Overview
Cranberry Orange Quick Bread is a moist, tender, and slightly sweet loaf featuring tart cranberries and bright orange zest. Quick breads like this use baking powder or soda as leavening, so they require no yeast or rising time, making them perfect for easy baking.
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon (optional)
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup plain yogurt or buttermilk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp orange zest
- 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan.
- In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
- In another bowl, beat eggs, sugar, melted butter, yogurt, vanilla, and orange zest until combined.
- Gently fold dry ingredients into wet ingredients until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Fold in cranberries carefully to prevent breaking.
- Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth the top.
- Bake for 50–60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool for 10 minutes in the pan, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.
Tips for Perfect Cranberry Orange Quick Bread
- Coat cranberries with a teaspoon of flour to prevent them from sinking.
- Use fresh or frozen cranberries; if frozen, do not thaw before adding.
- Do not overmix batter to keep the bread tender.
- Add orange zest for a bright, fresh flavor and aroma.