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Moist Cranberry Orange Quick Bread

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A simple, forgiving, and incredibly moist quick bread featuring tart cranberries and bright orange zest. Perfect for holiday mornings or as a comforting side dish.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
  • ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (240ml) buttermilk
  • Zest of 2 large oranges
  • 1 ½ cups (200g) fresh or frozen cranberries
  • ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan generously and line the bottom with parchment paper.
  2. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk the melted butter until smooth. Add the eggs and vanilla extract, whisking until well combined. Stir in the buttermilk and orange zest.
  4. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Gently fold the mixture together with a rubber spatula until just moistened. Do not overmix; the batter should be thick and lumpy.
  5. Add the cranberries (and nuts if using) to the batter. Gently fold until evenly distributed. If using frozen cranberries, toss them in a teaspoon of flour first to prevent sinking.
  6. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top. Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Tent with foil if the top browns too quickly.
  7. Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

Notes

Do not overmix the batter to avoid a dense texture. Use room temperature ingredients for better emulsification. If using frozen cranberries, do not thaw them before adding. The bread is best served at room temperature and improves in flavor after sitting for a day.

Nutrition

Keywords: cranberry orange quick bread, holiday baking, thanksgiving side dish, easy bread recipe, moist quick bread, gluten-free option, vegan adaptation

Find it online: https://gleefulfork.com/moist-cranberry-orange-quick-bread-best-thanksgiving-side/