Skip to main content

Sweet and Tart Cranberry Orange Quick Bread

Cranberry bread is a delightful alternative to muffins this time of year.  It's cranberry season so there is no better time to make this bread.  

As the fall season comes to a close and the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays approach, a warm, comforting aroma beckons from your kitchen. It's the scent of freshly baked cranberry orange quick bread, with all the flavors that perfectly capture the essence of the season.

This easy-to-follow recipe will transform your kitchen into a haven of warmth and fragrance, filling your home with the irresistible aroma of autumn. With the simple ingredients and straightforward recipe, you'll be creating this tasty treat that will have your family and friends asking for seconds.

One Bowl Cranberry Orange Quick Bread 

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience.  When you make a purchase using these links you help support the costs of publishing this blog.
Cranberry Bread for Breakfast

Make an extra loaf or two for your freezer.  One loaf just won't be enough.  The combination of sweet and tart flavors makes this a favorite of mine. I hope it will become a favorite of yours, too.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Jump to Recipe
This cranberry orange quick bread recipe is more than just a delectable treat; it's an experience that will delight your taste buds and fill your home with the warm, inviting scents of autumn. Here are just a few reasons why you'll love this recipe:

It's Family-Tested: This cranberry bread recipe is a tradition in my family.  It comes to you via my mom, who always had a platter of various quick breads ready for us for holiday breakfasts.  

Effortless Preparation: With its straightforward steps and minimal ingredients, this recipe is perfect for bakers of all skill levels, from novices to seasoned pros. This cranberry bread really is quick to make.  You can make this recipe entirely by hand, without the assistance of any electric kitchen gadgets.  A pastry blender makes the process of cutting in the vegetable shortening a breeze.  

A Burst of Seasonal Flavors: The combination of tart cranberries, zesty orange, and crunchy walnuts creates a symphony of flavors that will tantalize your senses.

The Autumnal Aromas: As the quick bread bakes, your home will be filled with the intoxicating aroma of warm spices and citrus, evoking the cozy atmosphere of autumn.

Gifting Made Easy: With its festive flavors and impressive presentation, this quick bread makes an ideal gift for friends, family, and colleagues. 

It Freezes Well: This is a festive way to keep the family satisfied on those mornings when you may be too busy for a big breakfast.  Make a loaf or two now and pop them in the freezer for Christmas morning.  Yum!

My Tips for Success

I use Crisco shortening in this bread.  My mother used it so I use it.

Don't chop your cranberries too finely. A coarse chop is good enough.

Use the juice from the orange and add extra orange juice as necessary to reach the 3/4 cup of fresh orange juice required.

One..two...three...let's make it!

How to Make Cranberry Orange Bread

Here's a video if you'd like to see how I make this yummy cranberry bread.

Click Here to Subscribe to My YouTube Channel


The Cranberry Orange Bread Recipe

breakfast, cranberry bread, Christmas breakfast, Thanksgiving Breakfast
breakfast, snack
American
Yield: 12 slices
Author: Donna Urso
Cranberry Bread

Cranberry Bread

A sweet and tart cranberry orange bread that is a perfect autumn alternative to muffins.
Prep time: 15 MinCook time: 60 MinTotal time: 1 H & 15 M

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a standard 9 x 5-inch loaf pan.
  2. In a medium bowl, mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir with a whisk to combine well.
  3. Cut in the shortening until the mixture resembles cornmeal.
  4. Zest the orange and squeeze the juice. Take a deep breath as you zest that orange. The scent of the orange will brighten your day as well as add flavor to this yummy bread.
  5. Measure the juice in a measuring cup. Depending on the juiciness of your orange, you may need to add more juice to get 3/4 cups.
  6. Add the zest and the egg to the juice and mix to combine. Add the juice mixture to the dry mixture all at once and stir just to combine.
  7. Add the cranberries and nuts to the mixture all at once. Using a spatula, fold in the nuts and cranberries to distribute.
  8. Pour the batter into the greased loaf pan. Sprinkle with raw or sparkling sugar, if you desire.
  9. Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely before serving.

Notes

This cranberry bread makes a delightful breakfast for Thanksgiving or Christmas.

Nutrition Facts

Calories

238.23

Fat (grams)

8.08 g

Sat. Fat (grams)

2.39 g

Carbs (grams)

38.33 g

Fiber (grams)

1.57 g

Net carbs

36.76 g

Sugar (grams)

19.96 g

Protein (grams)

4.09 g

Sodium (milligrams)

271.44 mg

Cholesterol (grams)

17.89 mg

Nutritional info. is approximate.





Before you go...Join the Just One Donna community by signing up for periodic emails with exclusive content.  Sign up in the sidebar to get notified of new posts via RSS feed.
Enjoy!


Comments

  1. This is the old Farm Journal recipe. The only difference is the raw or sparkling sugar for topping. I used to make it in the 1980s and still have the recipe book.

    ReplyDelete
  2. FANTASTIC cranberry bread.

    ReplyDelete
  3. FANTASTIC Cranberry Bread.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Talk to me. I welcome your comments. (These comments are strictly moderated. Spammers take note.)

More Popular Posts

How to Make a Perfect Bacon and Eggs Breakfast

In my opinion, the best breakfast consists of two perfectly fried eggs, crispy bacon, and toast made with hearty bread. This bacon and eggs recipe delivers. Bacon and eggs or eggs and bacon? No matter, it is definitely the breakfast you want on those lazy mornings when you have time to relax around the kitchen table, drinking a cup of coffee or two. The Best Bacon and Eggs Breakfast (This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience.  When you make a purchase using these links you help support this blog.) How to Cook Bacon and Eggs My technique was learned from my mom, by watching her make our family's breakfast over and over again, year after year.  This is a basted egg recipe which means the eggs are cooked in bacon grease. Cooking eggs in bacon fat is easy and takes just a little practice to perfect.

Rum Punch for a Party

Easy Rum Punch Recipe (Perfect Party Cocktail) Looking for an easy rum punch recipe for a party? This fruity rum punch is made ahead, full of tropical flavor, and perfect for summer gatherings. It’s the kind of drink that makes you feel like you’re sitting by the water with your toes in the sand. One sip and you’re there. Why This Rum Punch Is Perfect for Entertaining Jump to Recipe This is one of those recipes that just makes hosting easier. Make it ahead : mix it before guests arrive Serves a crowd : easy to double or triple It's No-fuss : no mixing drinks all afternoon It has a Bright, tropical flavor everyone loves If you’re hosting a barbecue, picnic, or holiday gathering, this one always works. Rum Punch Ingredients This classic rum punch uses simple, easy-to-find ingredients: Lime juice Grenadine Spiced rum Light rum or coconut rum Pineapple juice Orange juice Optional garnish: Pi...

Traditional New England Whoopie Pies

These old-fashioned whoopie pies are soft, chocolatey, and filled with a rich, creamy filling, just like the ones many of us remember. This is a true New England-style recipe. If you’re looking for a true whoopie pie recipe—the kind made in New England with a cooked filling—this is it. Whoopie pies are a beloved treat, a nostalgic dessert that evokes childhood memories and continues to delight today. My mom would make them for us every once in a while. Oh, what a treat to come home from school to a platter of chocolate whoopie pies! This recipe, inspired by traditional Maine-style whoopie pies, comes from my family recipe box. It delivers soft, chocolatey cakes with a rich, creamy cooked filling – no marshmallow fluff needed! The Best Whoopie Pies Recipe (Soft cakes & Creamy Filling) This post includes affiliate links. Whoopie pies are essentially handheld cake sandwiches: soft, round, cake-like cookies embracing a luscious, creamy filling.  While their ...

Grandma's Soft and Chewy Date-Filled Cookies

One of the things I can count on as the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons arrive each year is a feeling of nostalgia. The traditional foods we serve at our family's holiday tables can surely bring out all the feels. Now that it is officially cookie season, we should kick it off with an old-fashioned homemade date-filled cookie recipe. This is a soft, tender cookie with dates that is a special, nostalgic, family recipe.   An Old-Fashioned Date Cookie Recipe What are old-fashioned date-filled cookies?   Old-fashioned date-filled cookies are a nostalgic, soft sandwich cookie featuring two rounds of tender sugar cookie dough with a sweet, homemade date jam filling in the center.  This vintage 1930s recipe is a traditional holiday favorite, prized for its soft texture and the perfect balance of buttery dough and naturally sweet dates. This old-fashioned, date-filled cookie was my dad's favorite cookie from his childhood. My dad was born in 1932, so this...

The Best Asian Dipping Sauce You'll Ever Taste

If you're looking for a versatile, easy-to-make Asian dipping sauce perfect for sushi and dumplings, then you've come to the right place. This recipe for the best Asian dipping sauce is perfect for any time you want a  kick of delicious Asian flavor. An Asian Dipping Sauce for Sushi and Dumplings Try this if you are looking for a dipping sauce that is a little more flavorful than you typically get with your takeout order. You'll love it with dumplings, too!

Coffee and Dessert-A Perfect Pairing

3 Easy Coffee Drinks to Make at Home (Perfect with Dessert) Coffee and dessert just belong together. Not in a fussy, go-out-to-a-restaurant kind of way… but in that simple end-of-the-day moment when you want something a little special without making a big production out of it. The good news? You don’t need any special equipment to make a really good “dessert coffee” at home. If you can brew a strong cup of coffee and warm a little milk, you’re already halfway there. In this post, I’m going to show you three easy coffee drinks you can make in your own kitchen, and exactly what to serve with them when you want that coffee shop feel without leaving the house.

The Ultimate Cinnamon Swirl Bread: A Bread Machine Recipe

Today's recipe will fill your kitchen with an incredible aroma and lots of smiles. It's homemade cinnamon swirl bread made with your bread machine. If you’ve ever struggled to get that perfect cinnamon swirl or ended up with gaps or leaking filling, this method fixes that using your bread machine. Bread Machine Cinnamon Swirl Bread (Soft, Easy Recipe) This post includes affiliate links. This recipe brings together the ease of your trusty bread machine with the deliciousness of a warm, sweet, and perfectly swirled cinnamon bread. Get ready for a slice of pure comfort!

Five Keys to Growing A Healthy Ficus Tree

Have you ever wondered how a single Ficus benjamina tree could become a beloved part of your home for decades, thriving and growing alongside your family?  If you haven’t yet, you might consider the addition of this living, air-purifying companion in your home that not only beautifies your space but also stands the test of time.  You may know this tree as either a Ficus benjamina or a weeping fig.   I have loved growing a ficus tree in my home for 36 years. It’s remarkable that I've had this tree for so long.   How to Grow A Ficus Tree Inside for Decades This post includes affiliate links. I may receive compensation when you use these links. When thinking about how I managed to keep this indoor ficus tree happy, healthy, and growing strong all these years it boiled down to five key Ficus benjamina plant care tips. Follow these tips and you can have a happy, healthy ficus tree in your home for many years, too.

Crunchy, Spicy Gingersnap Cookies

An Old-Fashioned Cookie That Always Turns Out There’s something about a good gingersnap cookie that just feels right. Not fancy. Not complicated. Just dependable… and really, really good. These crunchy, spicy gingersnaps are the kind of cookie you make when you want something you know will turn out—and something everyone will recognize and enjoy. They’ve got that classic crackled top, a warm blend of spices, and just enough sweetness to balance it all out. And the best part? They’re easy. No mixer required. Traditional Ginger Snaps Cookie Recipe ( This post contains affiliate links.  I will be compensated when you make a purchase with these links.) Gingersnaps Cookies This old-fashioned gingersnap cookie is a winner.  It's easy to make and will be a favorite in your recipe rotation.

How to Trap and Get Rid of Fruit Flies

If you have fruit flies buzzing around your kitchen, you want them gone—fast. This simple homemade fruit fly trap uses just two ingredients you probably already have, and it works within hours. No chemicals. No special equipment. Just a quick fix that actually works. The Best Homemade Fruit Fly Trap (Works in Hours) Those pesky little buggers can often be brought into your home on the vegetables and fruit you buy. You don't have to tolerate the annoyance. This homemade fruit fly trap is one I have been using for many years, and it works every time.