Sweet & Tart Pioneer Woman Orange Cranberry Bread Recipe

Orange cranberry bread transforms ordinary ingredients into a symphony of vibrant flavors that dance across your palate.

Sweet and tangy notes harmonize within this delightful quick bread, offering a delectable experience for breakfast or afternoon snacking.

Seasonal fruits and warm spices intermingle, creating a moist and tender crumb that promises pure comfort.

Bright citrus undertones blend seamlessly with tart cranberry bursts, generating a complex taste profile that surprises and delights.

Bakers of all skill levels can master this straightforward recipe with minimal kitchen equipment and standard pantry staples.

The magical combination of ingredients results in a rustic, homestyle treat that feels both familiar and extraordinary.

Why You’ll Crave Pioneer Woman Orange Cranberry Bread

• Burst with Seasonal Flavor: Combines vibrant orange zest and tart cranberries for a delightful winter-inspired taste that dances across your palate with bright, refreshing notes.
• Texture Wonderland: Offers a perfect balance between soft, tender bread and crunchy streusel topping, creating a delightful contrast that makes every bite interesting and satisfying.
• Foolproof Baking Experience: Designed with simple step-by-step instructions that make this recipe accessible for bakers of all skill levels, from beginners to seasoned home cooks, ensuring success with minimal effort.
• Versatile Breakfast and Dessert Companion: Transforms effortlessly from a morning treat with coffee to an elegant dessert option for gatherings, making it a reliable recipe for multiple occasions and meal times.

Ingredients in Pioneer Woman Orange Cranberry Bread

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure and base for the bread's texture, choose unbleached for better flavor.
• Baking Soda: Key leavening agent that helps bread rise and become light.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness.
• Ground Cinnamon: Adds warm, aromatic spice to streusel topping.

• Egg: Binds ingredients and adds moisture to the bread.
• Brown Sugar, Granulated Sugar: Provide sweetness and help with bread's caramelization.
• Buttermilk: Creates tender crumb and adds subtle tanginess.
• Vegetable Oil: Ensures bread remains moist and soft.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds deep, rich flavor undertone.
• Orange Zest: Provides bright, citrusy flavor and aromatic essence.

• Fresh Cranberries, Chopped Nuts: Add texture, tartness, and optional crunch.
• Confectioners' Sugar: Creates smooth, sweet glaze.
• Orange Juice: Thins sugar for drizzling and adds citrus flavor.

How to Prepare Pioneer Woman Orange Cranberry Bread

Step 1: Warm Up the Oven

Crank the oven to 350°F (177°C). Grab your 9×5-inch loaf pan and give it a quick spray with nonstick cooking spray.

Step 2: Create Crunchy Streusel Topping

• Flour
• Sugar
• Cinnamon

Toss in cold, cubed butter and use a pastry cutter or two forks to break it down into tiny, pea-sized crumbs. Pop the streusel in the fridge while you prep the rest.

Step 3: Mix Bread Batter

Grab two bowls for your dry and wet ingredients.

• Flour
• Baking soda
• Salt

• Egg
• Brown sugar
• Granulated sugar
• Buttermilk
• Oil
• Vanilla extract
• Orange zest

Whisk the wet ingredients until smooth, then pour into dry ingredients. Stir gently until just combined. Fold in cranberries and optional nuts.

Step 4: Prepare for Baking

Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle the chilled streusel evenly on top, pressing it lightly into the surface.

Step 5: Bake to Perfection

Slide the pan into the oven. Bake for 45-60 minutes. Halfway through, tent the loaf with aluminum foil to prevent over-browning. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick – it should come out clean.

Step 6: Cool and Glaze

• Confectioners' sugar
• Orange juice

Adjust juice for desired thickness. Drizzle the glaze over the cooled bread and get ready to enjoy!

Tips for Pioneer Woman Orange Cranberry Bread

• Customize Cranberry Crunch: Slice dried cranberries in half for more intense flavor distribution throughout the bread, ensuring every bite bursts with tangy goodness.
• Create Quick Buttermilk Hack: Transform regular milk into buttermilk by adding white vinegar or lemon juice, letting it sit for 5 minutes to develop the perfect tangy consistency.
• Chill Streusel Strategy: Refrigerate streusel mixture before baking to maintain butter's cold temperature, guaranteeing a crispy, crumbly topping that adds delightful texture.
• Temperature Matters Technique: Allow egg and buttermilk to reach room temperature before mixing, promoting smoother ingredient integration and achieving a more uniform bread texture.
• Toothpick Test Trick: Insert a toothpick into bread's center to confirm doneness; a clean pick means perfectly baked bread without raw dough remnants.

Store Pioneer Woman Orange Cranberry Bread Right

• Room Temperature Magic: Preserve the bread's moisture by storing it in an airtight container on your kitchen counter. Ensure the container is completely sealed to prevent air exposure. This method works best for 2-3 days, keeping the bread soft and fresh.
• Freezer Preservation: Slice the bread before freezing for easy portioning. Wrap each slice individually in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe ziplock bag. Remove excess air to prevent freezer burn. Frozen bread maintains its quality for up to 3 months, perfect for quick breakfasts or unexpected guests.
• Refrigerator Strategy: When storing for more than three days, transfer the bread to the refrigerator. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or place in a sealed container to prevent drying out. Gently warm each slice in the microwave for 10-15 seconds before serving.

Variations of Pioneer Woman Orange Cranberry Bread

• Lemon Cranberry Zinger: Swap orange zest with fresh lemon zest and add lemon juice to the glaze for a bright, tangy flavor profile that complements the cranberries.
• Almond Cranberry Classic: Replace chopped nuts with sliced almonds and add almond extract to the batter for a rich, nutty undertone that enhances the bread's complexity.
• Spiced Cranberry Harvest: Incorporate ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and a pinch of cardamom into the dry ingredients to create a warm, seasonal spin on the original recipe.
• Chocolate Chip Cranberry Boost: Fold in dark chocolate chips alongside the cranberries for a decadent twist that adds depth and richness to the bread's overall texture and taste.

Wrap-Up for Pioneer Woman Orange Cranberry Bread

Cranberry orange bread emerges as culinary poetry, weaving zesty citrus notes with tart berry whispers.

Sweet streusel crumbles create delightful textural contrasts across each slice.

Warm spices dance through tender crumb, inviting sensory memories of cozy kitchen moments.

Pioneer Woman’s recipe transforms simple ingredients into extraordinary comfort.

Seasonal flavors mingle seamlessly, promising delectable experiences for passionate bakers.

Will those delicious aromas tempt you to grab mixing bowls, snap mouthwatering photos, share recipe magic with friends, and spread deliciousness across social media platforms?

Pioneer Woman Orange Cranberry Bread Recipe

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4.7 from 15 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Ree Drummond’s orange cranberry bread delivers a perfect balance of citrusy tang and sweet-tart cranberry notes. Moist crumb and zesty flavor make this quick bread an irresistible companion to morning coffee or afternoon tea.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Dry Ingredients:

• 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
• ¼ cup (31g) all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt

Sugars and Spices:

• ½ cup (105g) packed light or dark brown sugar
• ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons (30g) granulated sugar
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Wet Ingredients and Add-ins:

• 1 large egg, at room temperature
• 1 cup (240ml) buttermilk, at room temperature
• ⅓ cup (80ml) vegetable oil or melted coconut oil
• 3 tablespoons (43g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons orange zest
• 1 cup (110g) cranberries, fresh or frozen (if using frozen, do not thaw)
• Optional: ½ cup (65g) chopped pecans or walnuts

Glaze:

• 1 cup (120g) confectioners’ sugar
• 1–2 tablespoons orange juice

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Instructions

1. Thoroughly coat a 9×5-inch (23×13 centimeters) loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray and heat the oven to 350°F (177°C).
2. Create the streusel by combining flour, granulated sugar, and ground cinnamon in a medium mixing bowl. Incorporate cold, cubed butter using a pastry cutter until the mixture transforms into pea-sized crumbles. Refrigerate the streusel mixture while preparing the remaining components.
3. Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, vigorously whisk the egg with brown sugar and granulated sugar until well integrated.
4. Incorporate buttermilk, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, and freshly grated orange zest into the egg mixture, whisking until completely smooth and uniform.
5. Gently fold the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredient mixture, stirring minimally to prevent overmixing. Carefully fold in fresh cranberries and chopped nuts, distributing them evenly throughout the batter.
6. Transfer the batter into the prepared loaf pan, ensuring an even surface. Delicately sprinkle the chilled streusel across the top, lightly pressing to help it adhere to the batter.
7. Place the loaf in the preheated oven and bake for 50-55 minutes. Midway through baking, loosely cover with aluminum foil to prevent excessive browning. Test for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center – it should emerge clean.
8. Remove from the oven and allow the bread to cool completely within the pan, positioned on a wire rack.
9. Prepare the glaze by whisking confectioners’ sugar with fresh orange juice until achieving a smooth, drizzling consistency. Adjust liquid quantities as needed to reach desired thickness.
10. Once fully cooled, generously drizzle the orange glaze over the bread, allowing it to cascade naturally across the surface.

Notes

• Swap dried cranberries for fresh or frozen, cutting them in half to distribute flavor more evenly across the bread.
• Craft homemade buttermilk by mixing 2 teaspoons of white vinegar or lemon juice with milk, letting it sit for 5 minutes to create the perfect baking substitute.
• Chill streusel mixture in the refrigerator to maintain butter’s hardness, ensuring a crumbly texture during baking.
• Bring egg and buttermilk to room temperature before mixing to achieve smoother ingredient incorporation and a more consistent bread texture.
• Test bread doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center – a clean pick indicates the bread is perfectly baked, preventing under or overbaking.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 55 minutes
• Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 267 kcal
• Sugar: 21 g
• Sodium: 157 mg
• Fat: 12 g
• Saturated Fat: 6 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 39 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 34 mg