Simple Christmas Cranberry Bread

Simple Christmas Cranberry Bread is the perfect recipe to bring festive cheer to your kitchen! With its delightful burst of tart berries paired with a sweet, soft crumb, this bread makes for a wonderful treat during the holiday season. Whether you’re enjoying a slice with coffee in the morning or serving it as a dessert at dinner, this cranberry bread is sure to impress family and friends alike. The cheerful red cranberries add both flavor and color, making it a festive addition to your holiday table.

What Goes into This Simple Christmas Cranberry Bread

Here’s what you’ll need for this cozy recipe:

• Granulated sugar: 2 cups (400 g)
• Large eggs, at room temperature: 3
• Unsalted butter, softened: 3/4 cup (170 g)
• Pure vanilla extract: 1/2 tsp
• Almond extract: 1/2 tsp
• All-purpose flour: 2 cups (240 g)
• Baking powder: 1 tsp
• Salt: 1/2 tsp
• Fresh cranberries: 1 bag (8 oz or 225 g)
• Brown sugar, packed: 1/4 cup (50 g)
• Additional all-purpose flour: 1/4 cup (30 g)
• Unsalted butter: 1/3 cup (75 g)

Step-by-Step Simple Christmas Cranberry Bread Recipe

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and grease two loaf pans thoroughly.
2. In a large bowl, beat the eggs and granulated sugar together for about 5 minutes or until the mixture nearly doubles in volume.
3. Add the softened butter, vanilla, and almond extracts; mix until you have a smooth batter.
4. Gently fold in the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Once combined, fold in the fresh cranberries.
5. Pour the batter evenly into the prepared loaf pans and sprinkle any remaining cranberries on top.
6. In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, 1/4 cup of all-purpose flour, and 1/3 cup of butter until it resembles a sandy texture. Sprinkle this mixture on top of the batter in the pans.
7. Bake for 45-50 minutes for two loaves or 60-70 minutes for one large loaf. Check for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center; it should come out clean.
8. Allow the breads to cool in the pans for a bit before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Slice and enjoy!

The Best Way to Serve It

This Simple Christmas Cranberry Bread is delicious on its own, but you can elevate the experience even more! Serve warm slices with a pat of butter for extra richness, or drizzle some honey on top for a sweet touch. It pairs beautifully with a steaming cup of coffee or tea, perfect for gatherings or quiet afternoons. You can also toast it lightly for breakfast or serve it as a dessert with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Don’t forget to garnish it with a sprinkle of powdered sugar for a festive look!

Make It Your Own

• Add Nuts: Consider folding in some chopped walnuts or pecans for added crunch.
• Flavor Twist: Swap out the almond extract for orange or lemon extract to give the bread a citrusy brilliance.
• Dried Fruit: If you want even more texture, try adding some chopped dried fruits like apricots or raisins along with the cranberries.

Simple Christmas Cranberry Bread FAQs

Q: Can I use frozen cranberries instead of fresh?
A: Yes, you can use frozen cranberries. Just make sure not to thaw them before mixing them into the batter to keep your bread from getting too wet.

Q: How should I store leftover cranberry bread?
A: Wrap leftover bread tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and store it at room temperature for up to 3 days. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months.

Q: Can I use whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose flour?
A: Yes, you can substitute half of the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour for a nutty flavor and added nutrition, but the texture may be denser.

Give this Simple Christmas Cranberry Bread a try this holiday season. Its cheerful flavor and beautiful presentation make it a must-bake for any festive gathering!

Print Recipe

Simple Christmas Cranberry Bread

A delightful bread filled with tart cranberries and a soft, sweet crumb, perfect for the holiday season.

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time50 minutes mins

Total Time1 hour hr 5 minutes mins

Course: Breakfast, Dessert

Cuisine: American, Holiday

Keyword: Christmas Recipes, Cranberry Bread, Festive Dessert, Holiday Baking, Quick Bread

Servings: 12 slices

Calories: 210kcal

Ingredients

For the batter

• 2 cups Granulated sugar
• 3 Large eggs, at room temperature
• 3/4 cup Unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 tsp Pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp Almond extract
• 2 cups All-purpose flour
• 1 tsp Baking powder
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 1 bag (8 oz or 225 g) Fresh cranberries

For the topping

• 1/4 cup Brown sugar, packed
• 1/4 cup All-purpose flour Additional for topping
• 1/3 cup Unsalted butter

Instructions

Preparation

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and grease two loaf pans thoroughly.
• In a large bowl, beat the eggs and granulated sugar together for about 5 minutes or until the mixture nearly doubles in volume.
• Add the softened butter, vanilla, and almond extracts; mix until you have a smooth batter.
• Gently fold in the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Once combined, fold in the fresh cranberries.
• Pour the batter evenly into the prepared loaf pans and sprinkle any remaining cranberries on top.

Topping and Baking

• In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, 1/4 cup of all-purpose flour, and 1/3 cup of butter until it resembles a sandy texture.
• Sprinkle this mixture on top of the batter in the pans.
• Bake for 45-50 minutes for two loaves or 60-70 minutes for one large loaf. Check for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center; it should come out clean.

Cooling and Serving

• Allow the breads to cool in the pans for a bit before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Slice and enjoy!

Notes

Serve warm slices with a pat of butter or drizzle with honey. Toast lightly for breakfast or serve as dessert with vanilla ice cream. Garnish with powdered sugar for a festive touch. Consider adding nuts or dried fruits for extra texture.