Description
Cranberry orange loaf celebrates winter’s zesty flavors with a moist, tangy quick bread. Citrus notes and tart berries create a delightful seasonal treat perfect for morning coffee or afternoon snacking. You’ll savor each delicious slice.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ cups (150 g) fresh or frozen cranberries
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter (softened)
- ½ cup (120 ml or 4 fl oz) buttermilk (or milk with ½ tbsp vinegar)
- ½ cup (120 ml or 4 fl oz) orange juice (freshly squeezed preferred)
- ½ cup (60 g) powdered sugar
- 1 ¾ cups (220 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp orange zest (about 1 large orange)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 12 tbsps orange juice
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat the oven to 350F (175C) and line a 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper or lightly grease the surface.
- Dry Ingredients: Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a mixing bowl, creating a uniform dry ingredient blend.
- Wet Mixture: Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, then add eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly. Integrate orange juice and zest, stirring until smooth.
- Batter Assembly: Gently combine dry ingredients with wet mixture, alternating with buttermilk. Fold cranberries throughout the batter, ensuring even distribution.
- Baking Process: Pour batter into prepared pan, smoothing the top. Bake for 55-65 minutes, testing doneness with a wooden pick that comes out clean.
- Cooling and Finishing: Rest the loaf in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. Optional: Whisk powdered sugar and orange juice to create a glaze, drizzling over the completely cooled loaf.
- Serving: Slice and present the cranberry orange bread, showcasing its vibrant interior and delicate texture.
Notes
- Prevent Cranberry Sinking: Toss fresh or frozen cranberries in a tablespoon of flour before folding into the batter to prevent them from sinking to the bottom during baking.
- Moisture Preservation: Do not overmix the batter; mix just until ingredients are combined to maintain the loaf’s tender, soft texture and prevent a tough, dense result.
- Temperature Precision: Allow ingredients like butter, eggs, and buttermilk to reach room temperature before mixing to ensure smoother incorporation and more even baking.
- Gluten-Free Adaptation: Substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend and add xanthan gum to maintain the loaf’s structure and prevent crumbling.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 41 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg