Barefoot Contessa Cranberry Orange Bread Recipe
This Barefoot Contessa Cranberry Orange Bread combines the bright, citrusy flavor of fresh orange zest and juice with tart cranberries in a moist, tender loaf. Perfect for breakfast or a holiday treat, this quick bread is easy to prepare and bakes to golden perfection, dusted with powdered sugar for a touch of sweetness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 1 loaf (12 slices) 1x
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tbsp orange zest
Wet Ingredients
- ¾ cup orange juice
- ¼ cup melted butter
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Fruit
- 1½ cups cranberries
Optional
- Powdered sugar (for dusting)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, and orange zest until well combined to disperse the leavening agents and zest evenly.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In another bowl, mix the orange juice, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla extract thoroughly to create a smooth liquid mixture.
- Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and blend gently until just combined, taking care not to overmix to keep the bread tender.
- Fold in Cranberries: Carefully fold the cranberries into the batter to spread them evenly without crushing.
- Pour Batter into Pan: Transfer the batter into the prepared loaf pan, smoothing the top with a spatula.
- Bake the Bread: Bake for 50–60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, indicating the bread is fully baked.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the bread to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then remove it to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, dust with powdered sugar if desired, slice, and serve.
Notes
- For a more intense orange flavor, use freshly grated orange zest and fresh-squeezed orange juice.
- Be careful not to overmix the batter to keep the bread moist and fluffy.
- The cranberries can be fresh or frozen; if frozen, do not thaw before adding to avoid color bleeding.
- Allow the bread to cool completely before slicing to ensure clean slices.
- Powdered sugar dusting is optional but adds a nice decorative touch and subtle sweetness.
Keywords: cranberry orange bread, quick bread, holiday bread, Barefoot Contessa, citrus loaf, cranberry loaf, orange zest bread, moist bread
