The holidays are the perfect time for cozy flavors that fill your kitchen with warmth and cheer, and nothing says festive comfort quite like cranberry orange bread.
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Bursting with tart cranberries and bright citrus notes, this bread is as beautiful as it is delicious — perfect for breakfast, a holiday brunch, or a sweet treat alongside your favorite cup of coffee or tea.
Each slice offers a tender, moist crumb dotted with juicy cranberries and hints of zesty orange, creating a delightful balance of flavors that’s both traditional and refreshing.
Baking this bread is just as joyful as enjoying it. The aroma of fresh citrus and cranberries mingling with buttery sweetness will instantly bring the cozy holiday spirit into your home.
Whether you’re gifting slices to friends and family, serving it at a festive gathering, or simply treating yourself, this cranberry orange bread is a simple yet elegant way to celebrate the season. Let’s dive into this easy, crowd-pleasing recipe that’s sure to become a holiday favorite year after year.
Cranberry Orange Bread Recipe
Ingredients:
4 cups flour
2 cups sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups orange juice
4 tablespoons butter or shortening
2 tablespoons grated orange peel
2 eggs, beaten
1 12-ounce package (3 cups) fresh cranberries
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 2 large loaf pans or 6 mini loaf pans. You can also use this recipe to make cranberry orange muffins. This recipe will fill approximately 18 muffin tins.
Combine the wet ingredients in one bowl, and the dry ingredients in another, larger bowl. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until just combined. Gently stir in cranberries and nuts.
Pour into greased pans. Bake large loaves for about 55 minutes and mini loaves or muffins for about 30 minutes, or until browned and a toothpick comes out clean. Let the bread cool in the pan at least 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
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I used dried cranberries and it turned out great!
The butter should just be softened.
Is the butter just softened or melted?
Is the butter melted or softened?
Hi! I hope your bread turned out. If you find your bread is getting brown too fast you can lay a piece of foil over the top of it for the last 10 minutes or so, so it doesn’t keep browning. Also make sure that your oven racks aren’t up too high. I sometimes forget to adjust mine. This recipe does make two large loaves…sorry I’m not sure what the dimensions on that size loaf pan would be.
What size pans am I supposed to use? My bread has been in the oven for 1 hour, 10 minutes & knife still comes out very wet. Also, bread is getting very brown. What to do?