5 Fabulous Cranberry Breads

Use This Healthy Red Fruit to Make Breads, Muffins, and Scones

By
Elizabeth Yetter
Elizabeth Yetter
Bread expert Elizabeth Yetter has been baking bread for more than 20 years, bringing her Pennsylvania Dutch Country experiences to life through recipes.
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Updated on 02/9/20
Cranberry Oat Muffins
Alexandralaw1977 / Getty Images

Cranberries aren't just perfect for making cranberry sauce, they are also great for baking, whether fresh, frozen, or dried. This juicy red fruit is perfect to add a natural sweetness to a variety of breads, quick breads, scones, and muffins.

Cranberries (both fresh and dehydrated) are easy to find year-round, though they are most plentiful during the holiday season. Baked goods studded with cranberries can be enjoyed any time you get a craving for a delicious fruit bread. They're perfect for a quick breakfast, a fruit-filled dessert, an afternoon tea treat, and are great homemade gifts.

  • 01 of 05

    Cranberry Bread

    Cranberry Bread

    Kristina Vanni 

    This delicate cranberry bread is an elegant make-ahead recipe guaranteed to impress. Studded with chopped pecans and brightened with lemon zest, it's a delightful addition to afternoon tea or brunch.

  • 02 of 05

    Cranberry Orange Bread With Orange Icing

    Iced Orange Cranberry Bread
    Iced Orange Cranberry Bread. Photo Credit: Diana Rattray

    Just another recipe that proves cranberry and orange are meant to be together, this cranberry orange bread takes it one step further with a delicious orange icing. This is a great recipe to divide into mini loaf pans so you have a homemade gift at the ready.

    This bread is fantastic with the homemade icing, but if you prefer a more savory fruit bread it can be left plain. For a bit of added sweetness, dust the bread lightly with powdered sugar.

  • 03 of 05

    Christmas Stollen With Cranberries

    Christmas Stollen from Brendan Lynch recipe

    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

    Christmas traditions come to life in a classic stollen bread that should not be reserved for the holidays alone. You will enjoy making this fruit-stuffed bread as much as everyone will love to eat it.

    Stollens can include many different ingredients, and this particular recipe features three favorites—cranberry, almonds, and orange—which combine deliciously. This stollen is sure to add a spark to the holiday dessert table or as a sweet baked treat any time of year.

  • 04 of 05

    Cranberry Walnut Yeast Bread

    cranberry walnut bread
    Diana Rattray

    Perfect for leftover turkey sandwiches, this hearty bread studded with dried cranberries and walnuts tastes delicious when it's toasted. The recipe makes two loaves, one for now and one for later—or wrap one to bring to the next holiday party. 

    This is a somewhat basic yeast bread recipe, relying on the bit of sugar to add sweetness, but feel free to add orange zest for some extra zing.

    Continue to 5 of 5 below.
  • 05 of 05

    Cranberry Nut Muffin With Marmalade

    cranberry nut muffins

     Diana Rattray

    The secret ingredient in this muffin recipe is the orange marmalade, bringing a nice citrus flavor without too much bitterness. Combine that with the cinnamon, nutmeg, cranberries, and walnuts, and you've got a muffin that is the perfect breakfast treat on a cold winter day. The buttermilk ensures a moist and tender baked good, so you can bake these with confidence.