Orange cranberry bread loaf is healthy, moist, & tasty! Using fresh cranberries & orange zest, orange cranberry bread is packed with flavor!
Christmastime is fast approaching, and it’s really had me in the mood for some serious holiday baking.
But why can’t all baked goods be healthy?! The struggle is real. Whenever I can, I try to make my baked goods as healthy as possible. But, living with a husband and toddler, they absolutely have to be tasty, too!
Cranberry and orange flavors go together so well, especially around the holidays. So I decided to create a healthy, orange cranberry bread using fresh cranberries, orange zest, and a little orange extract for an extra pop of flavor!
How do you bake with cranberries?
Cranberries are a really dry berry, so the best and easiest way to bake with fresh cranberries is to chop them up. That way, they absorb some of the moisture from the bread and don’t stay super dry. I don’t know anyone who wants to bite into a whole, dry cranberry when they’re eating orange cranberry bread.
To chop them really easily, I pulse them in my food processor a few times. I keep pulsing them until they’re cut into fourths. If you don’t have a food processor, you can chop them by hand. It’s a little more time consuming, but it gets the job done!
Do you need to soak fresh cranberries?
Nope! There’s no need to soak fresh cranberries before you bake them, but you should definitely wash them first.
Can you substitute dried cranberries for fresh cranberries?
Yes, you absolutely can used dried cranberries instead of fresh cranberries. However, I wouldn’t use the full 1 1/2 cups that the recipe calls for. I would use about 1 cup of unsweetened, dried cranberries instead.
Can you freeze orange cranberry bread?
Of course! Most breads can actually be frozen if they’re prepped for the freezer correctly. Simple wrap the cooled orange cranberry bread tightly with aluminum foil or plastic wrap, then place in a freezer zip lock bag. Label, date, and freeze for up to 3 months.
When you’re ready to eat it, simple thaw it at room temperature and serve when it’s completed thawed!
Healthy Orange Cranberry Bread Loaf
This orange cranberry loaf recipe is much healthier than traditional ways of making it, because of all the healthy ingredients!
Using whole wheat pastry flour, almond milk, Greek yogurt, and coconut sugar, this quick bread is packed with nutrition and healthy ingredients, but stays moist and delicious the way a holiday bread should!
Total nutritional content per serving is:
- Calories: 232 calories
- Protein: 6 grams
- Sodium: 309 mg
- Carbohydrates: 47 grams
- Fiber: 5 grams
RELATED: Cinnamon Maple Butternut Squash Bread
Freezer Friendly
Like I said above, you can pretty much freeze any bread loaf you want to. One way I save money on groceries is to buy bread on sale and freeze it until we’re ready to eat it. It’s easy, thaws quickly, and helps our budget!
To freeze this orange cranberry bread, simple bake it, allow it to cool completely, then wrap it tightly in aluminum foil or plastic wrap. Place it in a freezer zip lock, then label it, date it, and freeze for up to 3 months.
Simply thaw at room temperature when you’re ready to eat it!
Budget Friendly
For the entire bread loaf, it comes out to be about $4.75, or roughly $.48 per slice. This orange cranberry bread makes a great, inexpensive holiday treat, and would even be a great little gift to your neighbors or coworkers this year.
Other holiday baked goods:
Tried this recipe? Please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the comments below! I would really appreciate your feedback!
Orange Cranberry Bread Loaf
Ingredients
- 2 ¾ cup whole wheat pastry flour
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 cup coconut sugar
- ¼ tsp salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp orange extract
- 2 tsp orange zest
- 1 ½ cups fresh cranberries chopped (see notes for dried cranberries)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°. Combine whole wheat pastry flour, baking powder, baking soda, coconut sugar, and salt in a medium bowl.
- Add eggs, almond milk, plain Greek yogurt, vanilla, orange extract, and orange zest. Stir until just combined, don't overmix.
- Fold in the chopped cranberries, until even throughout. Pour batter into a greased bread pan and bake for 65-70 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean in the center.
To Freeze:
- Allow the bread to cool completely. Wrap tightly in aluminum foil or plastic wrap, then place in a freezer zip lock bag. Label, date, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature completely before slicing.
Notes
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Orange cranberry bread loaf is a simple, healthy, and delicious holiday recipe that is sure to please any crowd. I can’t wait to hear what you think!
xoxo Megan
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