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Cranberry Orange Bread with Zesty Glaze

Cranberry Orange Bread with Zesty Glaze: The Best Homemade Treat

This Cranberry Orange Bread with Zesty Glaze is a delightful homemade treat bursting with citrus flavor and fresh cranberries.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Cooling Time 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 10 slices
Calories 200 kcal

Equipment

  • loaf pan
  • Mixing bowls
  • whisk

Ingredients
  

Bread Ingredients

  • 1.5 cups all-purpose flour The foundation of our lovely bread.
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder This helps our bread get that perfect, fluffy rise.
  • 0.25 teaspoon salt Just a pinch to balance out all the sweetness.
  • 0.25 cup milk room temperature, Make sure it’s not too cold, it mixes in better!
  • 1 large orange zest divided, This is where all that wonderful citrusy magic comes from.
  • 0.25 cup orange juice freshly squeezed, Fresh is always best for that vibrant flavor.
  • 6 tablespoon unsalted butter softened, Softened butter creams up so much better than cold.
  • 0.75 cup granulated sugar For that perfect touch of sweetness.
  • 2 large eggs room temperature, Just like the milk, room temperature eggs incorporate more smoothly.
  • 1.5 cups fresh cranberries rinsed and patted dry, These little ruby gems are the star of the show!
  • 0.5 tablespoon all-purpose flour A little trick to help the cranberries stay evenly distributed in the batter.

Orange Glaze

  • 1 cup powdered sugar For a smooth, sweet coating.
  • 1.5 tablespoon orange juice freshly squeezed, We might need a touch more to get the perfect drizzling consistency.
  • 1 teaspoon orange zest reserved, The rest of that beautiful orange zest we zested earlier!

Instructions
 

Preparation

  • Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a standard 9×5 inch loaf pan.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  • In a small bowl, combine milk, about half of the orange zest (approx. 1 ½ tsp), and ¼ cup orange juice. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, cream together softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
  • Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each.
  • Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, alternating with the milk and juice mixture. Start and end with dry ingredients. Mix until just combined; do not overmix.
  • In a small bowl, toss fresh cranberries with ½ tablespoon flour. Gently fold floured cranberries into the batter.
  • Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread evenly.
  • Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
  • Let bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then invert onto a wire rack to cool completely.
  • While bread cools, whisk together powdered sugar, 1 ½ tablespoon orange juice, and reserved orange zest for the glaze.
  • Once bread is completely cool, drizzle glaze over the top. Let set, then slice and enjoy.

Notes

Room temperature ingredients are crucial for a smooth batter and tender loaf. Do not overmix the batter. Tossing cranberries in flour helps prevent them from sinking. Ensure your oven is fully preheated.

Nutrition

Serving: 1sliceCalories: 200kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 2gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 30mgSodium: 150mgPotassium: 120mgFiber: 1gSugar: 15gVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 2mgIron: 4mg
Keyword Citrus Bread, Cranberry Orange Bread, Holiday Baking, homemade bread, Quick Bread, Zesty Glaze
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