Barefoot Contessa Cranberry Orange Bread Recipe
This Barefoot Contessa Cranberry Orange Bread is a moist, flavorful quick bread featuring a perfect balance of tart cranberries and zesty orange. With simple pantry ingredients and a straightforward preparation, it’s an ideal treat for breakfast, snack, or dessert, finished with a dusting of powdered sugar for an elegant touch.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 1 loaf (about 10 slices) 1x
- Category: Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tbsp orange zest
Wet Ingredients
- ¾ cup orange juice
- ¼ cup melted butter
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Add-ins
- 1½ cups cranberries
Optional
- Powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan thoroughly to ensure the bread doesn’t stick after baking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, and orange zest until well combined. This forms the base of your bread’s batter.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl or measuring cup, mix the orange juice, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla extract until smooth and fully blended. This will provide moisture and richness to your bread.
- Incorporate Wet and Dry Mixtures: Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Stir gently until just combined, being careful not to overmix to keep the bread tender.
- Fold in Cranberries: Gently fold the fresh cranberries into the batter, distributing them evenly throughout without crushing them to maintain bursts of tartness in each slice.
- Transfer and Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, smoothing the top lightly. Bake in the preheated oven for 50–60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, indicating it is fully baked.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the bread to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, dust with powdered sugar if desired. Slice and serve to enjoy the harmonious flavors.
Notes
- Fresh or frozen cranberries can be used; if using frozen, no need to thaw.
- Ensure not to overmix the batter to avoid a dense texture.
- Store any leftovers wrapped tightly at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
- This bread freezes well; wrap tightly and freeze for up to 2 months.
- Orange zest adds vibrant citrus aroma; avoid the bitter white pith when zesting.
Keywords: Cranberry orange bread, quick bread, holiday bread, fruit bread, moist bread, Barefoot Contessa recipe
