Cranberry Bread
Ingredients
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- 1 tbsp unsalted butter – softened (for greasing pan)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups fresh cranberries – coarsely chopped
- 3/4 cup walnuts – chopped
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp fine salt
- 1 tbsp orange zest – finely grated
- 3/4 cup orange juice – freshly squeezed
- 1 large egg – at room temperature
- 1/2 cup neutral oil
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8.5×4.5-inch loaf pan with the softened butter and line the long side with a parchment sling.
2. Measure the flour: From the 2 cups of flour, remove 1 tbsp and set it aside in a small bowl for the fruit and nuts.
3. Prepare the mix-ins: Coarsely chop the cranberries and walnuts. Toss them with the reserved 1 tbsp flour until lightly coated; set aside.
4. Make the dry base: In a large bowl, whisk the remaining flour with the sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
5. Make the wet mixture: In a separate bowl, whisk the orange zest, orange juice, egg, and oil until smooth and emulsified.
6. Combine: Make a well in the dry ingredients and pour in the wet mixture. Stir with a spatula just until no dry streaks remain; do not overmix.
7. Fold in the coated cranberries and walnuts until evenly dispersed. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
8. Bake until the loaf is deep golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs, 55–65 minutes. If the top is browning too quickly, tent loosely with foil for the last 10–15 minutes.
9. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then lift out to a wire rack and cool completely, at least 1 hour, before slicing.
Cranberry Bread is a tender, lightly sweet quick bread dotted with bursts of tart cranberries and the bright aroma of orange. The crumb is moist yet sturdy, with crunchy walnut bits offering a pleasing contrast to the juicy fruit. It’s equally at home at breakfast, as a snack with coffee or tea, or tucked into a holiday spread where its ruby flecks and citrus perfume shine.
Rooted in the American quick-bread tradition, cranberry breads rose to prominence alongside broader use of chemical leaveners and the commercial cultivation of cranberries in New England. By the mid-20th century, widely circulated recipes helped standardize the cranberry–orange pairing and the inclusion of walnuts. Today, it remains a seasonal favorite in the United States, especially around autumn harvest and winter holidays, while also being enjoyed year-round thanks to frozen cranberries.