Delicious Cranberry Orange Bread with Simple Glaze
This moist, flavorful quick bread is bursting with bright cranberries and fresh orange zest, topped with a sweet citrus glaze. Perfect for breakfast, holiday gatherings, or as a thoughtful homemade gift.
Ingredients
For the Bread:
· 2 cups all-purpose flour
· 1 cup granulated sugar
· 1½ teaspoons baking powder
· ½ teaspoon baking soda
· 1 teaspoon salt
· Zest of 1 large orange
· ¾ cup fresh orange juice (about 2 oranges)
· 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
· 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
· 1 large egg, room temperature
· 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
· 1½ cups fresh or frozen cranberries (if frozen, do not thaw)
· ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
For the Simple Glaze:
· 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
· 2-3 tablespoons fresh orange juice
· ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
· Pinch of salt
Instructions
Making the Bread:
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan and line with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal.
Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir in orange zest.
Combine wet ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together orange juice, melted butter, oil, egg, and vanilla extract until well combined.
Combine mixtures: Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Gently fold together with a spatula until just combined—do not overmix. A few streaks of flour are okay.
Add mix-ins: Gently fold in cranberries and nuts (if using) until evenly distributed.
Bake: Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and smooth the top. Bake for 55-65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean (a few moist crumbs are fine).
Cool: Let bread cool in pan for 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before glazing (about 2 hours).
Making the Glaze:
In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons orange juice, vanilla, and salt until smooth.
Add additional orange juice, 1 teaspoon at a time, until you reach a thick but pourable consistency.
Finishing:
Drizzle glaze over completely cooled bread.
Allow glaze to set for 20-30 minutes before slicing.
Tips for Success
· Don’t overmix the batter to ensure a tender crumb.
· Fresh cranberries provide the best texture and tartness, but frozen work well too.
· For intense orange flavor, add ½ teaspoon of orange extract to the batter.
· Storage: Keep wrapped at room temperature for up to 3 days, or refrigerate for up to 1 week.
· Freezing: Wrap unglazed bread tightly and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw and add glaze before serving.
Enjoy this delightful blend of tart cranberries and sweet orange in every slice!