
0 from 39 votes
Cranberry Orange Bread
Making Cranberry Orange Bread is one of my favorite holiday traditions. It's an easy quick bread with a crazy light delicate texture, and the unique flavor combination of sweet citrus and tart cranberries.
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
1 hr 5 mins
Servings: 10 servings
Calories: 403 kcal
Course:
Dessert
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 orange
- 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 3 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1 3/4 cups cake flour (or make your own, instructions below)
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup cultured buttermilk
- 1 cup heaped, fresh cranberries
glaze
- 1 1/2 cups confectioner's sugar, sifted
- 3-4 Tbsp fresh orange juice (you may not need all of it)
garnish
- sugared cranberries
- grated orange zest
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 9x5 loaf pan and line with a sheet of parchment so you can easily lift the bread out for glazing and slicing.
- Remove the zest from the orange with a vegetable peeler. A serrated peeler works best for this. You want to remove just the orange part of the peel, with little to none of the bitter white part.
- Process the peel and the sugar in a food processor until the peel is very finely ground and the sugar is moist and fragrant, this will only take a minute. Pulse at first, then process.
- Rinse, dry, and give the cranberries a very rough chop, it's ok if some of them are whole. Set aside.
- Put the orange sugar and butter into a stand mixer and cream until light and fluffy ~ a full 5 minutes. Be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl a few times. This helps lighten the cake and help it rise.
- Beat in each of the eggs, one by one, making sure each egg is fully incorporated before adding the next one. Continue beating for another 2-3 minutes. The mixture will become light and fluffy. Be sure to scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl once or twice.
- Lower the speed of the mixer and mix in the baking poweder and salt. Then add the flour, alternately with the buttermilk, beating just until blended. I like to finish by hand with a silicone spatula.
- Fold in the cranberries, then turn the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing out the top.
- Bake on the center rack for 50-55 minutes, or until fully risen and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out without wet batter clinging to it (moist crumbs are fine.) If the cake seems to be browning too quickly, lay a sheet of foil loosely over the top.
- Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then remove, using the parchment paper handles, and let fully cool on a rack.
- Meanwhile whisk together the sugar with enough orange juice to make a thick glaze. The glaze should be quite thick, and just barely pourable. Spread the glaze over the cooled bread.
- Top with orange zest and sugared cranberries.
Cup of Yum
sugared cranberries
- Rinse the cranberries, then working in small batches, roll them around in a small bowl of sugar. You can use regular granulated sugar, or sparkling sugar, like I did. Set them on a plate to dry.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- The success of any cake or quick bread is in the details. Make sure your oven is accurate. Make sure you measure correctly. Use the fluff/scoop/level method for measuring flour: fluff up the flour first to loosen it, then scoop it with your cup measure, then lightly level if off with the flat side of a knife or your finger.
- To make your own cake flour: for every cup of flour, remove 2 tablespoons and replace with corn starch. Whisk well to combine.
Nutrition Information
Calories
403kcal
(20%)
Carbohydrates
51g
(17%)
Protein
5g
(10%)
Fat
20g
(31%)
Saturated Fat
12g
(60%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
Monounsaturated Fat
5g
Trans Fat
1g
Cholesterol
105mg
(35%)
Sodium
159mg
(7%)
Potassium
159mg
(5%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
34g
(68%)
Vitamin A
690IU
(14%)
Vitamin C
8mg
(9%)
Calcium
63mg
(6%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 10servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 403
% Daily Value*
Calories | 403kcal | 20% |
Carbohydrates | 51g | 17% |
Protein | 5g | 10% |
Fat | 20g | 31% |
Saturated Fat | 12g | 60% |
Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
Monounsaturated Fat | 5g | 25% |
Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
Cholesterol | 105mg | 35% |
Sodium | 159mg | 7% |
Potassium | 159mg | 3% |
Fiber | 1g | 4% |
Sugar | 34g | 68% |
Vitamin A | 690IU | 14% |
Vitamin C | 8mg | 9% |
Calcium | 63mg | 6% |
Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.