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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

    Cup of Yum
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Rinse, dry, and give the cranberries a very rough chop, it's ok if some of them are whole. Set aside.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. Fold in the cranberries, then turn the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing out the top.
  9. 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.
  10. Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then remove, using the parchment paper handles, and let fully cool on a rack.
  11. 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.
  12. Top with orange zest and sugared cranberries.
sugared cranberries
    Cup of Yum
  1. 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.

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.

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