SANDRA’S WHOLE CRANBERRY N’ FRESH ORANGE BREAD

I make this bread year round,
not just during the holidays
because it’s so delicious,
and I always have
frozen cranberries on-hand...

Servings: 10 to 12

Prep: 20 Mins.

Bake: 1 hr. -15 Mins.

Posted by Sandra

INGREDIENTS

2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted

1 cup granulated sugar

¼ cup dark brown sugar

1-1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon fine-grain kosher salt

1 large egg

1 tablespoon freshly grated orange zest

¾ cup freshly-squeezed orange juice (It turned out to be 2 medium oranges that I squeezed for juice; and 1/2 an orange zested)

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

1 vanilla bean, split, and scraped to remove seeds

2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries

-- Cream Cheese, at room temperature (For spreading later on warm bread slices).

METHOD

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a loaf pan, and set aside.  Take cream cheese out of refrigerator, and set aside to come to room temperature while loaf is baking.

Ready for the oven...

In a large bowl, beat egg, and add orange zest and juice, melted butter, and vanilla bean seeds.  Sift flour through a sieve into the large bowl, and add the remaining dry ingredients to wet ingredients, and stir just until moistened; batter will be rather thick.  Gently fold in cranberries. Spoon batter into prepared loaf pan.

Hot n' fresh out of the oven...

Bake for 1 hr. and 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in loaf pan for 15 minutes before removing and placing on a wire rack.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tip:  This bread is fantastic when toasted, then spread with cream cheese as well.  Also, you are free to make muffins rather than a loaf, simply adjust your baking time accordingly.