Christmas Cranberry Loaf

🎄 Christmas Cranberry Loaf

Yield: 1 loaf (9×5-inch)
Time: ~15 min prep | ~55 min bake

Ingredients

Loaf

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 tsp baking powder

• ½ tsp baking soda

• ½ tsp salt

• ¾ cup granulated sugar

• Zest of 1 orange

• ¾ cup fresh or frozen cranberries (chopped if large)

• ½ cup milk or buttermilk

• ⅓ cup vegetable oil or melted butter

• 1 large egg

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Optional Add-Ins

• ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans

• ¼ tsp cinnamon or nutmeg

Orange Glaze

• ¾ cup powdered sugar

• 1½–2 tbsp fresh orange juice

• ½ tsp orange zest (optional)

Instructions

1. Prep

   • Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

   • Grease and line a loaf pan with parchment.

2. Dry Ingredients

   • Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

   • Toss cranberries with 1 tbsp flour (prevents sinking).

3. Wet Ingredients

   • In a separate bowl, rub orange zest into sugar (big flavor move).

   • Whisk in egg, oil (or butter), milk, and vanilla.

4. Combine

   • Fold dry ingredients into wet just until combined.

   • Gently fold in cranberries and nuts (if using).

5. Bake

   • Pour batter into pan.

   • Bake 50–60 minutes, tent loosely with foil if browning too fast.

   • Toothpick should come out mostly clean.

6. Glaze

   • Cool loaf 15 minutes, then drizzle with glaze.

   • Let set before slicing (if you can wait).