Barefoot Contessa Cranberry Orange Bread Recipe
This Barefoot Contessa Cranberry Orange Bread is a moist, flavorful quick bread combining tart cranberries with bright orange zest and juice. The bread is lightly sweetened, rich with eggs and butter, and perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a snack. Topped with a dusting of powdered sugar, it offers a festive, fresh twist on traditional cranberry bread, baked to golden perfection in a simple loaf pan.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 1 loaf (about 8 servings) 1x
- Category: Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
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
Other
- 1½ cups cranberries
- Powdered sugar (optional, 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.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, and orange zest until evenly combined.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, combine the orange juice, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla extract, mixing well to unify all wet elements.
- Incorporate Wet into Dry: Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients, stirring gently until just combined to avoid overmixing which could toughen the bread.
- Fold in Cranberries: Carefully fold the cranberries into the batter, distributing them evenly throughout.
- Transfer and Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, smoothing the top with a spatula. Place in the preheated oven and bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. Then transfer it onto a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, dust the top with powdered sugar if desired, slice, and serve.
Notes
- If fresh cranberries are not available, frozen cranberries work well; do not thaw before adding to batter.
- Use room temperature eggs for better batter consistency and improved rise.
- Orange zest can be obtained from a fresh orange using a zester or fine grater, avoiding the bitter white pith.
- To make the bread dairy-free, substitute melted butter with a plant-based margarine or oil of choice.
- Storing the bread in an airtight container at room temperature will keep it fresh for 2-3 days; refrigeration extends shelf life to a week.
Keywords: cranberry orange bread, quick bread, Barefoot Contessa, holiday bread, citrus cranberry loaf
