This Cranberry Orange Bread is super moist and tender with the perfect amount of zest, and just a hint of tart. Coated in an irresistible orange glaze, this easy quick bread recipe is perfect for breakfast, dessert, or a snack with tea or coffee! Try it this Thanksgiving or Christmas!
If you love cranberry recipes during the holidays, try my Homemade Cranberry Sauce or my Cranberry Margarita!
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cranberry orange bread
I love baking during the holidays! It’s so fun to play with warm seasonal flavors like ginger, cloves, cinnamon, mint, and also seasonal produce like apples, oranges, and cranberries. These flavors and fruits are not only delicious, but they’re packed full of healthy inflammatories and nutrients like vitamin C!
This moist Cranberry Orange Bread recipe is not too sweet, soft on the inside, and crisp and crunchy on the corners. I used both orange juice and orange zest to make sure this bread is packed full with lots of orange flavor! Once the bread is cooled I pour on a homemade orange glaze. This bread makes a perfect breakfast or dessert and is great to serve during the holidays!
Best of all this bread is made with pantry staples that you’ll already have on hand, plus it comes together in minutes using just one bowl and no stand mixer. You will love the aroma coming from your oven when you bake this cranberry orange quick bread!
If you love this recipe then you would love my Cranberry Protein Balls!
Ingredients
The full ingredient list and measurements are listed in the printable recipe below.
Cranberry Orange Bread
- Cranberries: You can use either fresh or frozen cranberries. I love how their tartness complements the sweet zestiness of the oranges in this Cranberry Orange Bread recipe.
- Oranges: I added both orange juice for moisture, as well as orange zest to really bring out the orange flavor in this sweet bread.
- Butter: Butter brings an extra layer of flavor and richness. It really make this recipe delicious!
- Sugar: Sugar is essential in this recipe to balance out the tartness of the cranberries and orange.
- Baking powder & baking soda: These pantry staples help the bread to rise well.
- Egg: This is the binding ingredient that brings everything together, and also helps it to rise a little as well.
Orange Glaze
- Powdered Sugar: Use powdered sugar instead of granulated in this cranberry orange bread recipe to make sure that the glaze is perfectly smooth.
- Orange Juice: Orange juice adds flavor as well as making the glaze nice and runny so it can easily be added to the cranberry bread.
How to make Cranberry Orange Bread with glaze
- Preheat oven: To 350 degrees F. Butter a 9 x 5 loaf pan and set aside.
- Make batter: Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. Add butter and mix until crumbly. Stir in the zest, juice, and egg. Mix until combined. Fold in the cranberries.
- Bake: Pour batter (it will be thick) into the prepared pan and bake for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick comes out mostly clean.
- Make glaze: While the cranberry orange bread is baking, combine the powdered sugar and orange juice for the glaze and set aside.
- Cool: Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 30 minutes then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Serve: Once the bread is cool pour on the glaze and serve!
How to make the Orange Glaze
Simply combine powdered sugar and fresh-squeezed orange juice in a small bowl and whisk to combine. Set aside until you are ready to drizzle on top of cooled bread.
How to store Cranberry Orange Bread
- Store: In an airtight container at room temperature. It was last up to 4 days.
- Freeze: You can freeze this cranberry and orange bread for up to 3 months. Make sure the bread isn’t glazed when you freeze it and store it in an airtight container like a ziplock freezer bag. When you’re ready to eat it, allow the bread to thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Bring it to room temperature before glazing.
Can you substitute dried cranberries for fresh?
Yes! However, you need to adjust the amount of cranberries. For instance, this recipe calls for 1 cup of fresh or frozen cranberries. If using dried, 1 cup of fresh cranberries is equal to 3/4 cup dried. Make sure you soak them in boiling water for about 15 minutes. This will make them plump and soft again.
Here are more bread recipes to enjoy!
- Lemon Blueberry Bread
- Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bread
- Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Banana Bread
- Marbled Chocolate Banana Bread
Cranberry Orange Bread
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 ⁄4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 1 ⁄2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 ⁄2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 ⁄4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 3 ⁄4 cup orange juice
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup cranberries, chopped (fresh or frozen)
Orange Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons orange juice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 x 5 pan with non stick cooking spray, set aside.Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda.Add butter and mix until crumbly.
- Stir in the zest, juice and egg. Mix until combined.
- Fold in the cranberries.
- Pour batter (it will be thick) into the prepared pan and bake for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick comes out mostly clean.
- Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 30 minutes then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.Once the bread is cool pour on the glaze and serve!
Orange Glaze
- Combine the ingredients together in a small bowl, set aside.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Did you make this?
I’d love to hear your feedback! Leave a review and make sure to share your pictures on social media! Don’t forget to follow @thechefsavvy.
Connie Hall
Can you add nuts to this recipe?
Kelley
Of course! Nuts would be awesome in this bread!
Trista
I made this and it turned out beautiful. However it’s very tart! I chop the cranberries, per instructions, in a food processor so, but was still just too tart. Any recommendations on how to sweeten up and tart down?
Kelley Simmons
Hi!
You could add less cranberries and increase the amount of sugar!
Thanks and enjoy,
Kelley
Sandy
What temperature and time changes should be made to use batter in four mini loaf pans?
Kelley
Hi Sandy,
I would cook them at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes.
Thanks & Enjoy!
Kelley
Robyn
This recipe is just like the one I have used for years, so delicious!!! I made muffins instead of bread . I used the exact recipes and added nuts ,it turned out perfect.
Kelley Simmons
Hi Robyn,
So glad you enjoyed this recipe! I love the idea of making these into muffins.
Thanks for sharing!
Kelley
Veronica
So good! I didn’t add the glaze.
Kelley Simmons
So glad you enjoyed this recipe Veronica!
Margaret L Neher
Thank you for organizing a recipe into an easy to print and read manner! I’m about to make it.
Kelley Simmons
You are very welcome Margaret! I hope you enjoyed the bread!
Jenn
Is there a way to use cranberry sauce (homemade) leftover from Thanksgiving? Or will that change the consistency?
Kelley Simmons
Hi Jenn,
I looked up other recipes to see and it can be done. It looks like 1 cup of cranberry sauce would work you may need to add more flour if the batter seems to wet. It’s hard to say for sure because I haven’t tried it yet. Let me know how you make out if you give it a try.
Thanks!
Kelley
Jean Ireland
Awesome!!
Kelley Simmons
So glad you enjoyed this recipe Jean! Thank you!
Shirley Love
Could this be made gluten free, perhaps with almond flour?
Kelley Simmons
Hi Shirley!
I have not tried this recipe with almond flour so it is hard to say for sure. Typically almond flour can replace regular flour at a 1:1 ratio. You could also use gluten free flour 1:1.
Hope this helps and let me know how you make out!
Kelley
B Ward
The cranberry bread came out very dry. My 40 year old recipe from the Better Homes cookbook is much better.
Dawn
Hi! I love this bread. I am curious to know, your nutritional values chart doesn’t say what the serving is. We now need to count carbs, could you please tell me the serving size? Thank you!
Kelley Simmons
Hi Dawn!
So glad you enjoy this bread! The serving size is 1/8 of the bread. I figured this bread served 8 people or 8 slices total so 1 slice would be the serving size.
Hope this helps,
Kelley