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Cranberry Orange Bread (With Orange Glaze!)
5 from 15 votes

Cranberry Orange Bread (With Orange Glaze!)

This Cranberry Orange Bread features a moist, tender crumb flavored with fresh orange zest and juice, enriched by butter, eggs, and milk. It includes fresh or frozen cranberries folded into the batter for bursts of tartness. The loaf is topped with a sweet orange glaze made from powdered sugar and orange juice, enhancing its citrus character. Baking produces a golden crust around a bright, fruity bread.

Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
1 hr 5 mins
Additional Time
30 mins
Total Time
2 hrs 5 mins
Servings: 10 Slices
Calories: 331 kcal
Course: Dessert, Breakfast, Baked Goods
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

For The Bread
  • 2 large orange 1 tablespoon zest and ½ cup orange juice
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 6 tablespoons butter unsalted, softened
  • 2 large egg beaten
  • ½ cup milk two percent or whole
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour plus 2 teaspoons for cranberries
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups cranberries fresh or frozen
For The Glaze
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/2 large orange 1 teaspoon orange zest and 1-2 tablespoons juice
  • 2 ¼ teaspoons milk two percent or whole milk

Instructions

For The Bread
    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a metal loaf pan with parchment paper or grease the pan generously with oil.
  2. Zest one orange to make about 1 tablespoon of zest. Place the zest and the sugar into a large mixing bowl together. Stir zest into sugar, helping to release the orange flavor into the sugar.
  3. With an electric mixer in a large bowl, cream the sugar with the butter.
  4. Crack the egg and beat it. Add the egg and vanilla, then mix into the butter mixture until smooth. Add the milk and orange juice and mix until combined.
  5. Add flour, baking powder, and salt into a second bowl and mix until well combined. Then add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix well until a batter forms and is fully blended.
  6. Toss the cranberries with a teaspoon of flour. See notes below about using fresh versus frozen cranberries.
  7. With a silicone spatula, fold the cranberries into the batter. Pour batter carefully into the prepared loaf pan.
  8. Bake for 65-70 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  9. Cool the loaf for at least 15 minutes before removing from the pan. Cool loaf completely on a wire rack before glazing.
For The Glaze
  1. In a medium-sized bowl, add powdered sugar, one tablespoon orange juice, one teaspoon orange zest and milk. Whisk together until a smooth glaze forms. Place a piece of parchment paper under the loaf for easy cleanup.
  2. Drizzle glaze over the loaf and let glaze set for at least 30 minutes. The longer you wait the less sticky the glaze will be, which will give you prettier loaf slices. Enjoy!

Notes

  • When using frozen cranberries, add them to the batter while still frozen and bake immediately.
  • Rinse and dry fresh cranberries well before tossing in flour and folding into the batter.
  • Doubling cranberries increases moisture and tanginess but requires using more flour to coat them.
  • Zest oranges before juicing to avoid including bitter white pith in zest.
  • Fresh orange zest is essential for flavor and should not be skipped, even if using store-bought orange juice.

Nutrition Information

Calories 331kcal (17%) Carbohydrates 60g (20%) Protein 5g (10%) Fat 9g (14%) Saturated Fat 5g (25%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g (6%) Monounsaturated Fat 2g (10%) Trans Fat 0.3g (15%) Cholesterol 57mg (19%) Sodium 318mg (13%) Potassium 164mg (3%) Fiber 3g (12%) Sugar 38g (76%) Vitamin A 401IU (8%) Vitamin C 27mg (30%) Calcium 119mg (12%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 10 Slices

Amount Per Serving

Calories 331

% Daily Value*

Calories 331kcal 17%
Carbohydrates 60g 20%
Protein 5g 10%
Fat 9g 14%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 2g 10%
Trans Fat 0.3g 15%
Cholesterol 57mg 19%
Sodium 318mg 13%
Potassium 164mg 3%
Fiber 3g 12%
Sugar 38g 76%
Vitamin A 401IU 8%
Vitamin C 27mg 30%
Calcium 119mg 12%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.