Description
Classic cranberry nut bread celebrates holiday baking traditions with tart berries and crunchy nuts. Warm slices pair perfectly with coffee, inviting you to savor seasonal comfort and homemade goodness.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ cups cranberries (fresh or frozen, coarsely chopped)
- ½ cup nuts, chopped
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup orange juice
- 1 large egg, well beaten
- 2 tbsps shortening
- 1 ½ tsps baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp grated orange peel
- ½ tsp baking soda
Instructions
- Preparation: Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat to 350°F. Generously grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan with non-stick spray or butter.
- Dry Mixture: Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in a large mixing bowl until uniformly combined.
- Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, blend orange juice, orange zest, vegetable shortening, and egg until smooth and fully incorporated.
- Batter Integration: Fold wet ingredients into dry mixture using minimal strokes, maintaining a light texture and preventing overmixing.
- Add-ins: Gently incorporate chopped cranberries and pecans throughout the batter, ensuring even distribution without deflating the mixture.
- Baking Process: Pour batter into prepared pan, smoothing the surface. Bake for 55-65 minutes, rotating midway to ensure consistent golden browning.
- Doneness Check: Test bread with a toothpick inserted into center – it should emerge clean without raw batter.
- Cooling: Let bread rest in pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely before slicing.
- Serving: Enjoy at room temperature, optionally toasted with a pat of butter for enhanced flavor.
Notes
- Prevent Overmixing: Stir wet and dry ingredients minimally to keep the bread tender and avoid tough, dense texture.
- Zest Selection: Use fresh, bright orange zest for maximum citrus flavor and vibrant aroma that complements cranberries.
- Cranberry Coverage: Coat chopped cranberries in a light dusting of flour before adding to batter to prevent sinking during baking.
- Temperature Precision: Allow ingredients like egg and shortening to reach room temperature for smoother mixing and better overall bread consistency.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg