The perfect way to send best wishes for the holidays.
The holidays are going to be a little strange this year. With no end to this pandemic in sight, it’s going to be much harder than usual for distant relatives to gather together in person. Sure, you can Skype in to wish each other happy holidays, but it’s not the same as actually hanging out together, playing games and munching on baked goods.
So I’m doing the next best thing. I’m showing my loved ones I’m thinking of them by sending the baked goods to them.
One of the top items in my Christmas care package: this Cranberry Orange Bread. Deliciously rich, moist, and golden, it features the Christmasy flavor combo of sweet oranges and tart cranberries. With a quarter-cup of orange juice, the zest of two whole oranges, and a half-teaspoon of orange extract, every bite is absolutely bursting with mouthwatering orange flavor – and the whole cranberries pop against that background like little fireworks.
Personally, I think this sweet, moist, flavorful bread is just about the best thing you could hope to find under the tree. Check out my Shipping Baked Goods Tips to make that happen for the people in your life, and show them how much you care.
Tips for making this Cranberry Orange Bread:
- The orange and the cranberries complement each other really well. The bread is rich, dense, ultra moist. You could also whisk some orange juice and powdered sugar and make a glaze, but the crunch and the pretty sparkle from the sugar crystals on top is so good.
- You could substitute vanilla or even almond extract for the orange extract, but I love the extra boost of flavor from the orange extract.
- This is the perfect loaf to send to loved ones for the holidays! I wrote a post showing you how to pack and send baked goods. Make sure to check it out.
Cranberry Orange Bread
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl, combine zest of two oranges and the granulated sugar. Use your
fingers or the back of the spoon to really mash the zest into the sugar and incorporate the fragrance from the zest into the sugar.
- Beat in orange juice, oil, milk, sour cream, eggs, and orange extract until thoroughly mixed.
- Sift together dry ingredients: flour, salt, and baking powder.
- Prepare the cranberries by rinsing and thoroughly drying them. If using frozen cranberries,
thaw completely, drain, and pat them dry. - Add the cranberries to the flour mixture and toss to coat the cranberries completely in flour.
This helps them to stay suspended in the bread batter and not sink to the bottom of the loaf
for nice even distribution. - Gently fold flour/cranberry mixture into the wet ingredients. Stir just until wet and dry ingredients are mostly stirred. It is fine to have some streaks of flour left in the mixture.
- Pour batter into a greased or parchment lined 9×5 loaf pan.
- Sprinkle sanding sugar over the top of the loaf if desired.
- Bake for 60-70 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool.
More bread recipes we love!
- Cream Cheese Stuffed Banana Bread
- Easy No Yeast Beer Bread
- Cheesy Sausage Spinach Bread
- Cheddar Bay Biscuits
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Cranberry Orange Bread
Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- Zest of two naval oranges
- 1/4 cup freshly-squeezed orange juice
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 teaspoon orange extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 1/2 cups fresh whole cranberries or frozen whole cranberries, thawed
- Optional: 1 tablespoon course sanding sugar for top of bread
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl, combine zest of two oranges and the granulated sugar. Use your
- fingers or the back of the spoon to really mash the zest into the sugar and incorporate the fragrance from the zest into the sugar.
- Beat in orange juice, oil, milk, sour cream, eggs, and orange extract until thoroughly mixed.
- Sift together dry ingredients: flour, salt, and baking powder.
- Prepare the cranberries by rinsing and thoroughly drying them. If using frozen cranberries,
- thaw completely, drain, and pat them dry.
- Add the cranberries to the flour mixture and toss to coat the cranberries completely in flour.
- This helps them to stay suspended in the bread batter and not sink to the bottom of the loaf
- for nice even distribution.
- Gently fold flour/cranberry mixture into the wet ingredients. Stir just until wet and dry
- ingredients are mostly stirred. It is fine to have some streaks of flour left in the mixture.
- Pour batter into a greased or parchment lined 9x5 loaf pan.
- Sprinkle sanding sugar over the top of the loaf if desired.
- Bake for 60-70 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out
- clean. Remove from oven and cool.
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Nutrition Information:
Nutrition Disclaimer
Family Fresh Meals is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
Angelina says
I’m sure we’ll love this bread, since we love the flavor of cranberries combined w/oranges. I always add diced Mandarin Oranges into my homemade Cranberry Sauce. What a great flavor combo! My Thanksgiving Day guests always rave about the flavor. I’m definately going to make this lovely bread as soon as I buy some Orange Extract. Thanks 💐
Corey says
It really is such a yummy combo! I hope you love it Angelina 🙂