Cranberry Orange Bread Recipe

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Treat yourself to my delicious cranberry orange bread recipe. Cranberries are beautifully tangy, not too sweet, and always look gorgeous. Together with orange, they’re like a holiday on steroids. You’re in for a festive treat that’s perfect with coffee or tea!

Cranberry orange bread with glaze ready to delight guests.

I love having bread around all the time, and I prefer making it myself. Call it my therapy. Besides, bread is versatile, whether for dessert, a sandwich, or a friendly partner for coffee with friends! And what’s better than a good dessert bread?

So here’s my recipe for a nice, fruity cranberry bread that pairs perfectly with cool or warm weather.

Enjoying a slice of cranberry bread with orange smothered with butter.

What Orange Juice and Zest Does for Cranberries

Whenever the holiday season closes in, and even when it’s not, the bright flavor from oranges is the ideal complement to other fruits, chocolate, and spices (think of those pomanders—clove-studded oranges—popular during Christmas). Add the juice and zest to cranberry bread (or sauce), and you have a flavor match made in heaven. Something about the sweetness and acidity creates a party for your taste buds.

How to Make Cranberry Orange Bread

Mix the wet ingredients, mix the dry ingredients, then combine them.

Preheat the oven to 350℉ (175 ℃). Spray a 9×5-inch loaf pan with baking spray. Set aside.
Combine the Greek yogurt, melted butter, orange juice, eggs, vanilla, and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Beat at medium speed for a few minutes until the eggs are completely incorporated. (Photo 1)
Dry Ingredients – Combine the flour, baking powder, soda, orange zest, and salt in a separate bowl. (Photos 2-3)
Sift the dry ingredients into the batter, mixing on medium speed for 30-60 seconds or until the flour is incorporated. Please don’t overmix the batter. (Photo 4)

Fold in the cranberries, pour into the loaf pan, and bake it.

Fold the cranberries and sliced almonds. (Photos 5-6)
Pour the batter into the greased loaf pan. (Photo 7)
Bake in the preheated oven for 50-60 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean; the sides will be a rich, golden brown color. Take the bread from the oven when it’s done and cool on a wire rack for about 30 minutes. (Photo 8)
Glaze – For the easy orange glaze, juice the large orange used earlier for the zest. Put 3-4 tablespoons into a mixing bowl and add the confectioner’s sugar. Whisk in the orange zest until a smooth glaze forms. If you’d like a thicker glaze, add more sugar; for a thinner glaze, add more orange juice.
Drizzle the glaze over the cranberry loaf and serve.

Sliced orange cranberry bread ready to serve with a cup of coffee.

Tips and Tricks

Avoid overmixing for a tender crumb instead of a tough one.
Turn the loaf pan around halfway through baking for even cooking and browning.
Keep an eye on it when it starts browning. Overbaking will dry the bread out.
Let it cool before slicing so it can firm up. I know the temptation is strong, but patience is a virtue, especially in bread making.

Make-Ahead and Storage Instructions

Quick breads keep well at room temperature in an airtight container for about three days, in the fridge for up to a week, or in the freezer for 3-4 months. You can freeze it whole, but slicing it and freezing it in individual servings is a convenient way to satisfy a craving without being tempted to eat the whole loaf.

It’s not only delicious at room temperature, but it’s also great toasted. Or you can microwave it in 5-second pulses in a microwave-safe BPA-free container lightly covered with a damp paper towel.

Slathering freshly baked dessert bread with butter or cream cheese.

FAQs

Dried or fresh cranberries?

You can use either. If you have fresh and the recipe calls for dried, you would use a cup of fresh to replace ¾ cup of dried. If you have dried and the recipe calls for fresh, add ¾ cup of dried cranberries to replace a cup of fresh, then rehydrate them.

How do you rehydrate dried cranberries?

Fill a cup ¾ of the way with cranberries, then cover them with boiling water. Wait 10-20 minutes and drain. Done:)

How do you add dried fruit to the batter?

Adding dried fruit to any batter is usually best after all the other ingredients are combined—think of it as the last step. Lightly dusting it with flour helps distribute it more evenly without it all sinking to the bottom, but you can gently fold it in.

How to Enjoy It

A cup of steaming hot coffee is a must. A pumpkin spice latte keeps up the holiday flavors for a little extra. It also makes a less sweet (aka healthier) dessert for a Thanksgiving dinner with roast turkey, mashed potatoes, and green bean casserole.