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 traditional 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 strong citrus vibe with out going overboard.
Make fast breads like this of any taste utilizing my base quick bread recipe.
Why My Recipe
- Additional moist texture due to a full cup of applesauce and melted butter.
- A lot of orange taste from juice, zest, and only a contact of orange extract.
- Non-obligatory 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 in some way disappears quicker than anybody admits to consuming it. It really works for brunch, snacking, gifting, or stealing a slice once you’re alleged to be cleansing the kitchen.
Ingredient Notes
- Unsweetened Apple Sauce: Be sure it’s unsweetened so the bread doesn’t prove too candy.
- Brown Sugar: Gentle or darkish brown sugar each work. Darkish provides a deeper taste.
- Melted Butter: Butter provides higher taste, whereas oil retains the loaf further comfortable. Use whichever you favor.
- Orange Juice: Recent or bottled each work. There’s not sufficient juice within the orange you zest to make each the bread and the glaze.
- Giant Egg: A room-temperature egg mixes extra easily, however straight from the fridge is completely advantageous 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 great rise.
- Baking Powder: Be sure it’s not expired or the loaf could bake dense.
- All-Objective Flour: Scoop and sweep methodology of measuring is most popular.
- Craisins: You possibly can substitute with 1 cup recent or frozen cranberries, chopped. Recent or frozen provides you with a extra tart taste.
- Orange Zest: Solely zest the highest orange layer and keep away from the white pith for the most effective taste.
Recent vs Dried Cranberries
You possibly can completely use both dried cranberries or recent ones on this bread. Craisins offer you a sweeter, chewier chunk with no further prep. Recent or frozen cranberries make the bread extra tart, so count on a brighter taste.
If utilizing recent or frozen, give them a fast chop in order that they distribute evenly. There isn’t any want to regulate the baking time or the batter. Simply know the bread will style rather less candy, and that’s fully okay.
Non-obligatory 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 can too change the craisins for chopped recent or frozen cranberries if you’d like a extra tart taste. So long as you don’t overload the batter, it should bake up properly.
The way to Inform When Quickbread is Carried out
Fast breads can look completed on high lengthy earlier than the middle is prepared. The best strategy to verify 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 verify once more. The highest also needs to spring again calmly when pressed.


Loaf Pan Dimension 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 a bit of flatter and end sooner, so begin checking it about ten minutes early.
You can too break up the batter into mini loaf pans. These sometimes bake in about 25 to half-hour. Simply regulate them as soon as they begin smelling wonderful.
Glaze Ideas
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 arduous to prepare dinner in such small quantities. Simply give it a great, sugary soak.
Serving Options
This bread is nice heat, cool, toasted, or sliced straight from the counter. You possibly can serve it with butter, cream cheese, or nothing in any respect. It additionally seems to be nice on a brunch desk. And when you’ve got a slice left the following 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 a bit of longer. The glaze helps preserve 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 can too freeze particular person slices for fast breakfasts. Thaw the loaf or slices at room temperature.
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