If you’re looking for an easy recipe that captures the bright, festive flavors of citrus and tart berries, this Cranberry Orange Bread with Simple Glaze is a perfect choice. It works beautifully as a quick dessert, a moist loaf recipe for breakfast or brunch, or a holiday baking treat for Thanksgiving or Christmas morning.
This recipe is full of flavor, rich yet balanced, and topped with a tangy-sweet glaze that elevates it from simple snack loaf to a showstopper dessert. Whether you’re baking for guests, preparing a family favorite bread, or just wanting a treat for yourself, this Cranberry Orange Bread is a winner.
It’s a one‑bowl recipe (mostly), minimizing cleanup and making it ideal for easy baking. The flavors of orange zest, fresh orange juice, and cranberries create a bright, tart-sweet harmony that feels festive and refreshing. The moist loaf recipe stays tender and soft, thanks to the inclusion of sour cream or yogurt, and either oil or butter. The simple glaze is low-effort but high impact, delivering a burst of citrus flavor that enhances each bite.
This bread is versatile—you can double it for large batches, divide it into mini loaves for gifts, or bake it into muffins for lunchboxes. With gluten free substitutions or flavor variations, it can suit many dietary needs. Because of its flexibility and popularity, this bread recipe aligns well with high value keywords like holiday brunch ideas, Christmas dessert, thanksgiving recipes, gluten free bread, low calorie dessert, family favorite loaf, fresh citrus recipe, and quick holiday snack.
Ingredients for one 9 × 5‑inch loaf include 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon salt, 2 teaspoons orange zest (from 1–2 oranges), 1 cup granulated sugar, ½ cup sour cream or Greek yogurt, ½ cup vegetable oil (or melted butter), 2 large eggs, ¼ cup fresh orange juice, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1¼ cups cranberries (fresh or frozen), and optionally ½ cup chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts.
For the glaze, you’ll need 1 cup powdered sugar, 1½ to 2 tablespoons orange juice, a bit of orange zest, and a pinch of salt.
To make it, start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and greasing a 9×5-inch loaf pan. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and orange zest. In a large bowl, whisk sugar, sour cream or yogurt, oil or butter, eggs, orange juice, and vanilla until smooth. Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet, stirring just until no streaks of flour remain.
Toss the cranberries in a little flour, then gently fold them into the batter with the nuts if using. Pour into the prepared loaf pan, smooth the top, and bake for 55–65 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. If the top darkens too quickly, tent it with foil toward the end.
Let the loaf cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool fully before glazing. For the glaze, mix powdered sugar with orange juice and zest until smooth and pourable. Drizzle it over the cooled loaf and let it set.
This loaf is delicious on its own or served with tea or coffee. It stores well for a few days at room temperature and can be refrigerated for longer freshness. The glaze may soften, so feel free to re-glaze slices if needed.
Avoid overmixing the batter, as this can result in a dense loaf. Be sure to measure flour correctly—use the spoon and level method or weigh with a kitchen scale. Tossing cranberries in flour helps distribute them evenly. Frozen cranberries are perfectly acceptable and require no thawing; baking time may need slight adjustment.
If your glaze runs too thin, add more powdered sugar. If it’s too thick, add a drop more orange juice. Always glaze the loaf once it’s completely cooled to prevent the glaze from melting off.
For a spiced version, try adding a touch of cinnamon or nutmeg to the batter. This adds warmth and works beautifully in colder months. Other variations include substituting part of the flour with whole wheat flour for a more nutritious option or using different citrus like lemon or blood orange.
You can adapt this recipe to muffins or mini loaves by adjusting bake times accordingly—muffins typically bake in 25–30 minutes, while mini loaves might take 35–45 minutes. This makes the recipe perfect for lunch prep or homemade holiday food gifts.
Gluten-free versions work well with a 1-to-1 gluten-free baking flour blend. Add ½ teaspoon of xanthan gum if your blend doesn’t include it. Reduce sugar slightly for a less sweet loaf, or try using coconut sugar for a lower glycemic index.
The cranberry and orange flavor pairing is ideal for winter baking and holiday baking themes. It’s a popular match during Thanksgiving and Christmas, and resonates with readers seeking comfort foods or nostalgic flavors.
Serving options include topping slices with whipped cream, mascarpone, or a light cream cheese spread. You can also serve the loaf warm with butter or lightly toasted with honey for breakfast. It pairs well with coffee, spiced tea, or even mulled cider.
If gifting, slice and wrap individual pieces in parchment and tie with string. For full loaves, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and add a festive ribbon or label.
This recipe hits multiple high CPC content categories including holiday baking, Christmas dessert, moist quick bread, low calorie dessert (with modification), gluten free bread, family favorite, and winter baking ideas. All of these categories attract readers interested in high-quality, versatile recipes with seasonal relevance.
Common issues and how to fix them: If the loaf is dense, it was likely overmixed or had too much flour. Always mix until just combined. If the top browns too quickly, tent with foil during the final baking stage. If cranberries sink, it’s often because they weren’t tossed in flour. If the center is undercooked, the baking time or oven temperature may need adjustment—use an oven thermometer if needed.
Nutritional values vary, but one slice contains roughly 300–350 calories, depending on sugar and fat content. It contains carbohydrates, some protein, moderate fat, and a bit of fiber from the cranberries.
This recipe’s structure offers natural opportunities for inserting high CPC keywords. Titles like “Holiday Brunch Favorite: Cranberry Orange Bread,” “Quick Bread Recipe for Thanksgiving Morning,” or “Easy Moist Loaf with Citrus Glaze” are search-friendly and monetization-optimized.
To summarize, this Cranberry Orange Bread with Simple Glaze is an ideal option for content creators and home bakers alike. It’s versatile, seasonal, beginner-friendly, and uses common pantry ingredients. The final product is visually appealing, easy to serve, and suitable for a wide audience—from kids to adults, from health-conscious eaters to dessert lovers.
For bloggers, the extended post content helps increase on-page time and offers plenty of rich descriptions that appeal to both human readers and search engine crawlers. It also adapts well into social posts, short-form video content (like reels or stories), and printable recipe cards for Pinterest.
The strong visual appeal of cranberries and glaze also means you can feature this recipe in image-heavy content—ideal for recipe roundups like “12 Holiday Loaf Recipes,” “Easy Bakes for Christmas Brunch,” or “Low Effort Desserts with Big Flavor.” These types of posts naturally attract traffic through Pinterest, Google search, and email newsletters.
To promote this recipe, consider including it in a seasonal email campaign or holiday baking guide. Its flexible prep time and friendly ingredients list make it an appealing first recipe for beginner bakers and kids learning to bake.
In closing, this Cranberry Orange Bread with Simple Glaze is a recipe you’ll make again and again. It’s delicious, eye-catching, adaptable, and aligns perfectly with high value keywords for recipe monetization. Whether you’re building a content library, baking for a party, or just craving a fruity, moist loaf recipe, this one has all the elements of a winner.
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