Orange and cranberries go so well together for creating this irresistible Spiced Orange Cranberry Bread with lots of orange zest and fresh cranberries for that sweet-tart flavor.
This page may contain affiliate links; please see my full DISCLOSURE for policy details.
There is nothing better than the smell of this bread baking in your oven, especially when it is a slice of this tasty, warm, glazed cranberry bread; it's just delicious. There are a lot of orange cranberry bread recipes, but this recipe is a winner.
Mixing oranges and cranberries together is like a color explosion, and the flavor combination says bake me for those great fall flavors and holiday parties.
Honestly, this bread is a family favorite, and it gets baked on a pretty regular basis. We are cranberry fanatics. No wonder there are so many cranberry recipes on the blog, like these Orange Cranberry Scones, which are perfect for breakfast and snacks. Bake these Cranberry and Pear Puff-Pastry Pinwheels the next time you need an appetizer; they are the first to go.
Jump to:
Cranberries are tart
If you are not familiar with cranberries, they are tart and have a very low sugar content compared to most fruits. Even with them being tart, you can eat them raw. They are delicious in salads like this Winter Cranberry Fruit Salad that is full of fresh fruits and topped with a sweet orange-mint dressing.
Make this 4-Ingredient Cranberry Sauce to go with your Thanksgiving turkey and this Apple Cranberry Galette for dessert
🍊Simple ingredients
- Flour - I use all-purpose flour
- Sugar-white works best
- Salt
- Baking Soda
- Large Egg
- Nutmeg
- Cardamom
- Orange - use for the juice and the zest
- Cranberries - fresh or frozen. If using frozen, let them thaw at room temperature
- Butter
- Powdered Sugar - for the icing
How to flavor sugar
Pro-tip #1
Orange zest is the secret to making this sweet, fruity bread flavorful, so try this technique: mix the sugar and orange zest together before adding it to the batter so it flavors the sugar. I actually like making more of this to sprinkle on top of the bread before I put it in the oven. Or, if you don't want to glaze the bread, sprinkle this orange sugar on top right after you remove it from the oven.
This Mandarin Orange Bundt Cake uses this orange-scented sugar to add extra citrus flavor. And you can use lemon zest to make lemon-scented sugar for this Lemon Bundt Cake. Both are bursting with delicious citrus flavors.
One of my favorite kitchen tools is a citrus zester. This tool is a must-have for zesting. Next time you want to add some orange, lemon, or even lime flavor to your cooked dishes or baked goods, toss in the fresh citrus zest to liven things up with citrusy flavors.
🥣Easy baking instructions
No yeast is required here. This cranberry bread recipe is quick bread, so it uses baking soda as the leavening agent. And, no mixer, woohoo, use a good wooden spoon.
Pull out your favorite mixing bowl and turn on your oven; it's time to bake. I promise your kitchen is going to smell like oranges and spice.
Step 1. In a large mixing bowl, add the sugar and the zest of one orange and mix this with your hands until combined. Doing this releases the oils in the zest and flavors the sugar. See pro tip #1 above.
Step 2. Next, add the flour, salt, baking soda, and spices to the bowl. Stir these ingredients together.
Step 3. Mix the egg, melted butter, and orange juice in a small bowl, then add to the other ingredients and stir well to combine, scraping the bowl with a rubber spatula and ensuring the flour is incorporated. The batter will be thick.
Step 4. Place the cranberries in a food chopper or a food processor and chop, then add the cranberries to the batter and gently fold them into the batter.
Pro-tip #2
When mixing in the cranberries, do it very gently until they are mixed; this way, your batter won't turn pink.
Step 5. Spoon the batter into a greased 8" x 5" loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees F. for 60 minutes.
Step 6. Add a sweet orange glaze to the bread to make it more festive. In a small mixing bowl add the powdered sugar, melted butter, orange juice, and orange zest, then stir this mixture until it is smooth. Drizzle the glaze over the cooled bread with a spoon.
Step 7. If you have leftover bread, store it in an airtight container for several days.
Variations
- If you are feeling a bit nutty, add chopped pecans, walnuts, or pistachios.
- For a little zing, add chopped ginger to this recipe.
- Tangerines can be substituted for oranges.
- Replace the cardamom with cinnamon for another spicy flavor.
- Add chopped dried cranberries along with the fresh cranberries
Cranberry Questions
Yes, you can. Because cranberries have a short season, stock up on cranberries and just put the bag in the freezer; they keep perfectly well this way. Having cranberries in the freezer means cranberry scones in May, cranberries in your oatmeal all year long, or a cranberry brie appetizer for a summer party. So, while those cranberries are in the store, buy several bags.
Yes, and this bread freezes beautifully. Let the bread cool completely, wrap it in foil, and place it in a freezer bag. Store in the freezer for up to three months.
Fall Favorite Recipes
Nothing says fall like a warm and cozy spice; plenty of them are in this Pumpkin Sheet Cake.
Candy Corn Gelatin Cups are deliciously colorful and perfect for parties.
More to make and eat!
Subscribe here for more great recipes, and follow One Hot Oven for more tasty sweet and savory recipes! Pinterest | Instagram | Facebook
Recipe
Spiced Orange Cranberry Bread
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Ingredients
Spiced Orange Cranberry Bread Ingredients
- Âľ cups granulated sugar can use coconut sugar
- 1 orange zested reserve 1 tsp. for the glaze
- 2 cups AP, flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- ÂĽ teaspoon cardamom
- 1 egg, large
- 2 tablespoon butter melted
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1 cup cranberries fresh or frozen
Orange Zest Glaze Ingredients
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoons butter melted
- 1 tablespoons orange juice
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
Instructions
Making the bread
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease the bottom of an 8" x 5" loaf pan.
- Put the sugar in a large mixing bowl and add the zest of one orange. With your fingers combine the sugar and the zest to mix.
- Add all the other dry ingredients to the bowl with the orange/sugar mixture and mix to combine with a spoon or spatula
- Mix the egg, butter, and orange juice together in a small bowl, then add to the dry ingredients. Stir till just combined, then scrape the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula.
- Using a food processor or a food chopper, chop the whole cranberries then gently fold them into the batter until incorporated. Do not over mix the cranberries or your batter will become pink.
- Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and bake for about 60 minutes, until the bread is golden brown and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Remove the bread from the oven and let cool for 20 minutes before removing from the pan. Finish cooling on a wire rack.
Glazing the Bread
- In a small bowl add the powdered sugar and stir with a whisk to remove lumps.
- Mix in the melted butter, orange juice, and orange zest to make a smooth icing. If your glaze is too thick add additional orange juice. If it is too runny add additional powdered sugar.
- Spoon the glaze over the cooled Orange Cranberry Bread
Storing leftovers and freezing
- Store any leftover bread covered in an airtight container for several days.
- Freeze the whole loaf of bread by wrapping the cooled loaf in foil then place it in a plastic bag. Freeze for up to three months.
Notes
Nutrition
Pin to your favorite bread board
First published: Dec. 4, 2018, Last updated: Oct. 20, 2021, for better readability.
There is nothing better than the right cup of tea and your favorite dessert.
Thank you for stopping by the One Hot Oven blog. Please leave a comment to say Hello, or just let me know what you are baking these days; I always love hearing from fellow bakers. Have any questions or want to chat about the recipe? My contact information is on my About page, and I’ll be happy to help.
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 sweet and savory family-friendly recipes for your cooking and baking inspiration.
Rita
I found cranberries for the first time (this season) in stores and wanted to make a quick bread so bad! This recipe was bright, fresh, tender, and so delicious. We ate it all in one day it was that good. Side note, I did use fresh cranberries. Will be making it all season long.
Jere Cassidy
Glad you enjoyed the recipe. I just bought my first bag of cranberries for the season.
Jessica
My loaves sunk in the middle. Should this recipe require baking powder? Has this happened to anyone else following this recipe?
Jere Cassidy
Sorry your bread sunk. There could be many reasons that happened. I have been baking this recipe for years without fail. Even though quickbreads are supposed to be quick to make they can be finicky. Overmixing the batter and overfilling the pan can cause the bread to sink.
Natalie
I like the addition of cardamom to the cranberry orange bread. Making this recipe for my next tea, the ladies will love it. Thank you for the recipe. "2022Fall Giveway" Oh and I love your antique bread pan!
Natalie
I like the addition of cardamom to the cranberry orange bread. Making this recipe for my next tea, the ladies will love it. Thank you for the recipe. "2022Fall Giveway"
Nan Morrow
I love the orange cranberry combination! Great recipes, Jere!
2022 Fall Giveaway
Maureen
This recipe sounds yummy. I love craberries and always have a stash in the freezer. Will have to make this for Thanksgiving.
This is for the 2022 Giveaway.
Thanks for a great recipe.
Luann boydston
2022 Fall Giveaway
Love your recipes look forward to them!
Karen Smith
2022? Fall Giveaway
Helene
2022 Fall Giveaway
Going to try this recipe!
Megan Ellam
And here I was making orange and cranberry bread and saw this recipe . Perfect timing (and recipe). Thanks again.
Ramona
This is a beautiful festive cranberry bread. I just love everything about it, I can’t wait for the Cranberries to appear on the market to make this!