Description
This Cranberry Walnut Bread is a moist, flavorful quick bread combining tart fresh cranberries and crunchy walnuts with a hint of orange zest. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a cozy snack, this easy-to-make loaf is packed with delightful textures and a perfect balance of sweet and tangy notes.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1/4 cup butter (melted)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup milk
Add-ins
- 1 cup fresh cranberries (chopped)
- 1 cup walnuts (chopped)
- Zest of one orange (optional, but highly recommended!)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan to prevent sticking.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix together the all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt until evenly blended.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk the melted butter, eggs, and milk together until smooth and well combined.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Pour the wet ingredient mixture into the dry ingredients bowl and stir gently until just combined. Be careful not to overmix to keep the bread tender.
- Add Cranberries, Walnuts, and Zest: Gently fold in the chopped fresh cranberries, walnuts, and orange zest to evenly distribute them through the batter.
- Pour Batter into Pan: Transfer the batter to the prepared loaf pan, smoothing the top evenly.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 60-70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool: Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then carefully remove it and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Do not overmix the batter to avoid a dense bread; mix until ingredients are just combined.
- Chopped walnuts can be toasted lightly before adding for enhanced flavor.
- Fresh cranberries can be replaced with frozen ones if fresh are unavailable; do not thaw before adding.
- Adding orange zest is optional but adds a lovely citrus aroma and flavor.
- Store leftover bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for longer storage.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
