Frosted Cranberry Orange Bread Recipe

If you’ve been following Thrifty Nifty Mommy for some time, you may have realized that we love to cook and bake.  Part of our homeschool life includes getting in the kitchen.  I want my kids to grow up knowing how to prepare foods and enjoy a variety of flavors.  So because of that, we’ve made some new recipes like these delicious beef carnitas bowls.  After serving up a hearty meal, though, I love to enjoy something sweet.  This Frosted Cranberry Orange Bread Recipe hits the spot!

The fresh cranberries paired with subtle orange citrus work well together to create a wonderful blend of flavors.  Topped with a delicate sweet drizzle, this recipe is a favorite during the holidays and all year round!  Cranberry Orange Bread with glaze just can’t be beat!

Frosted Cranberry Orange Bread Recipe

I love how easy this recipe truly is.  So if you’re a beginner, don’t be afraid.  This is a great recipe option for anyone.  Just follow along and you’ll be enjoying a sweet bread (that also features cake like qualities).  It’s the perfect dessert!

Ingredients:

Loaf/Cake Batter

• 1 cup butter
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons orange zest
• 3 large eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 3/4 cup buttermilk
• 2 3/4 cup fresh cranberries (frozen will work as well)
• 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 2 teaspoons baking powder

Orange Glaze

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon orange juice or orange flavoring
• water

****Pro Tip: BUTTERMILK NOTE

If you don’t have any buttermilk, you can simply make your own by taking 3/4 cup milk and adding 1 tablespoon vinegar.  Stir and then let sit for at least 5 minutes before using.

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Spray 2 full size loaf pans (or 4 mini loaf pans) with non-stick cooking spray.  Sprinkle with a little flour to coat the bottoms and side.  Set aside.
3. In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer bowl, cream butter, sugar, and orange zest on high for 3-5 minutes.
   
4. Add one egg at a time, making sure each is fully incorporated.  Continue mixing 1 minute between each egg.
   
5. Add vanilla and mix well.  Turn mixer off.
6. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt.
   
7. Turn your mixer on low and add 1/3 of the flour mixture until combined.
8. Then add 1/3 of the buttermilk and mix until well combined.
   
9. Repeat steps 7 and 8 two more times until all the flour mixture and buttermilk has been incorporated.
   
10. Add cranberries and gently stir by hand to fold them into the mixture.  ***Mix as little as possible to avoid breaking the cranberries and turning your batter pink.  
11. Divide your batter and evenly spoon into your loaf pans.  (Each pan gets the same amount of batter.)
    
12. Bake for 55-60 minutes or till done.   Your toothpick should come out clean when inserted in the center.
    
13. Let your loaves cool in the pan for 15 minutes.  Then remove and finish cooling on a wire rack.
14. Once your loaves are completely cooled, make the orange glaze by stirring the powder sugar and orange flavoring together.  Add a couple drops of water at a time until you reach the desired consistency.  Drizzle glaze over loaves.
    
15. Enjoy!

Print This Frosted Cranberry Orange Bread Recipe

Frosted Cranberry Orange Bread Recipe

Check out this Frosted Cranberry Orange Bread Recipe! The fresh cranberries paired with subtle orange citrus work well together to create a wonderful blend of flavors.  Topped with a delicate sweet drizzle, this recipe is a favorite during the holidays and all year round!

Print Pin Rate

Course: Recipes

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 55 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

Calories: 255kcal

Ingredients

• LOAF/CAKE BATTER
• 1 cup butter
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons orange zest
• 3 large eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 3/4 cup buttermilk
• 2 3/4 cup fresh cranberries frozen will work as well
• 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ORANGE GLAZE
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon orange juice or orange flavoring
• water

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Spray 2 full size loaf pans (or 4 mini loaf pans) with non-stick cooking spray.  Sprinkle with a little flour to coat the bottoms and side.  Set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer bowl, cream butter, sugar, and orange zest on high for 3-5 minutes.
• Add one egg at a time, making sure each is fully incorporated.  Continue mixing 1 minute between each egg.
• Add vanilla and mix well.  Turn mixer off.
• In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt.
• Turn your mixer on low and add 1/3 of the flour mixture until combined.
• Then add 1/3 of the buttermilk and mix until well combined.
• Repeat steps 7 and 8 two more times until all the flour mixture and buttermilk has been incorporated.
• Add cranberries and gently stir by hand to fold them into the mixture.  ***Mix as little as possible to avoid breaking the cranberries and turning your batter pink.  
• Divide your batter and evenly spoon into your loaf pans.  (Each pan gets the same amount of batter.)
• Bake for 55-60 minutes or till done.   Your toothpick should come out clean when inserted in the center.
• Let your loaves cool in the pan for 15 minutes.  Then remove and finish cooling on a wire rack.
• Once your loaves are completely cooled, make the orange glaze by stirring the powder sugar and orange flavoring together.  Add a couple drops of water at a time until you reach the desired consistency.  Drizzle glaze over loaves.
• Enjoy!

Notes

**If you don't have any buttermilk, you can simply make your own by taking 3/4 cup milk and adding 1 tablespoon vinegar.  Stir and then let sit for at least 5 minutes before using.

**You can play around with this recipe and make them in a regular loaf pan, mini loaf pans, muffin pan, or even a cake pan.

**Use a bundt pan for a fancier presentation if wanting to serve as dessert for an event or party!

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 255kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 53mg | Sodium: 234mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 24g