This orange cranberry bread is the perfect combination of tart and sweet. Tart cranberries in an orange flavoured sweet bread with a sweet orange glaze on top!
I didn’t always enjoy fresh cranberries — they seemed too tart. Over time I’ve come to love the contrast of tart cranberries paired with a sweet, orange-flavored quick bread. This loaf strikes that balance perfectly.
Soft, tender, and full of bright citrus flavor, this orange cranberry bread is a great treat for the holidays or any time you want a seasonal, homemade snack. I often freeze extra fresh cranberries in the fall so I can make this loaf year-round.
The bread is soft and slightly sweet, studded with tart cranberries and finished with a simple orange glaze. It’s a flavor combination the whole family enjoys.
This loaf is easy to prepare and stores well with a couple of considerations for keeping texture and glaze in mind.
How long does cranberry bread last?
Quick breads stay fresh at room temperature for up to five days if stored in a container. The glaze can become soft or sticky if sealed in an airtight container, so consider a lid left slightly ajar or a loosely covered container to preserve texture without trapping moisture.
Stored with a loose lid, the bread will remain moist for 2–3 days before it begins to dry out. For longer storage, freeze slices or the whole loaf for up to three months—wrap well and use a freezer-safe bag or container.
How do you make orange glaze with orange juice?
The glaze for this loaf is very simple: powdered sugar whisked with orange juice until smooth. Use just enough juice to reach a pourable consistency, then drizzle over the cooled bread for a bright, sweet finish.
How to make Orange Cranberry Bread:
- Do not overmix the batter. Stir until just combined to keep the bread light and tender.
- This recipe is not overly sweet because the cranberries are tart. If you prefer a sweeter loaf, increase the granulated sugar from 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup.
- I use fresh cranberries (halve large berries). If you use dried cranberries, skip tossing them with sugar and add orange zest to the dry ingredients instead; fold the dried cranberries in at the end.
- Frozen cranberries work well too—add them straight from the freezer without thawing.
- A microplane is great for zesting the orange and brings out the citrus aroma.
More bread recipes
- Apple Bread with Crumb Topping
- Banana Bread
- Glazed Raspberry Lemon Bread
- Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread
- Apple Pumpkin Bread
Orange Cranberry Bread
This orange cranberry bread is the perfect combination of tart and sweet. Tart cranberries in an orange flavoured sweet bread with a sweet orange glaze on top!
20 minutes
50 minutes
1 hour 10 minutes
Ingredients
For the Bread:
- 1 cup Fresh Cranberries, halved if large
- 1 tablespoon Orange Zest (about one medium orange)
- 1/2 cup Granulated Sugar, plus 2 tablespoons
- 2 1/2 cups All-Purpose Flour
- 2 1/2 teaspoons Baking Powder
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 2 large Eggs
- 1/2 cup Unsalted Butter, melted and cooled
- 1/2 cup Milk
- 1/2 cup Orange Juice
- 1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
For the Glaze:
- 1 cup Powdered Sugar
- 2 tablespoons Orange Juice
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Lightly spray a 9×5 inch loaf pan with non-stick spray and set aside.
- In a small bowl, toss the cranberries and orange zest with 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar and set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- In another bowl, whisk together the remaining 1/2 cup sugar, eggs, and melted butter until well combined.
- Add the milk, orange juice, and vanilla, and whisk to combine.
- Add this mixture to the flour mixture and stir until just combined.
- Fold in the cranberries.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top.
- Bake for 45–55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 10–15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Whisk the powdered sugar and orange juice until smooth, then drizzle the glaze over the cooled loaf.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
serves 12
Serving Size:
1 slice
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 262
Total Fat: 9g
Saturated Fat: 5.3g
Cholesterol: 52mg
Sodium: 266mg
Carbohydrates: 41.3g
Fiber: 1.1g
Sugar: 20g
Protein: 4.2g
I’ve also shared this Orange Cranberry Bread recipe on Food Fanatic.