Print

Tender Orange Cranberry Bread Recipe with Easy Buttery Glaze

tender orange cranberry bread - featured image
Print Recipe

A moist and tender quick bread bursting with fresh orange zest and tart cranberries, topped with a buttery glaze for a melt-in-your-mouth finish. Perfect for holiday mornings, brunch, or a cozy treat.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
  • ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons fresh orange zest
  • ½ cup (120ml) freshly squeezed orange juice
  • ½ cup (120g) sour cream
  • 1 cup (100g) fresh cranberries, halved
  • ½ cup (60g) dried cranberries
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • For the Buttery Glaze:
  • 3 tablespoons (45g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 cup (120g) powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
  • 1 teaspoon orange zest (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang for easy removal.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk the sugar and melted butter until smooth. Add eggs, orange zest, orange juice, sour cream, and vanilla extract. Whisk until well combined and glossy, about 1-2 minutes.
  4. Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients. Gently fold with a rubber spatula until just combined; do not overmix.
  5. Carefully fold in the fresh halved cranberries and dried cranberries, being gentle to avoid crushing them.
  6. Spoon the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top.
  7. Bake for 50-60 minutes, starting to check at 50 minutes with a toothpick. It should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Tent with foil after 40 minutes if browning too quickly.
  8. Cool the bread in the pan for 15 minutes, then lift out using the parchment overhang and cool completely on a wire rack before glazing.
  9. To make the glaze, whisk melted butter, powdered sugar, and orange juice until smooth. Stir in orange zest if using.
  10. Drizzle the glaze evenly over the cooled loaf and let set for 15 minutes before slicing.

Notes

Do not overmix the batter to keep the bread tender. Use fresh orange zest for best flavor and avoid the bitter white pith. If cranberries are too tart, soak dried cranberries in warm orange juice for 10 minutes before adding. Let the bread cool completely before glazing to avoid melting the glaze. Frozen cranberries can be used if thawed and drained well.

Nutrition

Keywords: orange cranberry bread, quick bread, holiday bread, citrus bread, cranberry recipe, buttery glaze, festive bread, easy bread recipe

Find it online: https://realityeats.com/tender-orange-cranberry-bread-recipe-with-easy-buttery-glaze-tutorial/