Description
Sweet and tangy orange cranberry bread combines zesty citrus with tart berries in a moist, tender loaf. Bakers seeking a delightful breakfast or afternoon treat will savor each slice packed with seasonal flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (200 grams) sugar
- 1 ½ cups (190 grams) flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¾ cup (180 ml / 6 fl oz) buttermilk
- ½ cup (120 ml / 4 fl oz) oil
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tbsp fresh orange juice
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- Zest of 3 large oranges
- 1 cup (150 grams) fresh cranberries (chopped or halved)
Instructions
- Oven Preparation: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a loaf pan with parchment paper or generously grease the interior to prevent sticking.
- Dry Ingredient Fusion: Combine flour, salt, baking powder, and sugar in a medium bowl, creating a uniform dry mixture that will provide structure and sweetness to the bread.
- Wet Ingredient Transformation: Whisk orange zest, buttermilk, oil, eggs, fresh orange juice, and vanilla extract in a large bowl until the mixture becomes smooth and fully integrated, releasing vibrant citrus aromas.
- Batter Harmonization: Gently fold the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients, using a delicate technique to merge the components without compromising the batter’s delicate texture.
- Cranberry Integration: Delicately incorporate chopped cranberries into the batter, ensuring an even distribution of tart bursts throughout the mixture.
- Pan Filling and Baking: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, smoothing the surface for uniform baking, and place in the preheated oven for approximately 1 hour, checking for doneness by inserting a knife into the center – it should emerge clean when the bread is fully cooked.
- Cooling and Serving: Allow the bread to cool completely in the pan, then carefully remove and slice to reveal the moist, flavor-packed interior, ready to be enjoyed with its vibrant orange and cranberry profile.
Notes
- Zest with Care: Use fresh orange zest to maximize bright, intense citrus flavor, avoiding the bitter white pith underneath the colorful outer layer.
- Buttermilk Magic: Room temperature buttermilk helps create a tender, moist crumb by activating baking powder more effectively and ensuring smooth batter integration.
- Gentle Mixing Technique: Fold ingredients minimally to prevent developing gluten, which could result in a tough, dense bread texture instead of a light, soft crumb.
- Cranberry Distribution: Lightly coat chopped cranberries in a tablespoon of flour before adding to prevent sinking and ensure even spreading throughout the bread.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 100 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg