There’s something incredibly nostalgic about baking during the holidays, and this Cranberry Orange Nut Loaf is one of those recipes that brings back memories of cozy winter mornings. The combination of fresh orange zest, juicy cranberries, and crunchy walnuts makes this bread irresistible.
I’ve been making this quick bread recipe for years, and it’s one I always turn to when I want to share a homemade treat with friends and family. Whether I bake them as mini loaves for easy gifting or as a full orange loaf to slice and enjoy with a cup of tea, this recipe never disappoints.
Simple and Easy Quick Bread Recipe
What I love most about this cranberry orange bread is how simple it is to prepare. Using fresh orange juice, brown sugar, and whole cranberries, this loaf strikes the perfect balance of sweet and tart.
The sour cream keeps the bread soft with a delightful tender crumb, while the chopped walnuts add a pleasant crunch. This bread also freezes wonderfully, so I often make extra to keep on hand for when I need a quick snack or a last-minute holiday gift.
Recipe Tips and Variations
Use fresh whole cranberries during the peak of cranberry season for the best flavor, or substitute with dried cranberries if fresh ones aren’t available.
If you’re a fan of a stronger orange flavor, increase the amount of fresh orange zest in the recipe. You could even add a touch of lemon juice for extra brightness.
This recipe works just as well with pecans in place of walnuts, or you can omit the nuts entirely for a smoother texture.
To make cranberry orange muffins, divide the batter into muffin tins and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the tops of the bread are golden.
If you are not serving this quick bread right away, hold off on making the glaze. It can get messy. Therefore, when wrapping to gift or freezing, I skip the glaze. Absolutely delicious even without the glaze. Or you can make the glaze when I’m serving it.
This recipe makes one standard loaf or 4-6 mini loaves, depending on the size of your mini loaf pans.
Baking Time:
- Muffins: 20-25 minutes
- Mini loaves: 35-40 minutes
- Standard loaf: 55-60 minutes
Check to see if the bread is done by inserting a toothpick into the center. If it comes out clean, the bread is ready.
Cranberry Orange Nut Loaf Quick Bread Recipe
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Kitchen Essentials
Ingredients
- 2 Cups All-Purpose Flour
- 1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
- 1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1/4 Teaspoon Salt
- 1/2 Cup Unsalted Butter room temperature
- 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
- 2 Large Eggs room temperature
- 1/2 Cup Orange Juice Bottled or fresh-squeezed orange juice
- 1/4 Cup Whole Milk
- 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1/2 Cup Sour Cream
- 1 Cup Cranberries Chopped, fresh cranberries, or dried cranberries
- 1/2 Cup Chopped Walnuts
- 1 Tablespoon Orange Zest
Simple Orange Glaze: Optional
- 1/2 Cup Powdered Sugar
- 1-2 Tablespoons Orange Juice Fresh-Squeezed
text ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a standard loaf pan or mini loaf pans with cooking spray. Line with parchment paper to make it easy to remove the bread after baking.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set this flour mixture aside.2 Cups All-Purpose Flour, 1 Teaspoon Baking Powder, 1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda, 1/4 Teaspoon Salt
- In a separate bowl, beat the unsalted butter and brown sugar together until smooth and creamy. Add the large eggs, one at a time, mixing until fully incorporated.1/2 Cup Unsalted Butter, 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar, 2 Large Eggs
- Mix in the fresh orange juice, whole milk, vanilla extract, and sour cream until smooth.1/2 Cup Orange Juice, 1/4 Cup Whole Milk, 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract, 1/2 Cup Sour Cream
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring gently until just combined. Be careful not to overmix the batter.
- Fold in the chopped cranberries, orange zest, and half of the walnuts, making sure they’re evenly distributed throughout the batter.1 Cup Cranberries, 1/2 Cup Chopped Walnuts, 1 Tablespoon Orange Zest
- Pour the batter into your prepared pan(s) and smooth the top. Add the rest of the walnuts.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes for mini loaves, or 55-60 minutes for a standard loaf, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean.
- Let the bread cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- If desired, drizzle the simple orange glaze over the top for extra sweetness and a burst of citrus flavor. Just mix the powdered sugar with the orange juice. Start with 1 tablespoon and add another if too thick yet.1/2 Cup Powdered Sugar, 1-2 Tablespoons Orange Juice
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Storage and Freezing
Store your Cranberry Orange Nut Loaf in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
To keep it fresh longer, wrap the cooled loaf tightly in plastic wrap and then in aluminum foil.
It can be frozen for up to 3 months. Simply thaw at room temperature before serving.
For easy, individual servings, slice the bread before freezing and place the slices in a freezer bag to grab as needed.
A Perfect Holiday Treat
This Cranberry Orange Nut Loaf is a great recipe for holiday baking, whether you’re making it as a festive treat for yourself or as a gift for loved ones.
It’s one of my favorite ways to use up the abundance of fresh cranberries during the season, and it pairs perfectly with your morning coffee or afternoon tea. The combination of juicy cranberries, fresh citrus, and crunchy walnuts makes this a bread worth making on repeat.
You can find Victoria crocheting, quilting, and creating recipes. She has cooked in restaurants for over 20 years, including many larger parties. She learned to crochet when she was just 11 years old and has been crocheting ever since; over 50 years now. Over 40 years ago, she loved her first class in sewing and continues to hone her skills in quilting. Many have enjoyed the handmade gifts over the years. In her professional career, she has worked in management in a wide variety of businesses including higher education as a dean of a division. All the while attending college part-time to achieve her doctorate in higher education with an emphasis in e-learning.
This worked exactly as written, thanks!