What really gives this that extra little touch of sparkle is the orange zest and juice. It’s not a strong flavor but it adds that little kick of citrus that really brings out the flavor of the cranberry.
This Cranberry Loaf is a sweet, moist loaf cake that has a touch of citrus and a delicious, creamy icing on top!
Ingredients
For the loaf
- ⅓ cup orange juice
- 2 teaspoons grated orange zest
- ⅔ cup buttermilk
- 6 Tablespoons salted butter, melted
- 1 large egg
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (plus 2 Tablespoons) sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries, sliced in half
- ½ cup walnuts or pecans (optional)
For the icing
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1-2 Tablespoons orange juice
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
Instructions
For the loaf
- Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat oven to 375F degrees.
- Spray bottom of 9×5-inch loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray.
- In a small bowl, whisk together 1/3 cup orange juice, 2 teaspoons grated orange zest, 2/3 cup buttermilk, 6 Tablespoons salted butter, melted and 1 large egg. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 cup (plus 2 Tablespoons) sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon baking powder and 1/4 teaspoon baking soda.
- Stir liquid ingredients into dry with until combined.
- Gently stir in 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries, sliced in half and 1/2 cup walnuts or pecans (if using). Do not overmix.
- Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and spread evenly. Bake for 20 minutes, then reduce heat to 350 degrees. Continue to bake until golden brown and toothpick inserted into center of loaf comes out clean, about 45 minutes longer.
- Cool loaf in pan for about 10 minutes, then turn out onto wire rack and cool at least one hour before serving.
For the icing
- In a bowl, whisk together 1 cup powdered sugar and 1-2 Tablespoons orange juice and a1 teaspoon orange zest . I prefer a thick icing but if it is too thick for your taste, just add a little more orange juice to thin it out.
- Spread icing onto cooled bread. Slice and serve!
