Cranberry Orange Bread
One last recipe before the year end. And here I sit in disbelief that I just typed “year end”. Truth be told, this is my least favorite time of year. The hype of Christmas has passed. The tree is still up but sits lonely and unlit in the corner. It’s trunk bare with opened gifts that have since found new homes. The sun shines brightly trying to uplift my disposition. But seems to do just the opposite as I wish for overcast mornings. For snow covered streets. For the quietness of winter. It’s not time for the bright and cheery. It’s not time to press restart again. Or is it?
Maybe I’m afraid of what’s to come. Or maybe I just want to hold on to the past. To what I know. And what I know is good. I liked this year. A lot. Last January, I didn’t know most of you. I think I had 6 faithful readers, all of which I knew. Myself—that shouldn’t even count. My husband. My mom—only after I’d call and ask her if she had read my lastest post, prompting her to do so. My dad—a fellow food lover. My mother-in-law—probably my biggest supporter. And Stacey—one of my best friends since 4th grade. In March, I finally divorced my social media hating ways and joined Twitter and Instagram where I flirted with the big awesome network of other Foodies—the people behind the blogs. People who I soon began calling my friends. People who inspire me daily. Who encourage me with their comments. Who make my love for food and sharing it all the more meaningful. People who make my recipes and email me with questions, comments, and pictures. Ya, I’m talking about you. You made my year. So much so I’m afraid to leave it behind.
I hope I’ve left you with something this year, if nothing else, a ton of my favorite recipes. Which leads me to the final recipe of 2011. Cranberry Orange Bread—highlighting winter’s favorite fruit. Pops of tartness. Hints of citrus. Tucked in the sweetness of a whole grain bread. This will make the final days of 2011 delicious. Happy New Year my friends!
PS—be sure to check out my guest post this week over at the Yellow Brick Home. Kim and Scott, the faces behind the blog, are super talented with a design sense that’ll leave you drooling.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°. Butter and flour, or spray, a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan. Set aside.
- Whisk together flours, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together butter, egg, milk, and orange oil. Add butter mixture to flour mixture, and stir until just combine. Gently fold in cranberries.
- Evenly pour batter into pan and sprinkle with turbinado. Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cover with foil after crust has browned.
- Allow bread to cool completely before serving. Store at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Notes
• Cut the amount of cranberries in half if you prefer a sweeter bread. I, however, loved the amount of tartness all the cranberries offered. It was just right for these taste buds!
I know what you mean about that deflated feeling post-holidays, but I try to think of all of the new and exciting beginnings. I can’t believe all of the friends I’ve made through blogging. It’s nice to know that the world is not so big. Happy 2012 to you, friend! Glad we got acquainted
I’m so glad we got acquainted too! Excited to see what you cook up this year!
Aww, I love this post! I can’t help but feel that I might just be one of those blog friends.
I too feel lucky to have found you since we have so much in common. It’s kind of sad that we can’t grab a coffee and chat about our inspirations in person since we live so far away…but for now social media friends we will be! Happy New Year! – Leah
You most definitely are one of those blog friends! So glad we “met” this year Leah! I wish we could grab a cup of coffee and you could teach me how to read a knitting pattern
Happy new year to you!
OMG! My mother-in-law is my biggest supporter too! Eerie!!
I’ve been craving orange and cranberry bread, I will be trying this. I too joined the ranks of twitter this year and I am so hooked!
You’ll have to let me know what you think. Cheers to being twitter newbies!
Dear “Faux,” (ha)
That was a really nice post. I initially clicked on it because I have some stray cranberries I need to deal with. However, I read it twice, because it really resonated with me. 2012 is looming and I am still enjoying 2011. Maybe when we have de-Christmastreed, cleaned, and set some new goals, we’ll feel ready to face whatever comes next. I’d say your 2011 was pretty admirable.
Best to you!
Thanks for your sweet comment! Cheers to getting over the Christmas blues asap!
These photographs are beautiful, Melissa! Happy new year to you. This was an amazing year for me too…so glad to have “met” you!
Thanks Cassie! So so glad to have met you through the blogosphere! Hope that cowl is keeping you warm!
I have everything I need to make this bread sitting in my kitchen at this moment. Yes! Happy New Year to you too!
I love it when that happens! Like manna from heaven. Happy New Year to you Amanda!
I can’t believe it’s almost year-end, either. I’m glad you divorced your social media hating ways
I look forward to the new year and to getting to know you & looking forward to all the great food! I love cranberry & orange — this bread looks divine! Happy new year 
I’m looking forward to getting to know you too! So glad we “met” Julie!
Your thoughtful post rang like an echo in my head on so many levels as I stare at my own post-fabulous Christmas tree. It’s been a good ride, but 2012 might be just as good, right? I’ll be ringing in the new year with this scrumptious looking bread. Thank you and cheers!
Cheers to a bigger and better 2012! And lots of yummy bread
You said it perfectly. I always dread this time of year as well.
I also agree with you about about blogging and social media…it took me until about a year and a half ago (I didn’t even know how to check email) to cross the *digital divide* as I call it. I now feel so blessed for the new world that I’ve stepped into! So glad to have *met* you & your many talents!
Cheers to a FABULOUS 2012!
So happy I found your blog this year! Happy New Year to you!
Love the bread and so glad I found your blog this year!
Happy New Year to you!
PS I wore the cowl I ordered from you for the first time yesterday.
What a beautiful recipe to end the year with. And I’m grateful that I was led to you through social media!!
I adore orange and cranberry together. I’m so glad we got to meet this year! Happy 2012 and may we meet again soon!
Have I told you I love your website? I do!!
This bread looks delicious!
Happy 2012
: )
Jen
Happy New Year, sweet daughter-in-law!
Absolutely love this and I will use your recipe for my next cranberry bread. Thanks for the recipe.
This sounds fantastic! I love the combination of cirtus and tart cranberries, especially with creamy, salty butter on top. I suspect this will enter our breakfast breads rotation in no time flat.
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Hi! I was just introduced to your site yesterday by a guy who made your apple pie and raved about it to me. He forwarded the recipe and then included your site address. I went on it for nothing more than the name! Only to discover that I thoroughly enjoy your writing and am a self-described recipe addict. That is to say, I do not necessarily try many or any of the recipes I find, but I am addicted to collecting them. Sick, I know. I read through every recipe and imagine how delicious it is, how (relatively) easy it would be to make it. But alas, these are aspirations only, for the most part. I even print out the recipes I’m most attracted to and have them neatly categorized in 3-ring binders.
I do, however, make Cranberry bread. Full of the bright tart roundies. I have the best recipe ever, but I am willing to try yours and stack it against mine. My recipe calls for orange juice and fresh grated peel, so I’m a little leary of trying the orange zest, but I will definitely do that. Thanks for an inspiring site — even for an addicted “collector.”
Thank YOU for stopping by and saying hello! So glad you came (and reminded me of that cranberry bread). I’m gonna have to dig around the stores to find one more bag. I love the tartness too! Orange juice sounds divine. I love the pairing of orange with cranberry over lemon.