Deliciously Moist Cranberry Bread: The Ultimate Quick Bread Recipe

Indulge in the delightful flavors of this Cranberry Bread Recipe, a wonderfully moist and delicious quick bread brimming with the tart sweetness of fresh cranberries. This quick bread recipe is not only incredibly easy to make but also promises a delightful treat perfect for any occasion. Whether you’re looking for an impressive brunch centerpiece, a comforting afternoon snack, or a thoughtful homemade gift, this cranberry loaf is sure to become a beloved staple in your kitchen.

Homemade sweet breads hold a special place in our hearts and homes. Over the years, I’ve enjoyed baking various quick breads for family, friends, and neighbors, from the comforting aroma of Pumpkin Bread to festive Christmas Bread and the rich goodness of Easy Eggnog Bread. Each recipe brings its own unique charm, but this Cranberry Bread has quickly risen through the ranks to become a new family favorite. Its vibrant color and irresistible taste make it a standout, especially during the autumn and winter months when cranberries are in season.

Why You’ll Adore This Cranberry Bread

• Unbelievably Moist and Flavorful. Every bite of this bread is a testament to its perfect balance of sweetness and tanginess. The combination of butter, eggs, and milk ensures a tender, moist crumb, while the fresh cranberries burst with bright flavor, creating an incredibly satisfying experience. It’s truly a texture and taste sensation that will impress.
• Budget-Friendly and Made with Pantry Staples. You’ll find that many of the ingredients for this recipe are likely already in your pantry. Using common baking essentials makes this a wonderfully frugal treat, proving that you don’t need exotic ingredients to create something extraordinary. It’s a smart choice for delicious homemade goodness without breaking the bank.
• Minimal Prep, Maximum Delight. If you can mix ingredients in a bowl, you can certainly master this recipe. The process is straightforward and doesn’t require any fancy techniques or equipment, making it ideal for novice bakers and seasoned pros alike. This quick bread lives up to its name, offering a fantastic result with surprisingly little effort.
• Perfect for Any Season or Celebration. While cranberries are often associated with autumn and winter holidays, this bread is a delightful addition to any time of year. Its bright flavor is perfect for Christmas mornings, Thanksgiving brunch, or simply a cozy weekend at home. It also makes a wonderful hostess gift or a treat to share with loved ones.
• Freezer-Friendly for Future Enjoyment. One of the best aspects of this cranberry bread is how well it freezes. Bake a batch (or two!) and store it for later. It’s a fantastic way to always have a homemade treat on hand, whether for unexpected guests or a spontaneous craving.

Key Ingredients for Perfect Cranberry Bread

Cranberries

• Fresh Cranberries. The recipe specifically calls for fresh cranberries, which offer the best texture and a vibrant, tart flavor that truly shines through the sweet bread. Their slight burst when baked adds a wonderful dimension. If fresh are unavailable, see our variations section below for alternatives.
• All-Purpose Flour. The foundation of our bread. It’s crucial not to pack too much flour into your measuring cup, as this can result in a dry, dense loaf. The best way to measure flour is to spoon it into the measuring cup and then level it off with the back of a knife. Avoid scooping directly from the bag.

Bread Base Ingredients

• Unsalted Butter. For the richest flavor and best texture, ensure your butter is softened to room temperature before you begin. This allows it to cream properly with the sugar, incorporating air for a lighter crumb. If you only have salted butter, you can use it but slightly reduce the added salt in the recipe.
• Granulated Sugar. Provides the essential sweetness and also contributes to the moist texture and golden-brown crust of the bread.
• Vanilla Extract. Pure vanilla extract is always recommended for superior flavor in your baked goods. It enhances the overall taste profile and complements the tart cranberries beautifully.
• Large Eggs. These act as a binder and add richness, moisture, and help with the structure of the bread. For optimal blending, ensure eggs are also at room temperature.
• Baking Powder and Baking Soda. These are our leavening agents, crucial for the bread’s rise and light texture. Baking powder is a double-acting leavener, while baking soda reacts with acidic ingredients (like cranberries or buttermilk if used) to create lift. If you find yourself out of baking soda, check out the Best Baking Soda Substitutes for a quick fix.
• Salt. A small amount of salt is vital to balance the sweetness and enhance the other flavors in the bread, preventing it from tasting flat.
• Milk. Whole milk is preferred for its richness, which contributes to a moist and tender crumb. Any milk can be used, but the fat content impacts the final texture.

For the complete list of ingredients with precise measurements and detailed instructions, please scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of this post. There, you’ll find everything you need to bake this amazing cranberry bread!

Exciting Variations to Customize Your Loaf

• Luscious Cream Cheese Glaze. Elevate your cranberry bread with a simple yet decadent homemade cream cheese glaze. Whisk together softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, a touch of milk, and vanilla extract until smooth. For an extra citrusy zing that pairs wonderfully with cranberries, add a tablespoon of fresh orange juice or a teaspoon of orange zest to the glaze.
• Nutty Additions. For an added layer of texture and flavor, gently fold in ½ cup of chopped walnuts or pecans into the batter. Toasting the nuts lightly before adding them can enhance their flavor even further. The crunch of the nuts provides a delightful contrast to the soft bread and tangy cranberries.
• Cranberry Alternatives. While fresh cranberries are highly recommended, you can easily substitute them with other forms.
  • Frozen Cranberries: If using frozen, make sure to thaw them completely and drain any excess liquid before tossing them with flour. This prevents adding too much moisture to the batter.
  • Dried Cranberries: You can also swap fresh cranberries for dried ones. Keep in mind that dried cranberries are typically sweeter, so you might consider slightly reducing the amount of granulated sugar in the recipe to maintain balance. Rehydrating them in hot water for 10-15 minutes can plump them up, but isn’t strictly necessary.
• Seasonal Spices. Infuse your cranberry bread with warm, inviting spices. Add 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, ½ teaspoon of ground nutmeg, or a pinch of allspice to the dry ingredients for a truly autumnal or festive loaf.
• Citrus Zest Boost. Enhance the bright flavor of the cranberries by adding 1-2 teaspoons of fresh orange or lemon zest to the wet ingredients. The citrus oils will beautifully complement the fruit.
• Mini Loaves for Gifting. This recipe is perfect for making individual mini loaves. Divide the batter evenly among greased mini loaf pans. Baking times will be shorter, typically 25-35 minutes, so keep a close eye on them. Mini loaves make excellent gifts for holidays or neighborly treats!
• Chocolate Chips. For those with a sweet tooth, a ½ cup of white chocolate chips or even dark chocolate chips can be folded into the batter alongside the cranberries. The chocolate provides a lovely counterpoint to the cranberries’ tartness.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Cranberry Bread

Baking this moist cranberry bread is a simple and rewarding process. Follow these easy steps to achieve a perfect loaf every time.

Step 1: Prepare the Cranberries and Preheat Oven. Before anything else, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and generously grease and flour a 9×5-inch loaf pan, or line it with parchment paper for easy removal. While the oven preheats, prepare your cranberries: In a small bowl, toss the fresh cranberries with 1 teaspoon of all-purpose flour. This crucial step helps prevent the cranberries from sinking to the bottom of the bread during baking, ensuring even distribution throughout the loaf. Set them aside.

Step 2: Cream Wet Ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened butter and granulated sugar. Using an electric stand mixer or a handheld mixer, cream them together on medium speed until the mixture is light, fluffy, and pale yellow. This process incorporates air, which contributes to the bread’s tender texture. Next, beat in the vanilla extract and large eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition until everything is fully combined and smooth.

Step 3: Combine Dry Ingredients. In a separate, medium-sized bowl, whisk together the remaining all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisking ensures that the leavening agents and salt are evenly distributed throughout the flour, which is essential for a consistent rise and flavor in your bread. Make sure there are no clumps.

Step 4: Incorporate Dry and Wet Ingredients. Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet butter and sugar mixture, alternating with the milk. Begin and end with the dry ingredients. For example, add about a third of the dry ingredients, mix briefly, then add half the milk, mix, another third of dry, mix, remaining milk, mix, and finally the last third of dry ingredients. Mix on low speed or by hand until just combined. Be careful not to overmix the batter, as overmixing can develop the gluten too much, leading to a tough and dry bread.

Step 5: Fold in Cranberries. With a spatula or wooden spoon, carefully fold in the flour-coated cranberries by hand into the batter. This gentle folding motion ensures the cranberries are evenly distributed without crushing them or overworking the batter. Overmixing at this stage can also lead to a tough bread, so mix until just combined.

Step 6: Bake and Cool. Spread the prepared batter evenly into your greased 9×5-inch loaf pan. Place it into the preheated oven and bake for approximately 45-60 minutes. Baking times can vary, so start checking around the 45-minute mark. The bread is ready when a wooden toothpick or skewer inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs attached, but no wet batter. Once baked, remove the pan from the oven and allow the bread to cool completely in the pan for at least 15-20 minutes on a wire rack before attempting to remove it. This cooling period allows the bread to set properly, preventing it from crumbling when sliced.

Pro Tips for Baking Success

• Prevent Over-Browning with Foil. If you notice the top of your cranberry bread is browning too quickly before the inside is fully cooked, loosely tent a piece of aluminum foil over the loaf pan. This will shield the top from direct heat, allowing the rest of the bread to cook through without burning.
• Cool Completely for Best Slices. Patience is key! It’s essential to let the bread cool completely in the pan before attempting to remove it. Once out of the pan, transfer it to a wire rack to finish cooling to room temperature. Slicing warm quick bread can lead to a gummy texture and crumbly slices, as the internal structure is still settling.
• Do Not Overmix the Batter. Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour too much, which can result in a tough, dense, and dry loaf. Mix ingredients only until they are just combined and no streaks of flour remain. A few small lumps are perfectly fine.
• Room Temperature Ingredients. Ensure your butter and eggs are at room temperature. Softened butter creams better with sugar, incorporating more air for a lighter texture, and room temperature eggs emulsify more easily into the batter, leading to a smoother, more uniform crumb.
• Measure Flour Correctly. Always spoon your flour into the measuring cup and level it off with a straight edge. Scooping flour directly from the bag can compact it, leading you to use too much flour and resulting in a dry bread.
• Use a Reliable Loaf Pan. A good quality metal loaf pan (9×5 inches is standard) conducts heat evenly, ensuring your bread bakes consistently. Darker pans may require a slight reduction in oven temperature or baking time to prevent over-browning.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cranberry Bread

More Delightful Cranberry Recipes to Try

If you’ve fallen in love with the vibrant flavor of cranberries, you’ll be thrilled to discover these other fantastic recipes that celebrate this versatile berry:

• Cranberry Cake
• Easy Cranberry Dump Cake
• Christmas Cranberry Cake Recipe

Now it’s your turn to experience the joy of baking and tasting this incredible cranberry bread. We’d love to hear your thoughts! Please leave a comment and a star rating once you do!