Cranberry Orange Bread is nice for breakfast, snacking, or wrapping up a loaf to share. This model leans into every thing you need from the basic combo. The applesauce and melted butter make the loaf keep moist for days. And the orange juice, zest, and a tiny trace of orange extract offer you a stable citrus vibe with out going overboard.
Make fast breads like this of any taste utilizing my base fast bread recipe.
Why My Recipe
- Further moist texture because of a full cup of applesauce and melted butter.
- A number of orange taste from juice, zest, and only a contact of orange extract.
- Optionally available glaze soaks into the loaf for further moisture and a candy end.


The glaze will get poured over the loaf whereas the bread continues to be heat and it soaks proper in. It provides further moisture and a lightweight sweetness that ties every thing collectively. That is the sort of fast bread that someway disappears sooner than anybody admits to consuming it. It really works for brunch, snacking, gifting, or stealing a slice if you’re presupposed to be cleansing the kitchen.
Ingredient Notes
- Unsweetened Apple Sauce: Ensure that it’s unsweetened so the bread doesn’t end up too candy.
- Brown Sugar: Mild or darkish brown sugar each work. Darkish provides a deeper taste.
- Melted Butter: Butter provides higher taste, whereas oil retains the loaf further smooth. Use whichever you favor.
- Orange Juice: Contemporary or bottled each work. There’s not sufficient juice within the orange you zest to make each the bread and the glaze.
- Massive Egg: A room-temperature egg mixes extra easily, however straight from the fridge is completely tremendous too.
- Vanilla Extract: Attempt to use the actual factor.
- Orange Extract: This boosts the citrus taste. For those who don’t have any, add yet one more teaspoon of zest.
- Salt: Common desk salt works completely.
- Baking Soda: Examine that it’s recent to make sure a very good rise.
- Baking Powder: Ensure that it’s not expired or the loaf might bake dense.
- All-Goal Flour: Scoop and sweep technique of measuring is most well-liked.
- Craisins: You may exchange with 1 cup recent or frozen cranberries, chopped. Contemporary or frozen gives you a extra tart taste.
- Orange Zest: Solely zest the highest orange layer and keep away from the white pith for the most effective taste.
Contemporary vs Dried Cranberries
You may completely use both dried cranberries or recent ones on this bread. Craisins offer you a sweeter, chewier chew with no further prep. Contemporary or frozen cranberries make the bread extra tart, so count on a brighter taste.
If utilizing recent or frozen, give them a fast chop so that they distribute evenly. There isn’t a want to regulate the baking time or the batter. Simply know the bread will style rather less candy, and that’s fully okay.
Optionally available Add-Ins
This bread is versatile if you wish to change it up. A handful of chopped pecans or walnuts provides a pleasant crunch. White chocolate chips soften into little candy pockets.
You may as well change the craisins for chopped recent or frozen cranberries in order for you a extra tart taste. So long as you don’t overload the batter, it’s going to bake up properly.
Find out how to Inform When Quickbread is Carried out
Fast breads can look completed on high lengthy earlier than the middle is prepared. The best solution to examine for doneness is with a toothpick. Insert it into the middle of the loaf. If it comes out clear or with only a few crumbs, you’re good to go. If it comes out gooey, give the bread one other 5 to 10 minutes and examine once more. The highest must also spring again calmly when pressed.


Loaf Pan Measurement Choices
This recipe is written for an 8 by 4 inch loaf pan, however you continue to have choices. A 9 by 5 inch pan will work. The loaf will bake just a little flatter and end sooner, so begin checking it about ten minutes early.
You may as well cut up the batter into mini loaf pans. These usually bake in about 25 to half-hour. Simply keep watch over them as soon as they begin smelling superb.
Glaze Suggestions
The very best time to pour the glaze is when the loaf is sizzling from the oven. It soaks proper in and provides further moisture and taste. I’ve you make extra glaze than you really want as a result of in any other case it’s too exhausting to prepare dinner in such small quantities. Simply give it a very good, sugary soak.
Serving Recommendations
This bread is nice heat, cool, toasted, or sliced straight from the counter. You may serve it with butter, cream cheese, or nothing in any respect. It additionally seems nice on a brunch desk. And when you have a slice left the subsequent morning, turning it into French toast isn’t a nasty thought.
Storage & Freezing
Retailer leftover Cranberry Orange Bread in an hermetic container at room temperature for as much as 3 days. In case your kitchen runs heat, place it within the fridge as an alternative to maintain it just a little longer. The glaze helps maintain the loaf moist, so it holds up properly.
Freezing Directions: Wrap the cooled loaf tightly in plastic wrap, then place it in a freezer protected bag or container. Freeze for as much as 3 months. You may as well freeze particular person slices for fast breakfasts. Thaw the loaf or slices at room temperature.
