Cranberry Orange Quick Bread

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This Cranberry Orange Quick Bread recipe with Orange Glaze is ‘holly-jolly’ bursting with fresh baked cranberries and a tangy orange flavor infusion of love.  *Getting that warm and fuzzy feeling!*

Speaking of cranberry, we can’t resist these Best-Ever White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies, these Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars and these Holiday Cranberry White Chocolate Blondies!

cranberry orange bread recipe

Why We Love Cranberries & Christmas Together!

Cranberries and Christmas were made for each other!  They are inseparable, which is why the winter holidays always includes some type of cranberry crush.   

The vibrant, ruby color of the cranberries are so pretty, especially when you slice into this sweet and tender loaf! 

My favorite part, is the tempting orange glaze with the bread. Cranberries and orange are everything when they are together. Add a little rum to the orange glaze to give it a little kick!  It is the holidays after all!  Heavenly Bliss!  

This easy-to-make treat is full of juicy cranberries, orange sweetness and warm spices. Plus, it takes just minutes to mix up with just your handy-dandy whisk or wooden spoon, so it’s super easy to make.  Sweet, right? 

cranberry orange bread recipe

This Cranberry Orange Quick Bread Recipe is So Versatile!

This bread seems to be very versatile when substituting ingredients. 

For the liquid portion, I used almond milk, because our family loves almond milk and we use it for everything unless we are using heavy cream for a specific recipe, but you can use buttermilk or any milk of choice in place if you prefer. 

Eggnog would also be very good in this loaf, if you want to add a little extra holiday cheer to your loaf.

I also used avocado oil, but you can use any oil of choice, depending what your favorite is, or you can use melted butter for a more buttery flavor.  I know canola would be really good, and I love using olive oil!

If you are vegan, my choice would be to use 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce instead of the egg portion, but if you’re vegan, you probably know what you like to use, so just try what you like.  Here’s a vegan bread that uses flax seeds, that you could add cranberries to, that I think would be really yummy.  

This simple and satisfying bread is made with just a few basic ingredients, and takes only about an hour to make. With its sweet, citrus flavor and chewy texture, it’s sure to become a favorite treat that your family will love. 

Learn all the tips and tricks you need to make this delicious bread in your own kitchen. From learning how to assemble the ingredients to the tastiest ways to serve it, it’s time to get baking!

cranberry orange bread recipe

Ingredients You Need

Cranberry Orange Quick Bread Recipe

Orange Glaze Recipe

  • powdered sugar
  • orange juice
  • Optional: Rum

cranberry orange bread recipe

How to Make Cranberry Orange Quick Bread 

Cranberry Orange Quick Bread Recipe

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9″ x 5″ loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray or line with parchment or tin-foil, sprayed and easy for removal of loaf from pan.
  2. Toss the cranberries with 1 tablespoon of flour, set aside.
  3. Place flour, baking powder, baking soda and granulated sugar in a large bowl and whisk together.
  4. Add the oil or butter of choice, egg/applesauce, milk of choice or buttermilk and vanilla to the dry ingredients and whisk together until incorporated, but not over-beating too much.
  5. Add the coated cranberries and orange zest/orange extract to the bread batter and gently fold in.
  6. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
  7. Bake for 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean or with just a few crumbs attached.
  8. Run a thin knife along the edges of the pan to loosen the bread. Let the bread cool 10 minutes, then place onto a cooling rack and let cool completely.
  9. After the bread is cool, make the glaze.

Orange Glaze

  1. Place powdered sugar and orange juice together in a bowl and stir until smooth and creamy. (Add rum if you wish.) Add more powdered sugar for thicker glaze, more orange juice or milk for thinner glaze as needed. Drizzle the glaze over the bread.
  2. Let the glaze set before serving.

cranberry orange bread recipe

Storing & Freezing Options!

  • For Storing:  Place in an airtight container on the counter for 2-3 days or in the refrigerator for 5-6 days.
  • For Freezing:  Tightly wrap the loaf in plastic wrap. Then wrap them in aluminum foil or in a large ziplock freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3-4 months. Thaw in the refrigerator or room temperature.

cranberry orange bread recipe

CRANBERRY ORANGE QUICK BREADThis lovely Cranberry Orange Quick Bread is perfect for the holidays, gifting, snacking and especially when you have cranberries you want to use and looking for a recipe that lights up your life!

More Seasonal Treats!

Cranberry Quick Bread with Orange Glaze

Cranberry Orange Quick Bread with Orange Glaze

Kim Lange
Cranberries and Christmas were made for each other!  They are inseparable, which is why the winter holidays always includes some type of cranberry crush.  This Cranberry Orange Quick bread with Orange Glaze is ‘holly-jolly’ bursting with fresh baked cranberries and a tangy orange flavor infusion of love. 
4.75 from 8 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Course Breakfast, Brunch, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 10 Servings
Calories

Ingredients
 
 

Cranberry Orange Quick Bread Recipe

  • 2 cups all purpose flour + more to toss with cranberries
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • cup oil of choice or 5 tablespoons butter melted and cooled, I used avocado oil
  • 1 egg or 1/2 cup applesauce for vegan option
  • ¾ cup milk of choice or milk of choice or buttermilk, I used almond milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups cranberries fresh or frozen
  • 2 teaspoons orange zest or 1/2 teaspoon orange blossom extract or orange extract
  • Optional: 1/2 cups walnuts chopped

Orange Glaze

  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 4 tablespoons orange juice
  • Optional: 1 tablespoon Rum

Instructions
 

Cranberry Orange Quick Bread Recipe

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9" x 5" loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray or line with parchment or tin-foil, sprayed and easy for removal of loaf from pan.
  • Toss the cranberries with 1 tablespoon of flour, set aside.
  • Place flour, baking powder, baking soda and granulated sugar in a large bowl and whisk together.
  • Add the oil or butter of choice, egg/applesauce, milk of choice or buttermilk and vanilla to the dry ingredients and whisk together until incorporated, but not over-beating too much.
  • Add the coated cranberries and orange zest/orange extract to the bread batter and gently fold in.
  • Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
  • Bake for 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean or with just a few crumbs attached.
  • Run a thin knife along the edges of the pan to loosen the bread. Let the bread cool 10 minutes, then place onto a cooling rack and let cool completely.
  • After the bread is cool, make the glaze.

Orange Glaze

  • Place powdered sugar and orange juice together in a bowl and stir until smooth and creamy. (Add rum if you wish.) Add more powdered sugar for thicker glaze, more orange juice or milk for thinner glaze as needed. Drizzle the glaze over the bread.
  • Let the glaze set before serving.
Keyword breakfast, brunch, cranberry, dessert, gluten free, loaf, orange, orange glaze, orange zest, vegan
Tried This Recipe?Let us know how it was by commenting below!

Check out our delish Lemon Cream Cheese Cookies, if you’re a lemon lover or these Orange Butter’Scream’ Oreo Brownies, for more orange love!

20 Comments

  1. Delicious! Perfect mix of sweet and tang. I baked it a little longer by accident. Had to eat the ends immediately (aw shucks:) but froze the rest. Glazed it when I pulled it out of the freezer this week for the kids after-school snack. They loved it. It has THE BEST texture. DENSE. MMMmmmm.

  2. Oh how beautiful and delicious! I can’t seem to get enough cranberries this year. May they keep coming. 🙂 Happy New Year! 🙂 ~Valentina

  3. I’m so happy to hear you tried it vegan style! So awesome! Thank you so much for trying it and making it again here soon. Happy New Year! xo

  4. Made the Cranberry Quick Bread for Christmas dinner. It was a big hit! I loved the contrast of the cranberries and the orange glaze. I did make the vegan version. Who says you can’t have vegan dessert that isn’t delicious!
    I am making it again for a pot luck next week! Thank you!

  5. So many useful tips here Kim ! It great to know there are still two more holidays to celebrate so it’s not too late for this one 🙂
    i wish you and your loved ones to have happy holidays dear ! xo

  6. Cranberries and oranges go so well together, and this is one of my favourite Christmas combinations. This quick bread sounds delightful, and I wouldn’t mind a few slices, toasted and with butter, during the holiday season. I guess the leftovers (if that could possibly happen) would be wonderful in a bread pudding, too.

  7. I love cranberries any time of year, but during Christmas they’re my FAVORITE! I need to try your bread–it looks perfect!

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