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Easy Christmas Cranberry Orange Bread

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4.1 from 48 reviews

This Easy Christmas Cranberry Orange Bread is a moist, vibrant, and festive quick bread perfect for holiday breakfasts, brunches, or gifting. Bursting with tangy cranberries and fresh orange flavor, it’s a delightful seasonal treat that’s simple to make and wonderfully fragrant.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 ½ tsp baking powder
  • ¼ tsp salt

Wet Ingredients

  • ¾ cup orange juice
  • ⅓ cup vegetable oil
  • 1 tbsp orange zest
  • 1 large egg

Additional

  • 1 cup fresh or dried cranberries

Instructions

  1. Preheat and prepare pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a loaf pan thoroughly to prevent sticking.
  2. Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt until evenly combined.
  3. Add wet ingredients: Stir in the orange juice, vegetable oil, orange zest, and the large egg. Mix until just combined to maintain a tender texture.
  4. Fold in cranberries: Gently fold in the fresh or dried cranberries to distribute them evenly without overmixing the batter.
  5. Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake in the preheated oven for 50 to 55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  6. Cool and slice: Allow the bread to cool completely in the pan before slicing to ensure clean cuts and the best texture.

Notes

  • Use fresh cranberries for a tart burst or dried cranberries for a sweeter bite.
  • For extra orange flavor, consider adding a drizzle of orange glaze on top after baking.
  • Make sure not to overmix the batter to keep the bread light and fluffy.
  • Store leftovers wrapped at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for longer storage.