Contessa Cranberry Orange Bread Recipe
This Contessa Cranberry Orange Bread is a moist, flavorful quick bread combining the tartness of fresh cranberries with bright orange zest and juice, creating a perfect balance of sweet and tangy. Ideal for breakfast, brunch, or a snack, it’s easy to prepare and bakes into a delicious, tender loaf.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 1 loaf (about 10 slices) 1x
- Category: Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
Wet Ingredients
- ¾ cup orange juice
- ¼ cup melted butter
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Other
- 1½ cups fresh cranberries
- Powdered sugar, for dusting (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan to prevent sticking and set it aside.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, and orange zest until well combined. This ensures even distribution of the rising agent and flavor throughout the batter.
- Combine wet ingredients: In a separate bowl, mix the orange juice, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla extract until smooth and fully incorporated.
- Combine wet and dry mixtures: Pour the wet ingredient mixture into the bowl with the dry ingredients and gently stir until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the bread tender.
- Add cranberries: Fold the fresh cranberries into the batter carefully to evenly distribute them without breaking them up too much.
- Bake the bread: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, smoothing the top evenly. Bake in the preheated oven for 50 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool and serve: Remove the loaf from the oven and allow it to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. Then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, dust the top with powdered sugar, if desired, and slice to serve.
Notes
- Fresh cranberries add the best tart flavor and texture, but you can use frozen cranberries; just do not thaw before adding.
- Orange zest and juice must be fresh for optimal citrus flavor.
- Do not overmix the batter to avoid a dense bread.
- Store leftovers wrapped tightly at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
- You can add chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans for extra texture.
Keywords: cranberry orange bread, quick bread, citrus bread, holiday bread, cranberry loaf, orange zest bread
Find it online: https://yumwithmia.com/contessa-cranberry-orange-bread-recipe/
