Cranberry Nut Bread

This gift-worthy cranberry nut bread recipe will become your go-to fall quick bread. It's sweet, fruity, and full of cozy flavor.

Cranberry Nut Bread Ingredients

These are the ingredients you'll need to make the best cranberry nut bread of your life:

• Flour: This cranberry walnut bread starts with two cups of all-purpose flour.
• Sugar: A little less than a cup of white sugar (¾ cup, to be exact) gives you all the sweetness you need.
• Leaveners: Baking soda and baking powder act as leaveners, which means they help the bread rise.
• Salt: A pinch of salt brings out the other flavors in this cranberry walnut bread.
• Cranberries: Fresh cranberries are best, but you can use dried cranberries in a pinch.
• Nuts: This recipe calls for walnuts, but you could substitute pecans if you like.
• Orange: You'll need the juice and the zest.
• Egg: An egg helps bind the quick bread batter together and adds moisture.
• Oil: A neutral oil, like vegetable oil, provides moisture without adding flavor.

How to Make Cranberry Nut Bread

You'll find the full, step-by-step recipe below — but here's a brief preview of what you can expect when you make this top-rated cranberry nut bread:

1. Mix the dry ingredients in one bowl and the wet ingredients in another bowl.
2. Stir the dry mix into the wet mix, then stir in the cranberries.
3. Transfer the batter to a prepared loaf pan and bake until a toothpick comes out clean.

How to Store Cranberry Nut Bread

Allow the bread to cool completely on a wire rack. Wrap the loaf tightly in storage wrap (or place it in an airtight container) and store at room temperature for a few days or in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Can You Freeze Cranberry Nut Bread?

Yes, you can freeze cranberry walnut bread. Wrap the cooled loaf tightly in a layer of storage wrap, followed by a layer of aluminum foil. Freeze for up to three months. Thaw overnight in the fridge.

How to Gift Cranberry Nut Bread

This cranberry walnut bread makes an excellent holiday gift. For a pretty presentation, wrap each loaf individually in storage wrap and finish with a festive ribbon or bow. A rosemary sprig inserted into the ribbon is an extra touch that everyone will love.

More ideas: 25 Favorite Homemade Food Gifts Cookdap Allstars Love to Share

Cookdap Community Tips and Praise

"The orange flavor really comes through and enhances the bread's flavor," says COOKINGIRLLJ. "I used dried cranberries and it was great. To add a little something extra to the finished bread, I made a glaze of powdered sugar, orange juice, and some orange extract and drizzled it over the top."

“This is such a delicious quick bread,” according to Diana S. “I really like the suggestion of one reviewer who wrote that she left the cranberries whole … that way you get the maximum flavor.”

“This is a very moist, tasty bread,” raves larkspur. “With its tangy cranberry pieces, crunchy nuts, and more than just a hint of orange flavor, this bread was a hit at coffee hour at our church. It is also pretty healthy, compared to most quick breads.”