Best Orange Cranberry Bread Recipe

Introduction

This Best Orange Cranberry Bread combines bright citrus flavors with tart cranberries for a moist, flavorful treat. Perfect for breakfast or an afternoon snack, it’s easy to make and sure to impress family and friends.

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon orange zest
• ½ cup buttermilk
• ½ cup canola oil or other neutral oil
• ½ cup orange juice
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 ½ cups fresh cranberries

For the glaze:

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 to 3 tablespoons orange juice

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan.
2. Step 2: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
3. Step 3: In a small bowl, mix the sugar and orange zest with a spoon until the sugar is lightly orange in color. Set aside.
4. Step 4: In a large bowl, whisk the buttermilk, oil, orange juice, eggs, and vanilla until well combined.
5. Step 5: Add the flour mixture and orange zest sugar to the wet ingredients. Whisk gently until just combined. Avoid overmixing.
6. Step 6: Fold in the cranberries with a wooden spoon or spatula until evenly distributed.
7. Step 7: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 65–75 minutes. Cover loosely with foil if browning too quickly.
8. Step 8: Check doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center. It should come out with a light crumb. Let the bread cool for 10-15 minutes before removing from the pan to a rack.
9. Step 9: To make the glaze, whisk powdered sugar and orange juice together in a bowl until smooth. Adjust juice to reach your desired consistency.
10. Step 10: Once the bread has completely cooled, drizzle the glaze over the top. Slice and serve.

Tips & Variations

• Use frozen cranberries if fresh are out of season; no need to thaw before adding to batter.
• For extra texture, toss cranberries in a little flour before folding in to prevent sinking.
• Substitute buttermilk with plain yogurt mixed with a tablespoon of milk if needed.
• Try adding ½ cup chopped nuts such as walnuts or pecans for crunch.

Storage

Store the bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, keep it wrapped in plastic wrap and refrigerated for up to 1 week. Reheat slices briefly in a toaster oven or microwave before serving.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use dried cranberries instead of fresh?

Fresh cranberries provide the best tart flavor and moisture, but dried cranberries can be used. Soak them briefly in warm water or orange juice before adding to the batter to keep the bread moist.

How do I know when the bread is fully baked?

The bread is done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs. If the top browns too fast before the inside is cooked, loosely cover with foil and continue baking.

Best Orange Cranberry Bread Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.8 from 102 reviews

This Best Orange Cranberry Bread is a moist, flavorful quick bread perfectly balanced with the tartness of fresh cranberries and the bright zest and juice of orange. It’s ideal for breakfast, brunch, or an afternoon snack, featuring a sweet orange glaze that adds a decorative and delicious finish.

• Author: Kai
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 65-75 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Yield: 1 (9×5-inch) loaf, about 10 slices 1x
• Category: Baking
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

For the Bread

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon orange zest
• ½ cup buttermilk
• ½ cup canola oil (or other neutral tasting oil)
• ½ cup orange juice
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 ½ cups fresh cranberries

For the Glaze

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 to 3 tablespoons orange juice

Instructions

1. Preheat and prepare pan: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan thoroughly to prevent sticking.
2. Mix dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt until well combined. Set aside.
3. Combine sugar and orange zest: In a small bowl, mix the granulated sugar and orange zest with a spoon until the sugar takes on a light orange color to infuse citrus flavor.
4. Mix wet ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, canola oil, orange juice, eggs, and vanilla extract until smooth.
5. Combine wet and dry: Add the flour mixture and the sugar-orange zest mixture to the wet ingredients and whisk gently until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the bread tender.
6. Fold in cranberries: Add fresh cranberries and gently fold them into the batter using a wooden spoon or spatula until evenly distributed.
7. Transfer and bake: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and place it in the oven. Bake for 65 to 75 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs. If the top browns too quickly, loosely cover it with aluminum foil.
8. Cool the bread: Remove the bread from the oven and allow it to cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
9. Make the glaze: While the bread cools, whisk the powdered sugar and 2 to 3 tablespoons orange juice in a medium bowl until smooth and creamy. Adjust orange juice to reach your desired consistency.
10. Glaze and serve: Once the bread is completely cooled, drizzle the orange glaze evenly over the top. Slice and serve.

Notes

• Calories listed are approximate and based on one slice (1/10th of the loaf).
• This recipe yields one standard 9×5-inch loaf.
• To keep the bread moist, do not overmix the batter.
• If fresh cranberries are not available, frozen cranberries can be used but do not thaw before adding.
• Store the bread in an airtight container at room temperature or freeze for longer storage.
• For a more intense orange flavor, increase the orange zest to 2 tablespoons if desired.

Keywords: orange cranberry bread, quick bread, cranberry bread, orange zest bread, holiday bread, citrus bread