Mini Cranberry Orange Bread (Moist Holiday Loaves)

Soft, tender mini loaves loaded with cranberries and bright orange flavor—perfect for breakfast, coffee time, or gifting.

Ingredients (Makes 3–4 mini loaves or 1 standard loaf)

Dry ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Wet ingredients

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened (113 g)
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar (150 g)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup plain yogurt or sour cream (240 g)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • Zest of 1 large orange
  • 1/3 cup fresh orange juice (80 ml)

Add-ins

  • 1 to 1½ cups fresh or frozen cranberries (or dried cranberries)
  • 1 tbsp flour (to toss with cranberries)

Optional orange glaze

  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2–3 tbsp orange juice
  • 1/2 tsp orange zest (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven
    Preheat to 175°C (350°F). Grease mini loaf pans (or line with parchment).
  2. Mix dry ingredients
    In a bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  3. Cream butter and sugar
    Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy (2–3 minutes). Add eggs one at a time, then mix in vanilla, orange zest, and orange juice.
  4. Add yogurt/sour cream
    Mix in yogurt (or sour cream) until smooth.
  5. Combine
    Add dry ingredients and mix just until combined (don’t overmix).
  6. Fold in cranberries
    Toss cranberries with 1 tbsp flour, then fold gently into the batter.
  7. Fill pans & bake
    Fill mini loaf pans about 3/4 full.
    Bake 25–35 minutes for mini loaves (or 45–55 minutes for a standard loaf), until a toothpick comes out clean.
  8. Cool
    Cool in the pan 10 minutes, then transfer to a rack.
  9. Optional glaze
    Whisk powdered sugar with orange juice (and zest). Drizzle over cooled loaves.

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