Sweet and Tart Orange Cranberry Bread a Holiday Favorite

Cranberry Orange Bread is one of my favorite Holiday Quick Bread recipes because it's so easy to make, it's a velvety smooth pound bread with delicious Orange Zest, Orange Juice and tart fresh cranberries. With or without a glaze it's absolutely delicious and a must for the Fall Holiday season.

This post may contain affiliate links. Thanks for using my links! See my Disclosure Policy here.

Cranberries are a Fall Holiday flavor, paired with Orange and you can knock my socks off it's such a good combination. Trust me, I use Orange and Cranberries when making Homemade Cranberry Sauce too.

And if you want to make a fun stove top potpourri simply boil whole cranberries, orange slices, and cinnamon sticks in some apple juice. It will make your home smell fantastic I promise

Hand Mixer or Stand Mixer

Gather all the ingredients needed. I find it easiest to weight the ingredients, especially the sugar and flour. If you do not have a kitchen scale I suggest lifting the flour and carefully spooning into a measuring cup and level the top. Adding too much or too little flour makes all the difference in recipes.

This recipe can be made using a hand mixer and a large mixing bowl. I prefer to use my Bosch Universal Plus Stand Mixer for many reasons. But mostly because I love my Bosch!

This is a great question as I have been asked it many times. Bosch is a brand name that makes a stand mixer to make and mix all kinds of things. I've been using a Bosch since I was very little, which means I've been using one for decades. Take a look at this post and tells you why I love my Bosch Mixer!

How to make Orange Cranberry Bread

Cream butter and sugar together, adding eggs one at a time allowing butter and sugar to whip and cream together in between each addition of egg.

Add softened room temperature cream cheese to mixture and continue to cream until light and fluffy. Mix in Orange Extract and Orange Juice to butter mixture.

Slowly add flour making sure it's fully mixed together.

Zest an orange and add zest along with fresh cranberries and hand stir in batter. No need to chop or cut cranberries, they will burst during the baking process.

For a flakey top, sprinkle 1-2 tablespoons sugar on top. It really finishes off the Cranberry Orange Bread recipe nicely.

Prepare pan by covering in butter and dusting with flour. This ensures bread won't stick and comes out clean. Pour bread mixture into loaf pan and follow the bake time in the recipe card below.

Remove from oven when toothpick inserted in center of bread comes out clean and allow to cool for 2-3 minutes before turning out to a wire rack to cool completely.

An orange glaze can be made by mixing powdered sugar, butter, and orange juice in a small bowl. Adding extra zest adds a punch of orange flavor too.

Bake in a preheated oven

Cranberry Orange Bread with Glaze is fantastic, but trust me when I say it's also delicious with a simple sugar flaky top.

Pro Tips:

• Dried Cranberries can be used in place of Fresh Cranberries.
• About the last 15+ minutes cover the bread with foil, shiny side down. This helps to not overcook the top while the inside is still cooking.
• Bake at 325F Degrees. This recipe cooks low and slow. But it comes out velvety smooth and it's delicious.
• The glaze is delicious and something to try, but the less sweet bread is delicious all on it's own too.
• This recipe is one of my favorite, don't believe me? Take a look at my Lemon Cream Cheese Pound Bread recipe, or even this Coconut Pound Cake. Such a delicious recipe with so many variations.
• This recipe can easily be doubled for 2 loaves of bread

More Quick Bread Fall Recipes

• Banana Bread
• Eggnog Bread
• Zucchini Coconut Lime Bread

Be sure to Follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube for the Latest Recipes, Tips and Tricks, and creative menu ideas!

Can you use dried Cranberries instead of Fresh?

Using dried cranberries will work in this recipe. However, keep in mind that you will need to adjust the amount of cranberries down by ¼ cup.

How long can Cranberry Orange Bread be Frozen?

Freeze bread for up to 3 months. Make sure to properly cover bread in plastic wrap and then wrap in foil for best results.

Should Cranberry bread be refrigerated?

Cranberry Orange Bread can be stored on the counter and does not need to be kept in the refrigerator. However, chilled bread is very tasty. Give it a try.

How do you know when Quick Bread is done?

To test for doneness use a wooden toothpick inserted in the center of the bread or loaf. If toothpick comes out clean or with only a couple crumbs attached then the bread is done and ready to be pulled out of the oven. I find it easiest to insert toothpick in a crack of the bread.

Welcome to Cranberry Week! 

This week we are celebrating all things cranberry! We have delicious recipes from across the country to celebrate all things cranberry!

#CranberryWeek is an annual blogging event that is hosted by Ashley from Cheese Curd In Paradise

• Slow Cooker Cranberry Apple Crisp from Cheese Curd In Paradise
• Cranberry Pecan Quick Bread from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
• Roasted Cranberry Potatoesfrom Magical Ingredients
• Cranberry White Wine Spritzer from Our Good Life
• Oatmeal Cranberry Bars from The Fresh Cooky
• Orange Cranberry Bread from Devour Dinner
• Pear-Cranberry Sauce from The Spiffy Cookie
• Cranberry Pecan Cake Balls from The Freshman Cook
• Cranberry Moscow Mule from Art of Natural Living
• Orange Cranberry Muffins from Life Love and Good Food
• Cranberry Almond Granola from Family Around the Table
• Easy Classic Cranberry Sauce from Kate's Recipe Box

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate this Recipe

5 from 10 votes

Cranberry Orange Pound Bread

Cranberry Orange Bread is one of my favorite Holiday Quick Bread recipes because it’s so easy to make, it’s a velvety smooth pound bread with delicious Orange Zest, Orange Juice and tart fresh cranberries. 

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Total Time1 hour hr 25 minutes mins

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings: 8

Ingredients

Lemon Cream Cheese Bread

• 10 Tablespoons Butter - Softened
• 1 ½ Cup Sugar - Dixie Crystal Sugar
• 4 oz Cream Cheese - Softened
• 3 Eggs
• ¼ teaspoon Salt
• 1 teaspoon Orange Extract
• 1 Tbs Orange Juice
• 2 Tbs Orange Zest
• 1 ⅓ Cup Flour
• 1 ½ Cup Cranberries - Fresh

Orange Glaze

• 2 Tbs Butter
• 1 ½ Cup Powdered Sugar
• 3 Tbs Orange Juice

Instructions

Cranberry Orange Pound Bread

• Preheat oven to 325
• In a Mixer: Cream softened butter and sugar for until light and fluffy.
• Add softened cream cheese and allow to whip for 2-3 minutes
• Add Eggs, One at a time and allow to be fully mixed in.
• Add Orange Juice, Orange Zest, Orange Extract, and salt.
• Add Flour a little at a time and mix until combined.
• Grease and flour loaf pan Pour batter into pan
• Bake for 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes. Check after 1 hour. Use a toothpick in the center to test for doneness. Bread will be done with toothpick comes out clean from center. I typically bake mine for 1 hour 5 mins.

Orange Glaze

• Mix butter and powered sugar in a mixing bowl using a fork. Add Orange Juice. This will be thin. If you prefer a thicker glaze, add more powdered sugar. Drizzle over top of warm bread and allow to run down sides.

Notes

Pro Tips:

• Dried Cranberries can be used in place of Fresh Cranberries. Reduce measurement by ¼ cup when using dried cranberries.
• About the last 15+ minutes cover the bread with foil, shiny side down. This helps to not overcook the top while the inside is still cooking.
• The glaze is delicious and something to try, but the less sweet bread is delicious all on it’s own too.
• This recipe can easily be doubled for 2 loaves of bread

Shopping list of Ingredients

• Fats: Real Butter and Cream Cheese make up the fats in this recipe, they create a velvety smooth pound bread
• Eggs: Eggs will give the recipe some lift as well as bind the ingredients together
• Dry Ingredients: Sugar, All Purpose Flour, and a little salt
• Add Flavor: Orange Extract, Orange Zest and Orange Juice the Bread will come alive with flavor.
• Cranberries: Whole Fresh Berries are ideal. Frozen can also be used

Have you made this recipe?Mention @devourdinner or tag us #devourdinner! Please leave a comment and rating below. Thank you!

Nutrition Disclaimer

All nutrition values are approximate and calculated by a plugin and are provided as a courtesy. Adding or subtracting ingredients will change the nutritional value.

Nutrition

Calories: 545kcal | Carbohydrates: 80g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 122mg | Sodium: 293mg | Potassium: 107mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 61g | Vitamin A: 839IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 1mg