4 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Another amazing recipe! Perfect in every way – moist, not too sweet and a yummy quick bread for the season! You canโ€™t beat the cranberry/orange flavors. Thank you Laura!