Cranberry Orange Apple Bread

This moist and fluffy Cranberry Orange Apple Bread is a delightful seasonal treat that combines the tartness of cranberries, the citrusy zest of oranges, and the natural sweetness of apples. This moist and flavorful bread is a perfect balance of tangy and sweet, creating a burst of fruity goodness with every bite!

If you're looking for more quick bread recipes try some of my other favorites like Cinnamon Sweet Potato Bread Without Eggs, Almond Butter Banana Bread, Sourdough Irish Brown Bread With Guinness, or Frosted Gingerbread Banana Bread.

A Quick Look At The Recipe

• Recipe Name: Cranberry Orange Apple Bread
• Ready In: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Makes: 1-pound loaf
• Main Ingredients: salted butter, cane sugar, apples, all purpose flour
• Flavor Profile: zesty orange, sweet apple, tart cranberries in a buttery bread
• Dietary Info: no seed oils, gluten free swap available
• Difficulty: Easy!
• Why You’ll Love It: soft, tender orange apple bread with tart cranberries

Why You'll Love This Recpie

• Bursting with Flavor: The combination of tart cranberries, zesty orange, and sweet apples creates a delightful flavor combination that balances tangy and sweet, offering a refreshing and vibrant taste with every bite.
• Festive and Seasonal: Cranberry Orange Apple Bread is perfect for the holiday season, capturing the essence of festive flavors. Add this apple bread to holiday breakfast spreads, brunches, or give as a gift.
• Moist and Tender Texture: The combination of fresh fruit and a moist, tender crumb makes this bread irresistibly soft and satisfying, providing a comforting and wholesome baked good that’s perfect for any time of day. Just like Blueberry Buttermilk Banana Bread!

Ingredients

• Cane Sugar: I use organic cane sugar as it's less processed than granulated white sugar.
• Apples: I use organic Fuji apples, but any other sweet variety would work too.
• Orange Flavor: I use organic orange flavor for concentrated flavor. You could also use orange extract as well.
• Sour Cream: I use organic sour cream for added moisture in this cranberry bread.
• Baking Powder: Make sure to use baking powder, not soda as this is a slower rise bake with no acid. Be sure to check out my post the Difference Between Baking Soda and Baking Powder for more info on leavening agents.
• Orange: You'll need a fresh orange.
• Cranberries: I use fresh cranberries. You can also use dried if you prefer. If you are using frozen, be sure to thaw in a strainer in the fridge for 24 hours and drain off excess moisture before using.

*For a full list of ingredients and measurements, visit the recipe card below.

Baker's Tips

• Always weigh ingredients for the best results.
• I use a 1-pound loaf pan. Check out the Best Nontoxic Loaf Pans for Baking for more info on the best loaf pans for baking.
• Make sure your butter is soft. I like to leave butter out on the counter overnight so it softens at room temperature. If you do have to microwave it, don't do more than 10 seconds per 1/2 cup as otherwise you can melt portions of the butter.
• I used a Fuji apple in this bread, but you could also use a Pink Lady or Gala as those have a similar flavor profile.
• My favorite organic orange flavor is by Frontier Co-Op. This gives such an amazing perfectly orange flavor to baked goods. You could also use an orange extract as well, just use half the amount.
• Always use whole milk, never use skim. Milk provides fat and flavor to baked goods, which is crucial for texture and taste.
• If you want to make this bread and it's not cranberry season, then you could substitute blueberries in its place. Orange and blueberry go incredibly well together, and this would be a delicious option for this bread too.
• Gluten Free — Replace the all purpose flour with 191 grams (scant 1 ¼ cups) gluten free flour blend.

How to Make Cranberry Orange Apple Bread

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 1-pound loaf pan with parchment paper letting it hang over the sides for easier removal. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add the butter and cane sugar.

2. Mix on low until combined and there are no butter chunks. Add the grated apple, eggs, milk, sour cream, and orange flavor and mix on low until combined.

3. Grate the apples and zest the orange.

4. Add the grated apples, orange zest, eggs, milk, sour cream, and orange flavor to the bowl with the butter and sugar.

5. Add the dry ingredients: all purpose flour, baking powder, and salt to the mixing bowl.

6. Mix on low until combined and there are no bits of flour.

7. Fold in the cranberries with a spatula.

8. Transfer to the prepared loaf pan and spread evenly.

9. Bake for 60 to 75 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool completely in the pan. (If you're baking at high altitude, be sure to check the Notes at the bottom of the recipe for high altitude baking instructions). 

Cranberry Orange Apple Bread FAQ's

More Ways to Bake With Cranberries

Cranberries are such as wonderful seasonal treat! Take advantage of cranberry season and make some of my other favorite cranberry recipes! Try Chinese Five Spice Cranberry Apple Pie, Homemade Sugared Cranberries for Garnish, Simple Cranberry Kale Salad with Homemade Dressing, Cranberry Mocktail With Coconut Water for holiday recipes. And I love making Tropical Cranberry Smoothie after a night of holiday parties!

More Quick Bread Recipes

Frosted Gingerbread Banana Bread

Sourdough Irish Brown Bread With Guinness

Cinnamon Sweet Potato Bread Without Eggs

Almond Butter Banana Bread