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Home » Recipes » Quick Bread Recipes

Classic Cranberry Bread

Published: Dec 7, 2023 by Marye

This fresh cranberry nut bread recipe is the Ocean Spray classic! Fresh cranberries, pecans, and orange zest with a delicious orange glaze. So easy! It's even better the second day and it freezes well, too!
Jump to Recipe
Overhead view of the cranberry nut bread
Overhead view of cranberry bread with a text overlay for Pinterest.

This moist quick bread has all of the flavors of the holiday season! Fresh cranberries, pecans, and bright orange wake up your mouth with every delicious bite!

Fresh cranberry orange bread has all the flavor of the season!
Table of Contents
  • ❤️ Why you'll love it
  • 🧾 Ingredients
  • 📖 Variations
  • 🔪 Instructions
  • 🍴 Equipment
  • 🥫 How to store leftover cranberry bread
  • 💭 Tips
  • 👩‍🍳 FAQs
  • 📚 Related recipes
  • 📞 The last word
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

❤️ Why you'll love it

  • This is the original Ocean Spray Cranberry Bread recipe that's been a favorite for generations (with just a few tweaks of my own).
  • It’s an incredibly easy recipe that comes out right every time - even for a beginning baker and it stays moist for days!
  • Like most quick bread recipes, this cranberry pecan bread can be frozen for up to 3 months - great for making it ahead of time for the busy holidays. 

Orange-glazed cranberry bread is such a pretty, festive bread for winter and the holiday season! It's a fantastic homemade gift for Christmas and if it's not a tradition in your house it should be!

Did I mention how good it is with a cup of this spiced tea?

🧾 Ingredients

Labeled ingredients for cranberry bread.

📖 Variations

  • Cut the cranberries in half instead of chopping them up. It gives a bigger blast of that tart cranberry flavor and makes for a more festive bread.
  • Try substituting chopped macadamia nuts for the pecans.
  • Add 1 cup white chocolate chips.
  • Add 1 cup milk chocolate chips.
  • Use lemon juice and lemon zest instead of orange.
  • Use a vanilla glaze.
  • Try using half brown sugar and half granulated sugar.
  • Just leave the glaze off and dust the cooled bread with powdered sugar.
  • Use walnuts instead of pecans for the classic cranberry walnut bread. I just happen to like pecans better!

🔪 Instructions

Step by step images for making cranberry bread.
  1. Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl. Stir in orange juice, orange peel, butter and egg. Mix until well blended.
  2. Stir in cranberries and nuts.
  3. Mix well but don't overmix.
  4. Pour batter into the prepared bread pan, spreading evenly. Bake in the preheated oven according to the instructions in the green recipe card below.
Steps for adding the glaze to the loaf.
  1. Mix all glaze ingredients together in a small bowl
  2. Blend well.
  3. Pour the glaze over the cooled bread.
  4. Enjoy.

🍴 Equipment

  • mixing bowls
  • mixing spoons
  • loaf pan
  • wire rack for cooling

🥫 How to store leftover cranberry bread

Wrap this cranberry nut bread tightly with plastic wrap and store it at room temperature for up to 3 days.

You can also freeze it for up to 3 months. Wait until it is completely cooled and then wrap it in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil.

Loaf of quick bread covered in vanilla glaze.
Original Ocean Spray cranberry orange bread is a holiday tradition around here!

💭 Tips

Expert Tip: Toss cranberries in a little flour to keep them from sinking to the bottom of the batter. You can cut the cranberries in half or fourths rather than chop them if you prefer bigger chunks of cranberry.

  • Let your cranberry pecan bread cool completely before adding the glaze or storing it.
  • Make this Ocean Spray cranberry nut bread recipe 2 days in advance, leaving the glaze off until just before serving.
  • Most bread recipes are done baking when they register 200℉ using an instant-read thermometer but you can also insert a toothpick in the center. If it comes out with just a few crumbs clinging to it it's done.
  • You can use dried cranberries if you want - just soak one cup in the orange juice for 30 minutes or so before making the bread.
  • For mini cranberry bread loaves, pour the mixture into muffin tins or mini loaf pans and bake at 350F for about 20 minutes. Oven temperatures can vary so begin checking at 15 minutes.
  • If you're going to freeze the bread leave the glaze off. Slice it and freeze it with parchment paper between the slices. You'll be able to remove just a slice or two at a time rather than having to thaw the whole loaf.
  • Buy cranberries when they are in season then put the entire bag of fresh cranberries in the freezer to use as desired all year long.
Overhead view of a slice of cranberry bread.
Ocean Spray cranberry bread recipe is so moist!

👩‍🍳 FAQs

Can I make this cranberry bread gluten-free?

Yes, you can! Simply substitute gluten-free flour for the all-purpose flour in this recipe.

What’s the best type of flour to use in this classic cranberry nut bread recipe?

All-purpose flour works best in this.

Can I make this cranberry bread ahead of time?

Yes but add fresh glaze to your bread just prior to serving for optimal taste and freshness. 

Can I use frozen cranberries?

Sure! You'll probably have to give the bread a few more minutes in the oven but it's fine to use frozen.

📚 Related recipes

  • We love this crunchy peanut butter banana bread!
  • During the summer there's nothing better than a slice of peach bread.

📞 The last word

I've always loved quick breads but I never tried cranberry orange bread until I was married to my first husband. It was a delicious tradition in his family during the holidays and now it's one of my favorite recipes.

I've tried others but I keep going back to the original from the Ocean Spray cranberry bag. It's the perfect combination of tart cranberries, sweet citrus, and buttery nuts. My preference is pecans.

It's a keeper!

I like to get a couple bags of cranberries during the holiday season and freeze them for use during the year.

We also love this buttery, moist cranberry pound cake!

If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.

If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📖 Recipe

Overhead view of the cranberry nut bread

Cranberry Nut Bread

4.63 from 8 votes
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This fresh cranberry nut bread recipe is the Ocean Spray classic! Fresh cranberries, pecans, and orange zest with a delicious orange glaze. So easy! It's even better the second day and it freezes well, too!
Course Breakfast Quick Bread
Cuisine Amercian Heritage
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes minutes
Servings:16
Calories:203
Author:Marye Audet-White

Ingredients

Bread

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¾ cup orange juice
  • 1 ½ tablespoons grated orange peel
  • 2 tablespoons butter, melted
  • 1 egg, well beaten
  • 1 ½ cups cranberries, halved or coarsely chopped
  • ½ cup pecans, chopped

Optional Glaze

  • 1 ¼ cups powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons orange juice
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350ºF.
  • Grease a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan.
  • Mix together flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda in a medium mixing bowl. Set aside.
  • Cream butter and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer until light and fluffy.
  • Beat in egg.
  • Stir in orange juice and orange zest.
  • Fold in cranberries and nuts.
  • Spoon batter into loaf pan and spread evenly.
  • Bake for 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  • Cool on a rack for 15 minutes.
  • Remove from pan; cool completely.
  • Wrap and store overnight.
  • About 30 minutes before serving add glaze if using.

*Glaze

  • Mix all ingredients together in a small mixing bowl.
  • Spoon over finished bread.

Notes

*Nutritional information calculated with the glaze.
Expert Tip: You can cut the cranberries in half or fourths rather than chop them if you prefer bigger chunks of cranberry.
  • Let your cranberry pecan bread cool completely before adding the glaze or storing.
  • Make this Ocean Spray cranberry nut bread recipe 2 days in advance, leaving the glaze off until just before serving.
  • Most bread recipes are done baking when they register 200℉ using an instant read thermometer but you can also insert a toothpick in the center. If it comes out with just a few crumbs clinging to it it's done.
  • You can use dried cranberries if you want - just soak one cup in the orange juice for 30 minutes or so before making the bread.
  • For mini cranberry bread loaves, pour the mixture into muffin tins or mini loaf pans and bake at 350F for about 20 minutes. Oven temperatures can vary so begin checking at 15 minutes.
  • If you're going to freeze the bread leave the glaze off. Slice it and freeze it with parchment paper between the slices. You'll be able to remove just a slice or two at a time rather than having to thaw the whole loaf.
You'll find more helpful tips and variations in the body of the post.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 203kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 210mg | Potassium: 107mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 137IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.

Originally Published November 20, 2007. Last updated December 7, 2023 for editorial improvements.

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About Marye

Meet Marye Audet, a wizard in the kitchen and a storyteller at heart. Marye is like your eccentric but fun aunt who knows all the secret recipes and isn't afraid to spill them.

Comments

    4.63 from 8 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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    Love it? Give it 5 stars!




  1. shereen says

    December 25, 2023 at 3:46 am

    5 stars
    Delicious 🙂

    Reply
  2. Bill Bauer says

    December 19, 2023 at 2:42 pm

    Marye, where on your website are my saved recipes? I've had a "senior" moment & can't remember how to retrieve them.

    Reply
    • Marye says

      December 19, 2023 at 6:16 pm

      Hi Bill, it depends on whether you're talking about the old recipe collection or the new. The old ones should be here - https://www.restlesschipotle.com/my-recipe-collections/# but if you've saved newer ones you should be able to click on the red slingshot at the bottom of the right sidebar.

      Reply
  3. Stacey says

    December 16, 2022 at 10:45 am

    5 stars
    Made this for the first time this year...SO GOOD. Was on my family holiday party menu, and I made several mini loaves to freeze, then gift to friends, as needed. I also popped one out of the freezer for myself the other day - DELISH!

    Reply
    • Marye says

      December 18, 2022 at 8:38 am

      It's the perfect holiday treat, isn't it! We love it with a bit of cream cheese.

      Reply
  4. Tina Riesel says

    November 20, 2022 at 6:55 am

    5 stars
    Hello,

    A quick question about the Classic Cranberry Bread - it lists melted butter and instructs to mix it to creamy with the sugar - can melted butter be creamed? Also there is no instruction on when to add the dry ingredients. I did what I thought was best and the bread came out delicious!!! I am loving making your bread recipes - English Muffin is the best ever.

    Reply
    • Marye says

      November 23, 2022 at 10:19 am

      I'm so sorry. I had updated my recipe and not updated the instructions! They're fixed now.

      Reply
  5. Judy P says

    September 16, 2022 at 7:41 pm

    5 stars
    I love cranberry nut anything!!! How can you not weigh a ton!!!???? lol You have some of the most amazing sounding recipes!!
    Could frozen cranberries be used in this? Should I thaw them first and try to get as much liquid out of them first?

    Reply
Marye Audet-White, founder of Restless Chipotle Media

Hey Y'all, I'm Marye

Welcome to my kitchen! ☕

NY Times bestselling author. 10 cookbooks. Mom of 8 kids. Homeschooling mom for 22 years. Addicted to Hallmark Christmas Movies. Collector of old cookbooks.

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