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Use sweet oranges and tart cranberries for a bit of freshness in this moist and delicious Cranberry Orange Bread topped with a zesty orange glaze. This easy quick bread recipe is fantastic for breakfast or brunch, or even served as a coffee break snack.

cranberry orange bread on a wooden tray with cranberries scattered around.

Not only that, this delicious and festive cranberry loaf is perfect for gift giving during the holiday season. It’s so easy to make and is always a bit hit!

When cranberries are in season, I like to buy extra to put in the freezer so that I can make this quick bread any time of year, not just during the holidays.

Looking for more ways to use fresh cranberries? My Cranberry Fluff is pretty and pink and absolutely drool-worthy!

Or, toss fresh cranberries into these yummy baked goods: Cranberry Muffins or Christmas Cake — both are so, so good!

ingredients for cranberry orange bread on a table.

Key ingredients & substitutions for Cranberry Quick Bread

  • Cranberries — My first preference is using fresh cranberries for this recipe, however it is still tasty if you don’t have fresh available. You may use frozen cranberries or just 1 cup of dried cranberries in a pinch.
  • Orange Juice and Zest — I love the flavor of fresh squeezed orange juice in this quick bread recipe, however you may substitute the same amount of bottled orange juice. And, in that case you can omit the orange zest. You’ll use orange juice in the glaze as well.
  •  Canola oil — If you’d like to substitute melted butter for the canola oil, I think that should work.
  • Egg — An egg binds together all the ingredients during baking. I use large eggs in all my recipes.
  • All-purpose flour — There’s no need to sift the flour for this recipe, but you will need to add baking powder and salt for leavening. If you use self-rising flour, omit the baking powder.
  • Granulated sugar — Add sweet flavor to the bread! I haven’t experimented with any alternative sweeteners, but pure can sugar should work just fine.
  • Powdered sugar — I recommend sifting the confectioner’s sugar for a smoother glaze.
  • Vanilla extract — You’ll need just a drop for the glaze. If you don’t have any in your pantry, almond extract is a good substitute or just leave it out.

How to make Orange Cranberry Bread recipe

Adding a simple powdered sugar glaze made with fresh orange juice adds just the right amount of sweetness to this tasty loaf.

STEP 1 | Preheat the oven and prep the pan

Always preheat the oven before baking the loaf to ensure a good rise.

Grease the loaf pan on the bottom and only 1/2 inch up the sides. I also like to place a piece of parchment paper cut to size in the bottom of the pan for guaranteed easy removal.

STEP 2 | Juice and zest oranges

You’ll need 3/4 cup of fresh orange juice, so that’s about 3 medium oranges. If you don’t have a juicer, try this method.

Roll the oranges on the counter to soften them up. Then, cut them in half and insert a fork into the orange and squeeze, using the tines of the fork to encourage more juice to come out.

Use a microplane zester to remove a teaspoon of zest from one orange, avoiding the pithy white under the skins.

whisking together batter for cranberry orange bread in a glass bowl.

STEP 3 | Whisk together wet ingredients

Measure out the orange juice, egg, oil, and orange zest into a small bowl and give it a good whisk to combine.

STEP 4 | Measure dry ingredients

Grab a large bowl and measure out the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Remember, the proper way to measure flour for baking is to spoon the flour into a measuring cup and level it off with a knife.

STEP 5 | Stir together batter

Make a well into the bowl of dry ingredients and pour the wet ingredients into the center. Use a rubber spatula to gently stir until the dry ingredients are just moistened.

A few lump in the batter is actually desirable. Stir the batter too much and the bread texture will be chewy and tough — ugh!

tossing cranberries with flour; adding to batter and pouring into loaf pan.

STEP 6 | Fold in cranberries & bake

Now it is time for cranberries! To ensure they don’t sink to the bottom, place the cranberries in a bowl and toss with a tablespoon of flour before adding them to the batter.

Gently fold the coated cranberries into the batter and pour into the prepared pan. Ready for the oven!

tips

  • Bake the loaf on the middle oven rack for even cooking.
  • Watch that the bread doesn’t brown too fast on the top. Check it a few minutes before the baking time is up and cover loosely with foil if needed.
  • Check for doneness by inserting a wooden toothpick near the center of the loaf. It should comes out clean without any crumbs.

spreading glaze on a cranberry orange loaf. with a rubber spatula

STEP 7 | Top with orange glaze

First, sift the powdered sugar into a bowl. Make the glaze by adding the fresh squeezed orange juice a tablespoon at a time until the desired consistency is reached. Then, stir in the vanilla.

I like to make my glaze a little thick and always wait until the bread has cooled to drizzle or spread it on top.

That way, the glaze stays mostly on top of the loaf. If all the bread isn’t eaten right away, be sure the glaze has set before wrapping the loaf in plastic wrap for storage.

tips

  • Cool the quick bread for 10 minutes before removing from the pan.
  • Slice quick bread with a long serrated knife to avoid crumbling if you run into fruit or nuts.

cranberry orange bread in a loaf pan on a wire rack.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to cook the cranberries before baking?

There is no need to cook the cranberries before baking in this quick bread recipe. However, do be sure to rinse and dry fresh cranberries well before using in this recipe. If using frozen cranberries, do not thaw before adding to the batter.

Can you substitute dried cranberries for fresh?

Absolutely! If using dried cranberries, reduce the amount in the recipe to just 1 cup.

Does Cranberry Orange Bread need to be refrigerated?

There’s no need to refrigerate Cranberry Orange Bread. To store the bread, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or store in a resealable plastic bag at room temperature for up to 3 days.

This quick bread will stay fresh in the freezer for up to two months. To freeze, cool the loaf completely then wrap in plastic wrap and store in a resealable freezer bag.

three slices of cranberry orange bread on a wooden tray with cranberreis.

Serving suggestions

One of the things I like most about quick breads is that they freeze well. Often I will double my quick bread recipe to make two loaves — one for now and one for later.

It’s also nice to have an extra loaf in the freezer for last minute sharing with friends. Cranberry Orange Bread is delicious with a cup of coffee, spiced Russian tea, or my instant chai latte.

two slices of cranberry orange bread on a plate with a gold fork.
cranberry orange bread on a wooden tray with cranberries scattered around.

Cranberry Orange Bread

Use sweet oranges and tart cranberries for a bit of freshness in this moist and delicious Cranberry Orange Bread topped with a zesty orange glaze.
4.41 from 227 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Additional Time 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Course Quick Breads
Cuisine American
Servings 12 servings
Calories 197 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • ¾ cup fresh orange juice
  • 1 teaspoon orange zest
  • 2 tablespoons canola oil
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour + 1 tablespoon
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 ½ cups fresh or frozen cranberries

Orange Glaze

  • 1 cup sifted powdered sugar
  • 1 – 2 tablespoons orange juice
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly coat a non-stick 9×5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together 3/4 cup orange juice and zest, canola oil, and slightly beaten egg until well combined.
  • In a large bowl, combine the 2 cups all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
  • Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the wet ingredients. Stir with a wooden spoon or spatula just until the dry ingredients are incorporated — do not over mix.
  • Toss the cranberries with a tablespoon of flour, then gently fold into the batter.
  • Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 55 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes.

Orange Glaze

  • Add orange juice one tablespoon at a time to the sifted powdered sugar and stir until smooth and the desired consistency. Stir in the vanilla extract, then drizzle or spread on top of the cooled Cranberry Orange Bread.

Notes

  • Cut a piece of parchment paper to fit into the loaf pan for easy removal.
  • If using frozen cranberries, do not thaw.
  • To use dried cranberries, reduce the amount in the recipe to just 1 cup.
  • Store tightly covered at room temperature for up to three days.
  • If desired, garnish with additional orange zest just before serving.
  • To freeze, cool completely then wrap in plastic wrap and store in a resealable freezer bag.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 197kcalCarbohydrates: 42gProtein: 2gFat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gSodium: 171mgFiber: 1gSugar: 24g

Life Love and Good Food does not claim to be a registered dietician or nutritionist. Nutritional information shared on this site is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.

Keyword breakfast, brunch, quick bread
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was.
Sheila Thigpen, blogger

About Sheila Thigpen

Recipe Developer, Food Photographer, Food Writer

Sheila Thigpen is the publisher of Life, Love, and Good Food — a Southern food blog — and the author of Easy Chicken Cookbook and The 5-Ingredient Fresh and Easy Cookbook. After 20+ years in the publishing industry, she retired in 2018 to focus on her own creative endeavors full time. She and her husband live near the beautiful Smoky Mountains and have a precious little granddaughter who has stolen their hearts. As an influencer, Sheila has collaborated with brands like Creamette, Kroger, HERSHEY’S, Hamilton Beach, Garafalo Pasta, OXO, Smithfield, Valley Fig Growers, and more.

42 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Absolutely yummy
    Brought this to friends weekend gathering, everyone loved it…didn’t last through the day.

    1. Hi, Elizabeth! I know, the price of eggs today is ridiculous! While I haven’t tried any of these methods with my cranberry orange bread recipe, I found this interesting article rating egg substitutes in baking. Hopefully, you will find a suitable solution in the article.

  2. 5 stars
    I made the orange cranberry bread for Christmas to give out to favorite neighbors and for our Christmas Eve Brunch. Huge hit! I’m glad I added the mini chocolate chips! Can’t wait to make more of this recipe. Highly recommend

  3. 4 stars
    If your cranberries are large, cut them up. It’s not as good with big sour chunks lol. Otherwise it’s a good recipe.

    1. Hi, Laura! If you’d like the glaze to melt, drizzle it on while the loaf is still warm. Otherwise, if you glaze the loaf after it’s completely cooled it will be a thicker consistency. Either way, the bread is delicious — do whatever is your preference!

    1. Hi, Sarah. While you technically can freeze the loaf with the glaze, it will thaw and taste better if you add the glaze after.

  4. 5 stars
    Made as written, absolutely delicious! Easy to put together, perfect texture, fantastic way to showcase frozen cranberries. Thank you for sharing the recipe, This is my new favorite cranberry bread.

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