Barefoot Contessa Cranberry Orange Bread Recipe
This Barefoot Contessa Cranberry Orange Bread offers a delightful combination of tart cranberries and zesty orange flavor, perfectly moist and sweetened with a hint of vanilla. Ideal for breakfast or a festive snack, this quick bread is easy to prepare and baked to golden perfection.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 1 loaf (about 8-10 slices) 1x
- Category: Quick Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp orange zest
Wet Ingredients
- ¾ cup orange juice
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Add-ins
- 1½ cups fresh cranberries
Optional Garnish
- Powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan thoroughly to prevent sticking and set aside.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, and orange zest until well combined to evenly distribute the leavening and flavor.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk the orange juice, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla extract until uniformly mixed to add moisture and richness.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined; be careful not to overmix to keep the bread tender.
- Add Cranberries: Gently fold in the fresh cranberries ensuring they are evenly distributed throughout the batter without crushing them.
- Pour and Bake: Transfer the batter into the prepared loaf pan, smoothing the top. Bake in the preheated oven for 50–60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the bread to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely. Dust with powdered sugar if desired before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Use fresh or frozen cranberries; if using frozen, do not thaw to prevent bleeding color into the batter.
- If you prefer a sweeter bread, consider adding an extra tablespoon of sugar or drizzling a simple glaze on top.
- Make sure not to overmix the batter to avoid a dense loaf.
- Store leftovers wrapped tightly at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for longer storage.
- For a more intense orange flavor, add an additional tablespoon of orange zest or replace some orange juice with orange liqueur.
Keywords: Cranberry Orange Bread, Barefoot Contessa, quick bread, holiday bread, citrus bread, breakfast bread, sweet bread
