Description
Homemade cranberry walnut bread delivers a perfect balance of tart and nutty flavors. Rustic slices pair wonderfully with morning coffee or afternoon tea, offering comfort in each delectable bite you’ll savor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (473 ml) all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- ⅓ cup (76 g) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup (150 g) fresh or frozen cranberries
- ½ cup (60 g) walnuts, chopped
- ½ cup (118 ml) orange juice
- ¼ cup (59 ml) whole milk
- 2 tbsps coarse sugar
- 1 ½ tsps baking powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- Extra chopped walnuts
Instructions
- Preheat Preparation: Configure the oven to 350F (175C) and line a 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper, lightly brushing with butter to prevent sticking.
- Dry Ingredient Fusion: Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in a large mixing bowl, whisking until perfectly homogeneous.
- Liquid Component Creation: Whisk orange juice, milk, vanilla extract, melted butter, and eggs in a separate bowl until achieving a smooth, uniform consistency.
- Batter Assembly: Gently fold wet ingredients into dry ingredients, using minimal stirring to preserve the bread’s delicate texture, incorporating cranberries and walnuts with careful, even distribution.
- Pan Filling: Pour the complete batter into the prepared loaf pan, smoothing the surface to ensure even baking and optionally sprinkling coarse sugar and additional walnut pieces on top for textural contrast.
- Baking Process: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 50-60 minutes, monitoring for a rich golden-brown color and confirming doneness by inserting a clean toothpick that emerges without raw batter.
- Cooling and Serving: Rest the bread in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely, serving warm with optional accompaniments like butter, cream cheese, or a honey drizzle, and storing leftovers in an airtight container to maintain freshness.
Notes
- Prevent Overmixing: Stir ingredients just until combined to keep the bread tender and avoid developing tough gluten networks.
- Check Moisture Balance: Use room temperature eggs and milk to ensure even blending and consistent bread texture without dryness.
- Distribute Fruits Evenly: Lightly coat cranberries in flour before adding to prevent sinking and ensure balanced flavor throughout the loaf.
- Monitor Baking Carefully: Start checking doneness around 45 minutes to prevent over-browning, using the toothpick test for precise baking completion.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 16 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg