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Home / Recipes
55 minutes
4.63 from 127 votes
38 Comments

Cranberry Quick Bread

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  • 466
by: Joanna Cismaru
10.03.20

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This Cranberry Quick Bread is incredibly moist bursting with cranberries and citrus flavor! This Cranberry Bread is quick to prepare and a delicious holiday breakfast or brunch!

cranberry bread with two slices in front of it

Around this time of year I love making quick breads. I can’t believe I just said that, I love making quick breads all the time. They’re simple to put together, but you can customize them for any time of the year with your favorite fruits and different flavors.

For this time of year, cranberries and oranges are perfect, they go great together and they are made for a quick bread such as this. Quick breads are great because as the name says they are quick, usually you can put them together in 10 minutes or less, bake and enjoy. So if you love the flavors of cranberries and orange together then this bread is for you.

What’s Quick Bread?

A quick bread is a bread that uses leavening agents other than yeast to rise. That means that we’re going to bake this more like a cake, with baking powder and baking soda. That means no kneading, no rolling, no resting (till it bakes of course) and a way more reliable finished product for our baking novices!

Ingredients

  • Dry ingredients – Flour, white sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  • Wet ingredients – Honey, eggs, orange juice, orange zest, and melted unsalted butter.
  • Berries – We’re using cranberries today – either fresh or frozen!
process shots of cranberry quick bread

A Healthy Little Bread

You’ll love this bread, every bite will be a burst of flavors in your mouth. I’m going to go ahead and call this a healthier version of a cranberry bread because as you’ll notice there is no oil, just a couple tablespoons of butter, and you don’t want to omit the butter because it’s what helps make the bread moist.

Overall this is my kind of breakfast I love during the holidays, hope you give it a try, you’ll love it.

How To Make Cranberry Quick Bread

  1. Preheat your oven: To 350 F. Spray a 8.5 x 4.5-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.
  2. Prep the cranberries: Sprinkle a teaspoon of flour over the cranberries and mix; set aside. This will prevent the cranberries from sinking to the bottom of the bread. If using frozen cranberries, no need to thaw them out.
  3. Combine the dry ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt together.
  4. Combine the wet ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the honey, eggs, orange juice, orange zest and melted butter. Stir into dry ingredients, do not over mix. Fold in the prepared cranberries then pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan.
  5. Bake the bread: Bake the bread for about 45 minutes to 1 hour. To test if the bread is done, insert a toothpick into the center of the bread and if it comes out clean, the bread is done, otherwise continue baking. Allow the bread to cool completely in the pan.
  6. Finish: Slice and serve.

The Key To A Moist Loaf

The all important rule of thumb when making these sweet breads is to let them rest after baking. Some swear by leaving them overnight, others by just 1 hour – either way you need to make sure it gets some alone time! Usually this doesn’t work too well for me, but go ahead and try.

two slices of cranberry bread in front of the bread

How To Zest An Orange

Prepare the orange: If you’re not using organic oranges, I recommend washing them in warm water using a clean sponge. Warm water melts the wax layer that protects the fruit and dissolves any chemicals with which it has been sprinkled on top.

Grate the orange: Wipe the orange well after they have been washed and grate them on the smallest holes of your grater. You must be careful that the white and bitter part of the shell is not grated so change where you are zesting often. If you look at the orange and see you have hit any white parts you’ve zested too far.

What Else Can I Use In My Loaf?

  • Blueberries
  • Lemon
  • Chocolate chips
  • Zucchini
  • Pumpkin
  • Raspberries

Storing Leftover Quick Bread

Once the bread has cooled completely wrap it in aluminum foil or plastic wrap. It will stay fresh at room temperature for up to 3 days. You can also refrigerate it for up to 6 days.

Freezing

Wrap the cooled bread tightly with aluminum foil or plastic freezer wrap, then place it in a freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months.

Reheating

If you froze the cranberry bread, thaw it out at room temperature for about an hour, unwrap it then transfer it to a baking sheet or loaf pan and bake for about 5 to 10 min at 350 F degrees or until heated through.

overhead shot of cranberry bread with 2 slices

More Must Try Recipes?

  • Lemon Blueberry Yogurt Loaf
  • Pumpkin Cinnamon Bread
  • Healthy Whole Wheat Banana Nut Bread
  • Cream Cheese Filled Banana Cake
  • Banana Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake
  • Lemon Blueberry Yogurt Loaf
  • Limoncello Lemon Cake
  • Old Fashioned Lemon Bread
  • Zucchini Bread
  • Chocolate Zucchini Bread
  • Banana Nut Bread

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side view shot of cranberry quick bread with two slices cut. Fresh cranberries surround the loaf of bread

Cranberry Quick Bread

4.63 from 127 votes
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 45 mins
Total: 55 mins
Author: Joanna Cismaru
Serves: 10
Print Pin Rate
This Cranberry Quick Bread is incredibly moist bursting with cranberries and citrus flavor! This Cranberry Bread is quick to prepare and a delicious holiday breakfast or brunch!

Equipment

  • Loaf Pan 8.5 x 4.5 x 3 Inch

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups cranberries fresh or frozen, roughly chopped
  • 1 teaspoon all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ cup honey
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ cup orange juice
  • 1 tablespoon orange zest
  • 2 tablespoon butter unsalted and melted
US Customary – Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 350 F. Spray a 8.5 x 4.5-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.
  • Sprinkle a teaspoon of flour over the cranberries and mix; set aside. This will prevent the cranberries from sinking to the bottom of the bread. If using frozen cranberries, no need to thaw them out.
  • In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt together.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together the honey, eggs, orange juice, orange zest and melted butter. Stir into dry ingredients, do not over mix.
  • Fold in the prepared cranberries then pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan.
  • Bake the bread for about 45 minutes to 1 hour. To test if the bread is done, insert a toothpick into the center of the bread and if it comes out clean, the bread is done, otherwise continue baking. Allow the bread to cool completely in the pan.
  • Slice and serve.

Video

Recipe Notes

  1. How to store it: Once the bread has cooled completely wrap it in aluminum foil or plastic wrap. It will stay fresh at room temperature for up to 3 days. You can also refrigerate it for up to 6 days.
  2. How to freeze it: Wrap the cooled bread tightly with aluminum foil or plastic freezer wrap, then place it in a freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months.
  3. How to reheat it: If you froze the cranberry bread, thaw it out at room temperature for about an hour, unwrap it then transfer it to a baking sheet or loaf pan and bake for about 5 to 10 min at 350 F degrees or until heated through.
  4. Nutrition: Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on products used.

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 179kcal (9%)Carbohydrates: 35g (12%)Protein: 3g (6%)Fat: 3g (5%)Saturated Fat: 1g (6%)Cholesterol: 38mg (13%)Sodium: 213mg (9%)Potassium: 124mg (4%)Fiber: 1g (4%)Sugar: 18g (20%)Vitamin A: 150IU (3%)Vitamin C: 9mg (11%)Calcium: 32mg (3%)Iron: 1.2mg (7%)
Course:Bread, cake
Cuisine:American
Keyword:cranberries, quick bread
Tried this recipe? Rate it belowtag @jocooks on instagram and hashtag it #jocooks!
  • 466
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Meet Joanna Cismaru

I’m Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Here you will find a variety of recipes using simple everyday ingredients and creating wonderful, delicious and comforting meals, including some decadent desserts.

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Comments

  1. Heidi & Piper says

    December 4, 2021 at 6:35 pm

    5 stars
    My 10 year old daughter and I made this recipe together. It was easy to follow and made with ingredients we had on hand in our kitchen. I didn’t have orange zest, but had lemon so used that instead. We loved the bread it is very moist. Daughter even said it was better than grandma’s recipe which tends to be a bit dry. We will definitely make again!

    Reply
  2. Tania says

    October 30, 2021 at 7:12 am

    5 stars
    Thank you for a simple and delicious recipe! My husband and kid loved it. So yum with some tea in the morning 😋

    Reply
    • Joanna Cismaru says

      October 30, 2021 at 10:17 am

      So glad you liked it!

      Reply
  3. Carmen says

    March 26, 2021 at 2:18 am

    5 stars
    I just made this bread again this morning except I used blueberrie, since cranberries are out of season.It taste good was super moist but I missed the tartness of he cranberries. Will try next time with chocolate chips.

    Reply
    • Jo Cooks Team AMJ says

      March 26, 2021 at 9:47 am

      Ohhh, that sounds awesome! Let us know how it turns out with chocolate chips once you make it!

      Reply
  4. Carmen P says

    March 22, 2021 at 3:02 pm

    5 stars
    I love this recipe so much. I made it so many times and gave away to family, friends & coworkers and they all loved it too. I’m going to try it next with blueberries.

    Reply
    • Ana Jinga says

      March 23, 2021 at 11:35 am

      That’s amazing, we are so happy to hear this! Let us know how it turned out 🙂

      Reply
  5. MaryLou Steger says

    January 12, 2021 at 6:58 pm

    I’m going to make this cranberry bread for my ex-husband but I’m not sure what cranberries to buy. I bought whole organic whole ones.how do I put them in batter?

    Reply
    • Jo Cooks Team says

      January 13, 2021 at 9:12 am

      Hi Mary, I used whole cranberries as well. You can just follow the instructions as stated 🙂

      Reply
  6. Bec says

    January 10, 2021 at 6:03 pm

    5 stars
    I did add 1/2 c of walnuts but this recipe is tasty. Be sure to give some away so you don’t eat it all 🙂

    Reply
  7. Pam says

    December 18, 2020 at 8:09 am

    Can I use dried cranberries?

    Reply
    • Jo Cooks Team says

      December 18, 2020 at 9:29 am

      Sure!

      Reply
      • Janet says

        November 20, 2021 at 4:37 pm

        I do not have honey can I omit it and do I need to replace it with more sugar?

      • Joanna Cismaru says

        November 21, 2021 at 8:23 am

        Yes, I would add another 1/4 cup sugar!

  8. Amy C. says

    December 15, 2020 at 6:00 am

    5 stars
    Unbelievably delicious! Could only give 1/2 the loaf planned to share because we ate the rest. Now up early to bake another batch of this wonderful new morning surprise. Thanks, Jo!

    Reply
    • Jo Cooks Team says

      December 15, 2020 at 9:25 am

      lol too funny! You are so welcome, glad you enjoyed it.

      Reply
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I'm Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Here you will find a variety of recipes using simple everyday ingredients and creating wonderful, delicious and comforting meals, including some decadent desserts.

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