Description
This delightful Cranberry Orange Bread is a perfect blend of tart cranberries and zesty orange flavor, topped with a sweet glaze. Moist and tender, it’s an ideal treat for breakfast, brunch, or a cozy snack during the holiday season.
Ingredients
Scale
Bread
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- ¼ cup fresh orange juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
- 1 ½ cups fresh cranberries
Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy removal.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Set this mixture aside for later use.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, which should take about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Incorporate the eggs one at a time into the creamed mixture, mixing well after each addition. Then stir in the orange zest, fresh orange juice, vanilla extract, and sour cream or Greek yogurt until the batter is smooth.
- Combine Batter: Gradually fold in the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until just combined, being careful not to overmix. Then gently fold in the fresh cranberries to distribute them evenly.
- Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread evenly. Bake in the preheated oven for 50 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool Bread: Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Prepare and Add Glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar and fresh orange juice until you achieve a smooth glaze. Drizzle the glaze over the cooled bread before serving.
Notes
- Use fresh or frozen cranberries for the best flavor and texture; if using frozen, do not thaw before adding.
- You can substitute sour cream with Greek yogurt to make the bread slightly healthier.
- Make sure not to overmix the batter to keep the bread tender.
- The glaze can be adjusted in thickness by adding more powdered sugar or orange juice as needed.
- Store leftover bread wrapped tightly at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.
