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    Home » Desserts » Cranberry Orange Quick Bread is a Festive Holiday Treat

    Published: Nov 3, 2020 · Modified: Feb 26, 2022 by Nancy Blackstone · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Cranberry Orange Quick Bread is a Festive Holiday Treat

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Tart, juicy cranberries, fresh orange juice and orange zest in a sweet batter give this colorful cranberry orange quick bread its festive flavor. It looks great on a holiday dessert table and also makes a lovely breakfast treat.

    A loaf of cranberry orange quick bread on a cutting board with 3 slices cut off

    I'm a fan of fresh cranberries because I always associate them with the November/December holiday season. That's because it's difficult to find them in the grocery store at any other time. I searched the produce department of various area grocery stores throughout the month of October to no avail. Finally at the beginning of November bags of fresh cranberries appeared.

    Of course, you can use frozen cranberries in place of fresh ones in most recipes, including this one. But there's something about the hunt for fresh cranberries in the fall that makes it more fun. It's a sign that the holidays are upon us!

    photo of handwritten recipe for cranberry orange quick bread
    Original handwritten recipe

    A Great Bread For Beginning Bakers

    Quick breads have been around since the 19th century, but they were very popular in the 1950's and 60's cookbooks due to their efficient use of ingredients and ease for the mid century modern baker. They don't require kneading or rising; they're simply mixed in a bowl, transferred to a baking pan and baked. This one is made with fruit and juice and it comes out very moist on the inside, even if you accidentally leave it in the oven a little too long (ahem...speaking from experience.) They make great gifts for neighbors at the holidays -- just wrap them up in a little cellophane with a bow on top as a gift the whole family can enjoy.

    Made With Basic Ingredients

    Cranberry Orange Bread ingredients in prep bowls
    Ingredients for cranberry orange bread

    Except for the seasonal cranberries, this cranberry orange quick bread is made with basic ingredients you usually have in the house:

    • Flour
    • Sugar
    • Baking powder
    • Baking soda
    • Salt
    • Butter
    • Orange juice
    • Orange zest
    • Egg
    • Cranberries
    • Walnuts (optional)

    Five Easy Steps

    1. Start by mixing the first five dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl, then cutting in the butter until it resembles small crumbles.
    2. In a smaller bowl mix the orange juice, orange zest and egg.
    3. Pour the juice mixture into the dry ingredients and mix them together.
    4. Fold in the cranberries, and if you're adding nuts, fold them in, too.
    5. Transfer to a well greased 8 x 4 x 2 loaf pan and bake!
    • Batter mixture and juice mixture  in side-by-side bowls
      Steps 1 & 2
    • Combining batter and juice in one bowl
      Step 3
    • Mixing cranberries and optional nuts into the batter
      Step 4
    • Cranberry orange quickbread ready for the oven
      Step 5

    How to Know When Cranberry Orange Bread Is Done Baking

    Test for doneness by inserting a wooden toothpick into the center. If it comes out clean, it's ready, and if it doesn't, it needs more time.

    This bread is very dense, so you can't judge doneness just by looking at it or touching the top. Even if it looks nice and brown on the outside, it still may need time on the inside. Removing it too soon will likely cause it to fall in the center during the cooling process and be gooey on the inside when you cut it (again...speaking from experience.) Therefore, make sure you do the toothpick test regardless of appearance. If you feel that your bread is getting too brown before it passes the toothpick test, slide a piece of foil loosely over the top to prevent it from browning further.

    If you love quick breads, check out our banana nut bread and Hollywood monastery pumpkin bread.

    A loaf of cranberry orange quick bread on a cutting board with 3 slices cut off

    Cranberry Orange Quick Bread

    Nancy Blackstone
    Tart, juicy cranberries, fresh orange juice and orange zest in a sweet batter give this colorful cranberry orange quick bread its festive flavor. It looks great on a holiday dessert table and also makes a lovely breakfast treat.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 50 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr
    Course Breakfast
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8 Servings
    Calories 338 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 2 cups all purpose flour
    • 1 cup sugar
    • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon baking soda
    • 4 tablespoons butter
    • 1 large egg
    • ¾ cup orange juice
    • 1 tablespoon orange zest
    • 1 ½ cups fresh or frozen cranberries
    • ½ cup chopped walnuts optional

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8 x 4 x 2 loaf pan.
    • In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda.
    • Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
    • In a small bowl beat egg, orange juice and orange zest.
    • Add juice mixture to dry ingredients and mix just until blended. 
    • Fold in cranberries. If you are adding nuts, fold them in at the same time.
    • Transfer to a greased 8 x 4 x 2 loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 50-55 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
    • Cool in pan 10 minutes, then remove bread and cool completely on a wire rack.

    Notes

    For extra fresh taste, hand squeeze your orange juice
    You can substitute pecans in place of walnuts if you prefer

    Nutrition

    Calories: 338kcalCarbohydrates: 55gProtein: 5gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 38mgSodium: 499mgPotassium: 141mgFiber: 2gSugar: 28gVitamin A: 271IUVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 67mgIron: 2mg
    Keyword Christmas breakfast food, Cranberry, holiday breads, holiday desserts, holiday food gifts, Quick breads, Thanksgiving breakfast food
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Nancy and Bentley

    Hi, I'm Nancy! Welcome to Flourchild where I share classic mid-century recipes from the 1940's - 1970's. I feature many vintage handwritten recipes, and provide modern shortcuts and a variety of healthy and special diet-friendly versions whenever possible. Join me in exploring the delicious flavors and from-scratch cooking techniques of our past!

    More about me →

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