The Ultimate Orange-Cranberry Bread Recipe for Cozy Mornings

Sweet orange-cranberry delight bread captures the essence of comforting home baking with its vibrant, tangy profile.

Bursting with bright citrus notes and tart berry undertones, this delectable treat crafts ordinary ingredients into something magical.

Seasonal ingredients dance together, creating a harmonious blend of flavors that warm the soul.

Soft, moist texture reveals delicate crumbs that melt seamlessly on your tongue.

Rich aromas waft through the kitchen, promising a delightful culinary experience that feels both nostalgic and innovative.

Bakers of all skill levels can master this simple yet sophisticated recipe with confidence.

You’ll fall in love with how effortlessly these complementary flavors create a memorable slice of comfort.

What Makes Orange-Cranberry Bread a Morning Favorite

• Create a Zesty Flavor Explosion: This orange-cranberry bread bursts with bright citrus notes and tangy cranberry bites, delivering a delightful taste adventure in every slice that dances across your palate.
• Enjoy Ultra-Moist Comfort: The carefully balanced wet-to-dry ingredient ratio ensures a tender, soft crumb that stays incredibly moist, making each bite luxuriously smooth and satisfying.
• Master a Beginner-Friendly Baking Project: With straightforward steps and minimal advanced techniques, this recipe welcomes home bakers of all skill levels to confidently create a stunning homemade bread without stress or complicated instructions.
• Perfect for Cozy Morning Moments: Ideal for breakfast, brunch, or afternoon tea, this versatile bread serves as a delectable companion to coffee or as a sweet treat that elevates simple gatherings with its elegant presentation and irresistible aroma.

Orange-Cranberry Bread Ingredients You’ll Need

• All-Purpose Flour: Base ingredient for the bread structure, unbleached flour works best for a tender crumb.
• Baking Powder: Helps the bread rise and creates a light texture.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness.

• Milk: Adds moisture and helps create a soft bread texture.
• Eggs: Provide structure, richness, and help bind the ingredients.
• Butter: Gives richness and contributes to the bread's tender crumb.
• Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps with browning.
• Orange Juice: Adds bright citrus flavor and moisture to the bread.
• Orange Zest: Delivers intense citrus aroma and flavor.

• Cranberries: Adds tartness and bursts of color throughout the bread.
• Powdered Sugar: Used for creating a smooth, sweet glaze.

How to Bake Orange-Cranberry Bread

Step 1: Prepare the Oven and Pan

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and dust a 6-cup (8 1/2 by 4 1/2) bread loaf pan with butter and flour.

Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients

• Flour
• Baking powder
• Salt

Step 3: Combine Liquid Ingredients

• Milk
• Most of the orange zest (save for glaze)
• Orange juice

Step 4: Cream Butter and Sugar

In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time.

Step 5: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients

Alternately add flour mixture and milk mixture to the creamed butter, starting and ending with flour mixture.

Step 6: Prepare Cranberries

Toss cranberries with flour and gently fold into the batter.

Step 7: Bake the Bread

Transfer batter to the prepared pan. Bake for 45-50 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Step 8: Cool the Bread

Let bread cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 9: Create Orange Glaze

• Powdered sugar
• 1 orange juice
• Reserved orange zest

Stir until smooth. Adjust consistency with additional orange juice or powdered sugar if needed.

Step 10: Finish with Glaze

Drizzle the glaze over the cooled bread.

Helpful Baking Tips for Orange-Cranberry Bread

• Zest with Precision: Use a microplane or fine grater to extract maximum orange zest without touching the bitter white pith.
• Cranberry Coating Trick: Tossing cranberries in flour prevents them from sinking to the bottom of the bread during baking.
• Moisture Magic: Don't overmix the batter to keep the bread tender and prevent tough, dense texture.
• Doneness Test: Insert a toothpick at a 45-degree angle near the center; if it comes out clean with a few moist crumbs, the bread is perfectly baked.
• Glaze Consistency Control: Add orange juice or powdered sugar gradually to achieve a smooth, pourable glaze that drips elegantly down the bread's sides.

How to Store and Reheat Orange-Cranberry Bread Properly

• Storing and Reheating
• Refrigerate leftover bread in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Wrap the loaf tightly in plastic wrap or place in a sealed container to maintain moisture and prevent drying out. For longer storage, freeze the bread by wrapping it securely in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil, which keeps it fresh for 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving. Reheat individual slices in the microwave for 10-15 seconds or warm the entire loaf in a preheated 300˚F oven for 10 minutes, which helps restore its soft texture and brings out the delightful orange and cranberry flavors.

Tasty Pairings for Orange-Cranberry Bread

• Pair with Sparkling Citrus Mocktail: Craft a refreshing orange-cranberry mocktail using leftover orange juice, sparkling water, and a touch of cranberry syrup to complement the bread's vibrant citrus and tart flavors.
• Serve alongside Creamy Mascarpone Spread: Whip up a light mascarpone cheese spread with a hint of honey and fresh orange zest to balance the bread's sweetness and add a luxurious creamy element.
• Match with Spiced Chai Tea: Brew a warm, aromatic chai tea with subtle spices like cinnamon and cardamom that will enhance the bread's orange and cranberry notes, creating a cozy and comforting pairing.
• Enjoy with Vanilla Bean Yogurt: Top a dollop of smooth vanilla bean yogurt next to a slice of bread to provide a cool, creamy contrast to the bread's warm, zesty profile.

Try These Variations on Orange-Cranberry Bread

• Lemon-Blueberry Fusion: Swap orange zest and juice with lemon, replace cranberries with fresh blueberries, and create a tangy lemon glaze using lemon juice and powdered sugar for a bright, summery bread.
• Chocolate Chip Cranberry Bread: Fold in dark chocolate chips alongside cranberries, use vanilla extract instead of citrus, and create a chocolate drizzle for a rich, indulgent version of the original recipe.
• Almond-Spiced Cranberry Bread: Add ground almonds to the flour mixture, incorporate cinnamon and nutmeg, and top with sliced almonds before baking for a warm, nutty profile that complements the cranberries perfectly.
• Maple Pecan Cranberry Bread: Replace sugar with maple syrup, mix in chopped pecans, and create a maple glaze using maple syrup and powdered sugar for a cozy, autumnal-inspired bread that brings comfort in every slice.

Orange-Cranberry Delight Bread Recipe

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4.8 from 31 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Warm Orange-Cranberry Delight Bread brings Mediterranean sunshine to your kitchen with zesty orange notes and tart cranberry swirls. Homemade goodness fills each slice, promising comfort and delightful flavor in every delectable bite you’ll savor.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 6 tablespoons (85 grams) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 ½ cups (360 milliliters) fresh cranberries, rinsed and patted dry
• ¾ cup (150 grams) granulated sugar

Dry Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups (180 grams) all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ tablespoon (4 grams) all-purpose flour

Liquid and Flavoring Ingredients:

• ¼ cup (60 milliliters) milk, room temperature
• ¼ cup (60 milliliters) orange juice, freshly squeezed
• 1 large orange zest, divided
• 1 cup (120 grams) powdered sugar
• 1 ½ tablespoons (22 milliliters) freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1 teaspoon orange zest, reserved from the orange above

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Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius) and prepare an 8.5 by 4.5 inch (22 by 11 centimeters) loaf pan by generously coating it with butter and dusting with flour.
2. In a medium mixing bowl, thoroughly combine the flour, baking powder, and salt using a whisk to ensure even distribution.
3. Measure the milk and mix it with most of the orange zest, reserving for the glaze, and add fresh orange juice to create a fragrant liquid mixture.
4. Using an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar together in a large bowl until the mixture becomes light, airy, and increases in volume.
5. Incorporate eggs into the butter mixture one at a time, mixing completely after each addition to create a smooth, homogeneous batter.
6. Gradually add the flour mixture and milk mixture to the creamed butter, alternating between the two and beginning and ending with the flour mixture to maintain a consistent texture.
7. Lightly coat the fresh cranberries with of flour to prevent sinking, then gently fold them into the batter to distribute evenly.
8. Transfer the batter to the prepared loaf pan, spreading it uniformly, and bake for 45 to 50 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
9. Allow the bread to rest in the pan for 10 to 15 minutes, which helps it set and prevents crumbling.
10. Carefully remove the bread from the pan and place it on a wire rack to cool completely.
11. Prepare the glaze by whisking together powdered sugar, of orange juice, and the reserved orange zest until smooth and glossy.
12. Adjust the glaze consistency by adding more orange juice or powdered sugar as needed to achieve the desired drizzling texture.
13. Once the bread is completely cooled, drizzle the glaze over the top, allowing it to cascade down the sides for an elegant finish.

Notes

• Zest Tip: Reserve a small amount of orange zest for the glaze to enhance the citrusy flavor and create a vibrant, aromatic finish.
• Cranberry Coating: Tossing cranberries in flour prevents them from sinking to the bottom of the bread during baking, ensuring even distribution.
• Mixing Technique: Alternate adding dry and wet ingredients to maintain a smooth, well-incorporated batter that prevents overmixing.
• Cooling Method: Allow the bread to rest in the pan for 10-15 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to prevent breaking and maintain structural integrity.
• Glaze Consistency: Adjust the glaze by adding more orange juice or powdered sugar to achieve the perfect drizzling texture.
• Baking Indicator: Use the toothpick test to determine doneness – it should come out clean when inserted into the center of the bread.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 50 minutes
• Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 290 kcal
• Sugar: 25 g
• Sodium: 95 mg
• Fat: 12 g
• Saturated Fat: 7 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0.5 g
• Carbohydrates: 42 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 65 mg