Have a very good morning with this sunny orange cranberry loaf. This delicious breakfast bread has a moist cake-like texture and is full of warm bright citrus flavors from the classic combo of oranges and cranberries. Even if you’re not a morning person this little slice of sunshine is guaranteed to put a smile on your face. It is also downright addictive and very hard to stop eating so be warned: it does have a dark side.
Dry Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Wet Ingredients:
- 1 cup plain yogurt, sour cream mixed with milk or buttermilk
- 1 cups white sugar, divided
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon grated orange zest
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon pure orange extract
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries dusted in flour
Orange Syrup:
- 1/3 cup orange juice
- 1/3 cup white sugar
Orange Glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour an 8 or 9 inch loaf pan 2 inches deep and line the bottom with parchment paper.
- Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. In another bowl, whisk together the yogurt, 1 cup sugar, the oil, the eggs, orange zest, and extracts. Slowly whisk the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Add the dried cranberries and stir to incorporate into batter. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for about 50 minutes, or until a toothpick placed in the center comes out clean. (Check it at 45 minutes as oven temperature’s differ to make sure you don’t overbake.)
- Meanwhile, make the orange syrup by cooking the 1/3 cup orange juice and 1/3 cup sugar in a small pan until the sugar dissolves. Set aside.
- When the loaf is done, allow it to cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Remove from pan and place on a wire rack over a piece of foil. While the cake is still warm, poke all over the surface with a toothpick and pour the orange syrup mixture over the cake so it soaks in. Let cool completely.
- For the glaze, combine the powdered sugar, orange juice and a little orange zest if desired and pour over the loaf.
Slice and serve and see if you can resist eating more than one piece. If so, I’d love to know your secret. Leave me a comment and share a pic of your orange cranberry creation.
