Welcome to our first brunch recipe of 2014! You’re going to love this one. It’s great with a cup of coffee. <— You know, this time last year I was just beginning to realize how awesome coffee is. Oh how far I’ve come in a year. Mmmmm, coffee with cream during my Bible time each morning. How I love it.
This bread is also great with a cup of hot tea, hot chocolate, Warm Vanilla Soother, or a cold glass of milk. Pretty much it’s great with anything you like to drink. It’s also very easy to make, and can be baked ahead of time if you’d like to wake up on Christmas morning to a delicious ready-made breakfast.
Cranberry Almond Bread with Orange Glaze
3 cups whole wheat pastry flour (regular whole wheat works okay, but pastry flour is perfection in this!)
¾ cups sucanat
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
1 ½ teaspoons sea salt
1 ½ cups milk
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
1 ½ teaspoons almond extract
3 eggs
1 cup melted butter or coconut oil
1 cup fresh or dried cranberries
Mix flour, sucanat, baking powder, and salt. Add eggs, milk, extracts, and oil. Mix well. Fold in cranberries. Pour batter into 2 well-buttered loaf pans (or six small loaf pans). Bake 45-60 minutes at 350°. Makes two loaves.
Orange Glaze
¼ cup orange juice
¼ cup honey
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
Heat orange juice and honey in a small saucepan. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla and almond extracts. Pour mixture over loaves of cranberry bread about 3 minutes after they have been removed from the oven, but before removing the loaves from the baking pans.
Be sure to leave a comment on this post for a chance to win one of five $10 gift certificates to our Heavenly Homemakers Shop!
Felicia says
I love cranberry and orange together, can’t wait to try this bread
Su says
This looks easy and delicious. I’d have to leave out the almond everything though because my son is allergic. Should I just double the amount of vanilla extract? thx
Laura says
You can if you want, or you can just leave out the almond extract and follow the recipe as is otherwise. :)
Heather says
This sounds delicious!
Rhonda says
My family adores cranberry orange muffins. So we will definitely have to try this.
Amy says
Where do you get the whole wheat pastry flour? And what is the difference between it and regular flour you grind? Thanks.
Laura says
Pastry flour is ground from SOFT wheat instead of HARD wheat. I almost always use hard white wheat as it works in most recipes and must be used in yeast recipes. But soft white wheat makes a lovely pastry flour that makes quick breads and muffins really nice. In this recipe, I found that using regular wheat flour from hard wheat made this bread too dense. :)
Brighid says
Bob’s Red Mill has whole wheat pastry flour. You might be able to find it at a local store.
Sounds like a great recipe!
Nikki stevens says
Sounds yummy. Can’t wait to try it!!
Diana Campbell says
Good questions above. I was wondering about the difference with pastry flour too.
Laura says
Pastry flour is ground from SOFT wheat instead of HARD wheat. I almost always use hard white wheat as it works in most recipes and must be used in yeast recipes. But soft white wheat makes a lovely pastry flour that makes quick breads and muffins really nice. :)
Julie says
Looks yummy! I will add orange juice to the grocery list so we can make it.
Beth says
Mmm! Now I know how to use I up my frozen cranberries.
Micah says
We are enjoying cranberry everything right now so we’ll have to add this to the list!
Melissa says
I had just settled that I would make cranberry muffins for Christmas morning. These will be perfect! Thank you!
Joy says
Yumm! Can’t wait to try this one!
Janine says
Yum! Looks delicious!
Lisa says
This looks delicious! Thanks for the recipe.
Melody says
I was going to make cinnamon rolls Christmas morning but I may change my mind, this looks delicious.
Deborah says
This sounds so delicious. I think I will make it and bring it to the in-laws. Great idea. Thanks for the recipe.
ann in E. oregon says
My 15 yr. old son just walked by as I was looking at this post and GASPED! “What is THAT!”, he said. “It looks GREAT!” Guess I better get some some cranberries next time I’m in town. :-))
Laura says
Natalie’s Juice, fresh from Florida, will be perfect in this yummy recipe!
Michelle says
Yum that sounds so good!!
Rachel Anna says
That looks so good! I think my family would love it!
Keri S says
Mmmm…I love cranberry and orange together. I will have to try this soon!
Melanie says
Almond is not a favorite extract, but I always blend up a whole orange and add it to my cranberry bread. It’s awesome!
Shaela says
Incredible recipe. I need to buy cranberries just to make this!
Ashley says
Looks delicious!
Lana H. says
Looks wonderful and festive!!
emcknits says
Sounds good. Thanks.
Angie says
Sounds delicious!
If I try making this as muffins, how long would you suggest for cook time?
Donna says
I am going to make this for breakfast Sunday before church. Yum! Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Heather says
This sounds great! I only have hard white wheat berries, so am going to have to get some soft to see the difference. We love cranberry orange things and I have about 12 bags of cranberries in my freezer!
Janelle says
Looks perty yummy!
Shonda says
I would love to try this one! I need to make copies of your brunch recipes for my Christmas notebook!
Rhonda says
Sounds delicious!
Anna says
Wow, that looks really good! Thanks for the recipe.
Meredith says
Orange glaze… Mmmm
Deb says
Looks delicious and something I’ll be trying soon! i have cranberries to use up!
Amber Macomber says
I’ve never been sure about cranberries. I might have to give them a try in this. :)
CW says
Sounds yummy — but I’m allergic to oranges. Thanks for sharing.
Gigi says
I’d want to eat only the top half. :)
Tiffany says
Cranberry bread is super delicious! Never thought of putting orange glaze on it, usually just put orange peel in it but I will give it a try!
Kimberly says
My sweet Husband and son would really like this! :-)
Dottie says
Oh, I bet the house smells so delicious when this is baking. I’m going to have to make some this week
Lisa Gardner-Morris says
These sound yummy…and sounds very “Christmassy” to me (yeah, I know that’s probably not a real word and spelled wrong…lol)
Stacie M says
I love quick breads all year round.
Michelle says
My aunt gave me some cranberries last night and my first thought was this bread! I bought oranges today to make it happen!!
Nicole says
I want to freeze one loaf. Does glazed loaf freeze okay, or should I freeze unglazed?
Laura says
Yes, a glazed loaf freezes just fine. When it thaws, it is so yummmmmmy!
Rhoda says
This sounds wonderful. Don’t have any pastry flour but after your explanations to others, I need to get some and definitely do this. I have everything else!!