Delicious Cranberry Orange Bread

Cranberry Orange Bread

Cranberry Orange Bliss Bread: Your Zesty New Breakfast Obsession

Get ready to tango with tart cranberries and sweet orange juice in a loaf so bright and joyous, it’ll make your taste buds want to throw confetti!

 

Cranberry Orange Bread

Some mornings call for coffee and a quick muffin; others demand a full-on flavor fiesta. Enter Cranberry Orange Bread with Glaze: the ultimate twist on classic quick bread that wakes up your senses and paints your brunch table in sunrise hues. That zingy burst of fresh orange juice dances with pockets of tart cranberries, while buttery crumb and glossy citrus glaze seal the deal with a sweet kiss.

This loaf is equally at home alongside your Saturday morning latte, as the star of a holiday brunch spread, or even as a handy, sliceable dessert for impromptu gatherings.

Imagine pulling a warm loaf from the oven, slicing into its soft crumb studded with ruby-red cranberries, and drizzling on sweet-tangy glaze that seeps into every nook. The aroma alone—bright orange zest, buttery vanilla, and fruity tang—will have family members lining up before you even finish dusting on powdered sugar. And the best news?

It’s virtually foolproof. No yeast fuss, no multi-layer juggling—just a simple whisk, fold, and bake routine that rewards you with bakery-level wow factor. Let’s dive into the delightful details of how to make this Cranberry Orange Bread your new kitchen hero.

My son, Ben, noticed one of my older recipe of Cranberry Walnut Bread. He asked me to make it for him because he has never tried a Cranberry Bread before. I can’t say no to any of my kids but I thought it was a great opportunity to give the recipe a twist! This is a great breakfast bread to serve for Christmas morning or even a perfect neighbor gift!

It’s sweet and bursting with orange flavor, but a touch of tangy from the cranberries. All I can say is YUM!!!

 

Cranberry Orange Bread

 

Ingredients

For the Bread
• 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
• Zest of 2 oranges (about 2 tablespoons)
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 1 cup (240 ml) fresh orange juice
• ⅓ cup (75 g) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1½ cups (150 g) fresh or frozen cranberries (if frozen, do not thaw)

For the Glaze
• 1 cup (120 g) powdered sugar, sifted
• 2–3 tablespoons fresh orange juice
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt

Cranberry Orange Bread

Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×5-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
3. In a large mixing bowl, combine granulated sugar and orange zest. Rub them together with your fingertips until the sugar smells vibrantly of orange—this tiny step unlocks major citrus flavor.
4. Add eggs to the sugar-zest mixture. Whisk until pale and slightly thickened, about 1 minute.
5. Stir in orange juice, melted butter, and vanilla extract. Mix until just combined—don’t overbeat.
6. Gently fold dry ingredients into wet until no streaks of flour remain.
7. Fold in cranberries with a spatula, coating each berry in batter to prevent sinking.
8. Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan. Smooth the top with an offset spatula.
9. Bake for 55–65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs. If the top browns too quickly, tent loosely with foil after 40 minutes.
10. Remove pan from oven and let the loaf rest for 10 minutes. Then lift out using the parchment overhang and transfer to a wire rack. Let cool another 20 minutes before glazing.
11. For the glaze, whisk powdered sugar, orange juice, vanilla, and salt in a small bowl until smooth. Drizzle glaze over the slightly cooled loaf, allowing it to drip down the sides.
12. Let the glaze set for 10–15 minutes. Slice and serve, or wrap leftover slices tightly to enjoy later.

Cranberry Orange Bread

Calorie Count

Slicing this loaf into 12 generous pieces gives you a vibrant, flavor-packed breakfast choice. Here’s the approximate calorie breakdown per slice (including glaze):
• Per slice: 260 calories
This festive bread hits the sweet spot: enough energy to power a morning, yet light enough to keep you smiling through brunch.

Cranberry Orange Bread

Nutritional Facts (Per Slice)

Nutrient	Amount
Calories	260 kcal
Total Fat	8 g
– Saturated Fat	5 g
Cholesterol	50 mg
Sodium	180 mg
Total Carbohydrates	43 g
– Dietary Fiber	2 g
– Sugars	23 g
Protein	3 g
Vitamin C	25% DV
Calcium	4% DV
Iron	6% DV

DV = Daily Value based on a 2,000-calorie diet.

 

 

Cranberry Orange Bread

 

Cooking Tips

• Zest First, Juice Later: Always zest oranges before juicing them. It’s easier, cleaner, and ensures you capture the fragrant oils.
• Sugar + Zest Fusion: Rubbing zest into sugar amps citrus notes throughout the batter. It’s a simple trick that elevates flavor.
• Room-Temperature Ingredients: Eggs and butter at room temperature incorporate more smoothly, helping the batter rise evenly.
• Prevent Sinking Cranberries: Toss berries in a tablespoon of flour before folding into batter. This helps them stay suspended rather than tumbling to the bottom.
• Check Early, Avoid Overbaking: Start testing with a toothpick at 50 minutes. Overbaking yields dryness; you want a moist crumb with just a few clinging crumbs on your tester.
• Foil Tent Trick: If the loaf’s top is browning too fast, loosely drape a sheet of foil across the pan to shield it for the final bake minutes.
• Gentle Glazing: For the neatest drizzle, transfer glaze into a small resealable bag, snip a tiny corner, and pipe the glaze back-and-forth over the loaf.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Bake the loaf, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature, then glaze fresh for company.

 

Cranberry Orange Bread

Recipe Variations

1. Nutty Orange-Cranberry Bread
   Fold ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts into the batter for a toasty crunch and protein boost.
2. Blueberry-Orange Twist
   Swap cranberries for fresh blueberries and add ½ teaspoon lemon zest to the batter—springtime sweet and tangy.
3. Chocolate-Citrus Delight
   Stir in ½ cup mini dark chocolate chips and a pinch of espresso powder. The orange-choc pairing is pure bliss.
4. Lemon-Cranberry Bread
   Replace orange juice with lemon juice, increase zest to 3 tablespoons, and skip the vanilla for a bright lemon bar feel.
5. Spiced Holiday Loaf
   Add 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, ½ teaspoon ground ginger, and a pinch of cloves for a cozy, spiced profile.
6. Gluten-Free Option
   Replace all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend. Add 1 teaspoon xanthan gum if your blend lacks it for structure.
7. Dairy-Free Swap
   Use coconut oil instead of butter, almond milk instead of orange juice for a lighter profile, and a flax “egg” (1 tbsp flaxseed + 3 tbsp water) in place of each egg.

Cranberry Orange Bread

Kid Tips

• Zesty Sugar Station: Let the little ones decorate shallow bowls of sugar with extra orange zest. They’ll love the sensory play and bright, zingy fragrance.
• Berry Toss Game: Hand kids a small bowl of cranberries and a flour shaker. They can coat each berry in flour, turning prep into a fun tossing game.
• Mini Loaves: Use a muffin tin or mini-loaf pans to make individual-sized Cranberry Orange breads. Kids feel proud having their own petite loaves to share.
• Glaze Painting: Provide a small brush or silicone pastry brush for kids to “paint” the glaze onto cooled bread—edible art made easy!
• Name Your Loaf: Encourage creative naming—“Ruby Citrus Clouds” or “Sunrise Berry Bliss”—and let each child sign the parchment before baking for instant pride.

 

 

Cranberry Orange Bread

Here’s your quick reference for Cranberry Orange Bread success:

• A vivid flavor mash-up of tart cranberries and sweet orange juice, sealed with a zesty glaze.
• Simple ingredients, one-bowl prep, and under 15 minutes of active time.
• Approximately 260 calories per slice, perfect for mindful indulgence.
• Nutritional facts that highlight Vitamin C and balanced macros.
• Top cooking tips for perfect zest infusion, moist crumb, and pretty glaze drizzles.
• Seven creative variations spanning nutty, chocolaty, lemony, and holiday-spiced riffs.
• Kid-friendly hacks turning little helpers into loaf-making superstars.
• Make-ahead and freeze-ahead strategies for anytime joy.

All that stands between you and the first glorious bite is a quick trip to the grocery store for fresh cranberries and oranges. So whiz up that batter, let your oven sing, and prepare for a loaf that brightens days, one slice at a time. Tag us on Instagram or leave us a comment below! We love hearing from you! 

Happy baking, Lou Lou Girls family—here’s to mornings filled with sunshine, laughter, and the sweet-tart party of Cranberry Orange Bread!