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  1. Food and Cooking
  2. Recipes
  3. Cranberry Bread

Cranberry Bread

It's topped with a crunchy cinnamon streusel crumble!

By Ree DrummondPublished: Nov 11, 2025
Star FillStar FillStar FillStar FillStar Fill
5
1 Rating
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pioneer woman cranberry bread
Gordon Sawyer
Yields:
12 serving(s)
Prep Time:
25 mins
Total Time:
1 hr 40 mins
Video poster

This cranberry bread is pure cozy comfort in a loaf pan! It’s everything I love about baking this time of year: sweet, tart, crumbly, and downright irresistible. Fresh cranberries bring a burst of color and tang to every bite, while the buttery pecan streusel on top adds just the right amount of crunch. And that simple powdered sugar glaze? It’s the finishing touch that makes this bread feel extra special (and oh-so-pretty for your holiday table!).

This easy cranberry bread recipe comes together quickly—no mixer required! A blend of brown sugar, vanilla, and sour cream keeps the loaf incredibly moist, while a hint of ground ginger adds a warm, subtle spice. It’s perfect to bake for Thanksgiving breakfast, or to gift to neighbors during the holidays.

If you’re searching for a festive quick bread that’s as beautiful as it is delicious, this cranberry bread has your name all over it. Serve it warm with a glass of iced coffee or a hot cup of tea, and you’ll have yourself one happy morning!

Can you use frozen cranberries in this cranberry bread recipe?
Absolutely! Frozen cranberries work perfectly here—just be sure to thaw them and pat them dry before folding them into the batter. This keeps your loaf from getting too wet while still giving you that tart cranberry pop in every bite.

Can you make this cranberry bread ahead of time?
This bread tastes best fresh from the oven, but you can wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or store it in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. You can also freeze the bread, wrapped tightly, for up to 3 months (just leave the glaze off and top it right before serving).

What’s the best way to serve cranberry bread?
I love it slightly warm with a drizzle of glaze and a cup of coffee—or toasted with a little butter for breakfast. You could even serve it for dessert topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

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Ingredients

For the Streusel:

  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3 Tbsp. chopped pecans
  • 3 Tbsp. packed light brown sugar
  • 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 3 Tbsp. cold salted butter, cut into cubes

For the Loaf:

  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil, plus more for the pan
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup sour cream, at room temperature
  • 2 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
  • 1 tsp. ground ginger
  • 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
  • 1/4 tsp. baking soda
  • 2 cups plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups cranberries, thawed if frozen

For the Glaze:

  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar

Directions

    1. Step 1For the streusel: In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, pecans, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Add the butter and use your fingers to work it into the mixture until it is evenly incorporated and the mixture clumps together. Cover and chill until ready to use.
    2. Step 2For the loaf: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with vegetable oil. Line the pan on the two long sides with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang.
    3. Step 3In a large bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar, brown sugar, sour cream, eggs, vanilla, and ½ cup vegetable oil until smooth.
    4. Step 4In a medium bowl, whisk together the baking powder, ginger, salt, baking soda, and 2 cups of the flour. 
    5. Step 5Coarsely chop 1 cup of the cranberries, leaving the remaining cup whole. Toss the chopped and whole cranberries in a medium bowl with the remaining 1 tablespoon of flour. 
    6. Step 6Fold the flour mixture into the egg mixture until just combined. Fold in the cranberries.
    7. Step 7Transfer the batter to the prepared loaf pan, smoothing the top with a spoon or small offset spatula. Crumble the streusel evenly over the top. Bake until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes.
    8. Step 8Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then use the parchment sling to remove the bread from the pan. Let cool completely on a wire rack, about 1 hour.
    9. Step 9For the glaze: In a medium bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar with 2 teaspoons water. Add additional water, ½ teaspoon at a time, until the glaze is loose enough to drizzle. Drizzle the glaze over the loaf and allow it to set at least 15 minutes before serving. 

Tip: To freeze cranberry bread, wrap the unglazed loaf tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before glazing. To serve warm, microwave slices for 30 seconds to 1 minute, or place the whole loaf in a 350°F oven for 10 to 15 minutes to reheat and crisp the streusel before glazing.


Love this recipe? Try one of these next!

  • Lemon Blueberry Bread
    3 hrs 10 mins
  • Pumpkin Bread
    1 hr 25 mins
  • Apple Cinnamon Bread
    1 hr 35 mins
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