Cranberry-Orange Bread is a flavorful, moist quick bread that captures the bright zestiness of citrus and the tart burst of cranberries. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or afternoon tea, it’s especially popular during the fall and winter holidays. This recipe is beloved for its vibrant flavor and satisfying texture thanks to the combination of oats, orange juice, and chopped nuts. It’s a cozy and festive treat that pairs wonderfully with coffee or tea.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup Quaker oats (regular or quick)
- ¾ cup sugar
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- ¾ cup orange juice
- 2 eggs
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
- 1 tbsp orange peel (grated )
- ¾ cup cranberries (chopped )
- ½ cup nuts (chopped )
Instructions
Step 1: Prep Oven and Pan
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Grease and flour bottom only of a 9″x5″ loaf pan.
Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients
- In a large bowl, combine flour, oats, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
Step 3: Combine Wet Ingredients
- In a separate bowl, beat together orange juice, eggs, oil, and orange peel until mixed thoroughly.
Step 4: Combine Wet and Dry
- Add wet mixture to dry ingredients and stir just until moistened.
- Fold in cranberries and nuts.
Step 5: Bake
- Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.
- Bake 60–70 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool for 10 minutes, then remove from pan and let cool completely.
Tips
- Add ½ teaspoon cinnamon or nutmeg for a warm spice flavor.
- Substitute half the flour with whole-wheat flour for added fiber.
- Swap chopped nuts for pecans or walnuts, or omit for nut-free.
- Fold in ½ cup white chocolate chips for a sweeter variation.
- Replace fresh cranberries with dried cranberries (use ½ cup).
- Add a simple orange glaze (powdered sugar + orange juice) over the cooled loaf.
- For extra moisture, replace ¼ cup of the oil with applesauce.
- Add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract to enhance sweetness.
- Bake as muffins: 18 to 22 minutes at 350°F.
Nutrition
Calories: 255kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 4gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.04gCholesterol: 28mgSodium: 144mgPotassium: 115mgFiber: 2gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 78IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 84mgIron: 2mg
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