Pumpkin Cranberry Bread with Orange Glaze

Indulge in the warm, comforting flavors of autumn with our delectable Pumpkin Cranberry Bread, generously adorned with a tantalizing Orange Icing drizzle. This bread will make your kitchen smell like warm baked spicy goodness

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Ah, fall’s here, and pumpkins are everywhere – gotta love it, right? I’m all about those fall vibes, from the beautiful autumn colors and falling leaves to that crisp chill in the air and anything pumpkin-flavored. And you know what? When I lay eyes on my first pumpkin of the season, it’s a clear sign to whip up my go-to fall fave: Pumpkin Cranberry Bread.

If you’re into quick bread, you’ve got to make this recipe. It’s bursting with that cozy pumpkin goodness, sweet cranberries, and a bunch of warm spices like cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. Plus, this recipe makes two loaves of bread, so you can enjoy one right away and the other can be frozen or given as a gift.

Nothing beats slicing into this moist fall-flavored bread, grabbing a hot cup of tea, cider, or maybe even a maple latte, and just chillin’. Whether you’re starting your day or need a cozy afternoon pick-me-up, it’s a winner.

Pumpkin is such a wonderful ingredient because it goes with so many flavors.

• fruit – apples, pears, cherries, cranberries
• nuts -pecans, walnuts, pistachios, macadamia
• chocolate – dark chocolate is a great addition
• spices – cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, cardamom, and ginger
• liquids – honey, maple syrup, bourbon

Types of Cranberries

Fresh cranberries are definitely seasonal showing up around November to January,  Luckily they freeze well so I buy quite a few bags to last me throughout the year.

Eating fresh cranberries can be too tart to eat by themselves.  Fresh berries are usually added to salads and baked goods, oatmeal, and savory dishes.

Dried cranberries are sweet and chewy like a raisin and perfect for snacking, tossed in salads,  and they add great flavor to cooked and baked items.

Canned Cranberry Sauce is something I don’t use a lot but for this recipe, I make the exception. I like how moist it makes this bread and it’s full of cranberries, so don’t be afraid of using this cranberry sauce in baking. I guess you could call this a Pumpkin Cranberry Bread with Canned Cranberries.

Pumpkin Cranberry Sauce Bread Recipe Ingredients

This quick bread has a long list of ingredients but spices are what makes this bread so tasty.

• Flour
• Brown Sugar
• Baking Powder
• Baking Soda
• Salt
• Cinnamon
• Nutmeg
• Cloves
• Pumpkin Puree – make sure to use pumpkin puree and not pumpkin pie mix.
• Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce – use the whole berry and not the jellied cranberry sauce
• Pecans
• Vegetable Oil
• Eggs

Ingredients for the Orange Glaze

• Powdered Sugar
• Orange Juice
• Cinnamon

For all you pumpkin lovers, let’s bake some bread.  Making a quick bread is well….quick, no yeast, no waiting for the dough to rise, just mix and bake.

How to make pumpkin cranberry bread

•  Measure all the dry ingredients in a large bowl
• Mix the pumpkin puree, cranberry sauce, and oil in a large mixing bowl
• Beat the egg in a small bowl and stir into the pumpkin.
• Add the flour mixture to the pumpkin mixture and stir until combined
• Once the ingredients are mixed up, pour them into the bread pans and bake

This makes a dark-colored bread since I use dark brown sugar because I like the flavor but feel free to use white sugar, a mixture of white and brown sugar or use coconut sugar.

While your bread is baking and your kitchen is smelling deliciously spicy you can go ahead and make the simple 3-ingredient orange icing.  Just mix powdered sugar, orange juice, and cinnamon. Sweet and spicy!

Once the bread has cooled top it with that sweet orange icing and watch it drizzle down the sides of your fresh-baked bread.

I love how the icing flows into all the nooks and crannies in the bread.

The best way to slice a quick bread is to make nice big 1/2″ thick slices.

Need another pumpkin recipe?  This Spicy Pumpkin Sheet Cake with White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting is a favorite.

Bake these Pumpkin Scones for a delicious fall favorite recipe.

Ready to bake some bread? I promise you will love the pumpkin bread,  it really is my favorite.

First published: Oct 19, 2015, Last updated: Sept. 1, 2022, for better readability.

 

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About Jere’

From learning to cook on a farm in Indiana to culinary school in California, my passion for food is never-ending.  Turning on my oven to bake something for friends and family is my happy place, and I am glad to be here at One Hot Oven sharing both sweet and savory family-friendly recipes for your cooking and baking inspiration.