Cranberry Orange Bread with Orange Glaze
Moist cranberry orange bread with fresh cranberries and sweet orange glaze. A bright, easy quick bread perfect for holidays or anytime.

Bright, zesty, and perfectly sweet, this Cranberry Orange Bread with Orange Glaze is a simple quick bread that’s full of fresh flavour.
Tart cranberries and fragrant orange zest come together in a soft, moist loaf that’s finished with a sweet citrus glaze.
It’s a beautiful holiday bake, but just as lovely to enjoy with your morning coffee or as an afternoon treat any time of year.

Tips for the Best Cranberry Loaf
- Use fresh orange zest – it adds a fragrant citrus flavour that pairs perfectly with the tart cranberries.
- Toss cranberries in flour – this prevents them from sinking to the bottom of the loaf.
- Don’t overmix the batter – mix just until combined to keep the bread tender.
- Check early for doneness – ovens vary, so begin testing around the 60-minute mark with a toothpick.
- Cool before glazing – if the loaf is too warm, the glaze will soak in instead of setting on top.
- Wait to slice – Have some patience, if sliced while still warm, it will crumble! For clean slices, wait for the loaf to be completely cool.

Ingredients and Substitutions
- Cranberries – fresh or frozen both work. If using frozen, don’t thaw before adding.
- Orange zest & juice – fresh is best for flavour. Lemon can be substituted for a slightly different citrus twist.
- Milk – whole milk adds richness, but 2% or even non-dairy milk (like almond or oat milk) can be substituted.
- Butter – salted butter balances the tart cranberries, but unsalted butter works if you add a pinch of salt.
- Flour – all-purpose flour gives the right structure. Be sure to spoon and level the flour to avoid a dense loaf.
- Glaze – for a thicker glaze, use less juice; for a thinner drizzle, add a touch more.

Looking for More Cranberry Recipes?
Check out more of my favourite ways to use cranberries!
This festive White Chocolate Cranberry Tart has a graham cracker crust, tangy cranberry layer, creamy ganache, and sugared cranberry garnish!
This Cranberry Roasted Chicken recipe is easy to make plus it’s a one pan dinner that is oh so deliciously festive and seasonal.
Make your holiday season extra special with this delicious Cranberry Orange Cinnamon Roll Wreath. It’s sure to be a hit at any holiday party!

Cranberry Orange Bread with Orange Glaze
Ingredients
For the loaf:
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup salted butter, softened
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup milk, room temperature
- 2 cups all-purpose flour, divided
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- Zest of 1 large orange
- 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
For the orange glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2–3 tablespoons fresh orange juice
- ½ teaspoon orange zest
Directions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9-inch loaf pan and line with a parchment sling.

- In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, then add vanilla, milk, and orange zest. Mix until smooth.
- In a medium bowl, sift together the flour and baking powder. Reserve 1 tablespoon of flour and toss with the cranberries.
- On low speed, mix the dry ingredients into the wet until just combined. Do not overmix. (Image 1)
- Gently fold in the cranberries. (Image 2)

- Spread the batter evenly into the prepared loaf pan. (Image 3)
- Bake for 60–70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean. Cover with foil once the top is golden brown to prevent it from getting too dark.
- Let cool in the pan for 15–20 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. (Image 4)
- For the glaze: whisk powdered sugar with orange juice (and zest, if using) until smooth and pourable. Drizzle over cooled loaf and let set before slicing.
Cranberry Orange Bread with Orange Glaze
Moist cranberry orange bread with fresh cranberries and sweet orange glaze. A bright, easy quick bread perfect for holidays or anytime.
Ingredients
For the loaf:
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup salted butter, softened
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup milk, room temperature
- 2 cups all-purpose flour, divided
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- Zest of 1 large orange
- 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
For the orange glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2–3 tablespoons fresh orange juice
- ½ teaspoon orange zest
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9-inch loaf pan and line with a parchment sling.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, then add vanilla, milk, and orange zest. Mix until smooth.
- In a medium bowl, sift together the flour and baking powder. Reserve 1 tablespoon of flour and toss with the cranberries.
- On low speed, mix the dry ingredients into the wet until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Gently fold in the cranberries.
- Spread the batter evenly into the prepared loaf pan.
- Bake for 60–70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean. Cover with foil once the top is golden brown to prevent it from getting too dark.
- Let cool in the pan for 15–20 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- For the glaze: whisk powdered sugar with orange juice (and zest, if using) until smooth and pourable. Drizzle over cooled loaf and let set before slicing.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
12Serving Size:
1 sliceAmount Per Serving: Calories: 294Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 53mgSodium: 165mgCarbohydrates: 49gFiber: 1gSugar: 31gProtein: 4g
This information is provided as a courtesy and for entertainment purposes only. This information comes from online calculators. Although frugalmomeh.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.




