Description
A delightful Cranberry Orange Bread combining tart fresh cranberries with bright orange zest and juice, baked to moist perfection and topped with a sweet orange glaze. This quick bread is perfect for breakfast or as a flavorful snack.
Ingredients
Bread Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour (240g)
- 1 cup granulated sugar (200g)
- 1¼ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup whole milk, room temperature (120mL)
- ½ cup vegetable oil (120mL)
- Zest of 1 orange
- 2 tablespoons orange juice (about ½ orange)
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries (95g)
Glaze Ingredients
- 1½ cups powdered sugar, sifted (180g)
- 3 to 4 tablespoons orange juice
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Orange zest for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Butter a 9×5-inch loaf pan or spray it with baking spray to ensure the bread doesn’t stick.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt until evenly combined.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In another large bowl, whisk together the whole milk, vegetable oil, orange zest, orange juice, egg, and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and well blended.
- Form the Batter: Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and stir gently just until combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the bread tender. Fold in the fresh or frozen cranberries evenly throughout the batter.
- Bake the Bread: Transfer the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake in the preheated oven for 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached.
- Cool the Bread: Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool in the pan on a wire rack for 20 minutes. Carefully unmold the bread and allow it to cool completely on the wire rack before glazing.
- Prepare the Glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together the sifted powdered sugar, 3 to 4 tablespoons of orange juice, and vanilla extract until smooth and reaching your desired drizzle consistency.
- Glaze and Garnish: Drizzle the orange glaze evenly over the cooled bread. Garnish with additional orange zest if desired before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Using room temperature ingredients helps ensure even mixing and a better texture.
- Frozen cranberries can be used but do not thaw them to prevent color bleeding into the batter.
- Do not overmix the batter to keep the bread light and tender.
- The glaze can be adjusted by adding more orange juice for a thinner consistency or more powdered sugar for a thicker glaze.
- Store leftover bread covered at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Quick Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
