Ingredients
The Cream Cheese Filling:
8 oz (225g) cream cheese, softened to room temperature
\frac{1}{4} cup (50g) granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
The Cranberry Bread Batter:
2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour
\frac{3}{4} cup (150g) granulated sugar
2 tsp baking powder
\frac{1}{2} tsp salt
1 large egg
\frac{1}{2} cup (120ml) milk (or orange juice for a citrus twist!)
\frac{1}{2} cup (115g) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 \frac{1}{2} cups fresh or frozen cranberries (tossed in 1 tbsp of flour so they don’t sink)
The Sweet Glaze Topping:
\frac{1}{2} cup powdered sugar
1–2 tbsp milk or cream
🥣 Directions
Step 1: Prep and Preheat
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a standard 9×5-inch loaf pan and line it with parchment paper for easy removal later.
Step 2: Whip Up the Cream Cheese Ribbon
In a medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, \frac{1}{4} cup sugar, 1 egg, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract together with a hand mixer until completely smooth, creamy, and free of lumps. Set aside.
Step 3: Mix the Bread Batter
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, \frac{3}{4} cup sugar, baking powder, and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg, milk (or orange juice), melted butter, and vanilla extract. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir gently with a spatula just until combined. Gently fold in the cranberries.
Step 4: Layer for the Hidden Surprise
Spread about two-thirds of the thick cranberry batter evenly into the bottom of your prepared loaf pan. Next, pour the cream cheese mixture directly over the center of the batter layer. Finally, spoon the remaining one-third of the cranberry batter over the cream cheese layer, smoothing it out gently to cover it as much as possible.
Step 5: Bake Until Golden
Bake for 55 to 65 minutes. Because of the dense cream cheese filling, it takes a little while to bake through. Check it with a toothpick inserted near the center edge—it should come out clean.
Step 6: Glaze and Serve
Whisk together the powdered sugar and milk in a small cup until smooth. Drizzle it generously over the top of the completely cooled bread as seen in the photo. Slice, share with your neighbors, and watch it disappear!