A decadent bread perfect for fall and winter celebrations.
This bread is the quintessential fall bread.
Bright, juicy cranberries are paired with the zesty flavor of orange to give you the perfect flavor combination. In fact, the cranberry/orange flavor combination might be one of the best out there.
Fall might be my favorite season, and as soon as the air starts to turn slightly cooler and the days become slightly shorter, this bread is the first thing I want to bake.
This bread will carry you into the holiday season, as it is the perfect bread to serve at Thanksgiving or at a Christmas party. Your friends and family might not leave you any after one of these gatherings, so make sure to make an extra loaf!
The ingredients:
Flour: choose your favorite type of flour
Sourdough starter: this is important for long fermentation but also adds moisture and the perfect amount of tanginess to compliment the sweetness
Avocado oil: I chose oil for this bread instead of butter to give it a soft, moist texture.
Yogurt: this gives the bread moisture and a wonderful flavor that compliments the orange and cranberry flavors perfectly.
Egg: this holds the bread together, giving it the correct texture and consistency.
Sugar: cranberries are delicious but tart, so sugar is needed to balance the tartness.
Brown sugar: this sugar adds a depth of flavor that regular sugar can’t do alone.
Vanilla: this is a favorite ingredient that brings out the sweet flavors in the other ingredients.
Baking soda: add this after long fermentation to give the bread light fluffiness and the perfect texture.
Orange zest: the zest of an orange gives more flavor than the juice alone. This gives the bread that perfect irresistible flavor profile, so don’t skip this ingredient!
Cranberries: the star of the show. Let’s be honest, these bright red pops of flavor and juiciness are the reason we are here. We don’t stop at just a few cranberries. We make sure there is a cranberry in almost every bite.
Salt: such an important ingredient. This brings all the flavors together like nothing else can.
Cinnamon: this ingredient is perfect to add to any sweet fall bread.
Nuts: optional. If you love a nutty bread, add some walnuts or pecans for the perfect holiday flavor.
The glaze: orange juice and powdered sugar took this bread from pretty amazing to something my kids wouldn’t stop eating. They wanted to eat it all, and I had to slow them down so I could get a picture to share this with you!
The recipe:
1/2 cup sourdough starter
1/3 cup avocado oil
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
2/3 cup yogurt
Add after long fermentation:
Baking soda
2 tsp orange zest
1 cup cranberries
For glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar
2 Tbsp orange juice
In a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, mix the sourdough starter, oil, sugar, and brown sugar.
After the starter has been well incorporated, add the egg and vanilla and mix well.
Add the flour, salt, and cinnamon, and mix thoroughly. (If you are baking immediately, this is the time to add the baking soda.)
Add the yogurt and give it a final, thorough mix. Cover the bowl and let ferment for 8-12 hours.
After fermentation, add the baking soda, orange zest, and cranberries.
Mix with a spoon and pour into an oiled bread-baking pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour and check it. If you used frozen cranberries, you may need to bake it another 10-15 minutes. When a toothpick is inserted and comes out clean, the bread is done.
After the bread cools, make the glaze, mixing the powdered sugar and orange juice until desired consistency is reached. Pour glaze over cooled bread. Let set for at least 10-15 minutes, serve, and enjoy!