The Story Behind the Recipe
Years ago when blogging first started to become a ‘thing’, I started a family blog. Occasionally I would share some of my favorite recipes that I enjoyed, but I mainly shared about our first child. It’s super fun to go back and reread some of those posts. There are a lot of things I didn’t remember, and I love that there are pictures to go along with all of those old memories.
I always dreamed of starting a food blog. I could never commit at the time though. I just lived vicariously through my sister who started her blogspot recipe blog.
Anytime I would need a family recipe, I would check her blog first. And even though it has probably been almost 4 years since she updated it with new recipes, I still check it out occasionally for recipes. When I was glancing at it last, I saw her recipe for Cranberry Orange Bread. That immediately sparked my interest, and I knew I had to try it out.
My sister got this recipe from her mother-in-law, Linda. They would make this recipe together to share with friends and neighbors at Christmas time. It was a time when they didn’t have a lot of money, so this was the best they could do. In my opinion, home baked goodies delivered to the door at Christmas time is 10x better than any soap with a ribbon tied around it.
Anyways, I whipped this batch of bread up this afternoon, and boy is it delightful. I love a good cranberry and orange combo. Those two flavors work together so well, and these loaves are no exception. The original recipe has walnuts in it, but I didn’t care to add those since I really wanted the cranberry to shine. My sister also used store bought orange juice instead of freshly squeezed juice. Boy does that add more character!
This bread cooks a lot faster than a typical quick bread, which I l love. However, if you are wanting more than 2 mini loaves, which you will, I highly suggest doubling this recipe. Then take a loaf or two to a neighbor and sit and eat the rest yourself.
F.A.Q.s and Troubleshooting for Cranberry Orange Bread
My bread pans overflowed in the oven.
Oh dear! I almost ran into this problem. One batch of this batter is the perfect amount for two mini loaves of bread. Make sure to divide the batter evenly. If you have a food scale, I would highly suggest using that to get the pans even. If you are worried about it overflowing, just stick a baking sheet underneath your pans.
Can I bake it in a regular loaf pan instead of mini sized?
Yes! This would work well in one regular/larger sized loaf pan.
Can I use bottled orange juice?
Absolutely! While I do think freshly squeezed is best, you can totally substitute your favorite OJ.
How should I store this?
This bread gets a little sticky on top if covered, kind of like muffins would after a day. I would suggest leaving it uncovered if you live in a more humid climate, or cover with a kitchen towel on the counter top in a dryer climate.
Additional Recipes
If you love cranberries, orange, and quick breads make sure to check out this other recipes of mine.
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