Description
Ree Drummond’s orange cranberry bread blends zesty citrus with tart berries in a delightful quick bread. Moist crumb and tangy glaze make this recipe a delectable treat that you’ll savor with morning coffee or afternoon tea.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ¼ cups (281g) all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup (240ml) buttermilk
- 1 cup (110g) cranberries
- ½ cup (105g) light or dark brown sugar
- ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup (80ml) vegetable or coconut oil
- 1 cup (120g) confectioners’ sugar
- 3 tbsps (43g) unsalted butter
- 2 tbsps (30g) granulated sugar
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 tsp orange zest
- 1–2 tbsps orange juice
- ½ cup (65g) chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
Instructions
- Preparation: Generously spray a 9×5-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray and preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C).
- Streusel Creation: Blend flour, granulated sugar, and ground cinnamon in a bowl. Cut cold butter into the mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. Refrigerate while preparing other components.
- Dry Ingredient Combination: Sift flour, baking soda, and salt together. In a separate bowl, vigorously whisk egg with brown and granulated sugars until thoroughly combined.
- Liquid Integration: Whisk buttermilk, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, and orange zest into the egg mixture until smooth and uniform.
- Batter Assembly: Gently fold liquid ingredients into dry ingredients, minimizing mixing. Carefully incorporate cranberries and nuts, ensuring even distribution throughout the batter.
- Baking Preparation: Pour batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the surface. Sprinkle chilled streusel on top, gently pressing to adhere.
- Baking Process: Bake for 50-55 minutes, covering with aluminum foil halfway through to prevent over-browning. Verify doneness by inserting a toothpick that comes out clean.
- Cooling and Glazing: Allow bread to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Whisk confectioners’ sugar with orange juice to create a smooth, pourable glaze.
- Finishing Touch: Once cooled, drizzle orange glaze over the bread, allowing it to flow naturally across the surface.
Notes
- Prevent Overmixing: Stir batter minimally to maintain tender, soft bread texture and avoid tough, dense results.
- Zest Management: Freshly grate orange zest directly before mixing to capture maximum citrus flavor and aromatic oils.
- Streusel Chilling: Refrigerate streusel mixture before sprinkling to ensure crisp, distinct crumble topping during baking.
- Foil Protection: Cover bread midway through baking to prevent excessive browning and ensure even, golden-brown crust.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 11
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 30g
- Sodium: 250mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 40mg