Whole Wheat Cranberry Orange Soda Bread
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Cranberry orange soda bread is a holiday version of traditional Irish soda bread. It’s made with fresh tart cranberries, and orange zest to add flavor. Serve it for breakfast or any time of the day.
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This cranberry orange bread recipe takes inspiration from my traditional Irish soda bread, a family favorite that we only enjoy around St. Patrick’s Day.
Soda bread is a quick bread and one of the simplest breads to make, so I decided it would be a nice addition for the winter holiday season with cranberries. There’s no yeast involved, which means no waiting for the dough to rise.
What you’ll love about this recipe
Here is what you will need
This is a brief summary of the ingredients needed to make this recipe and a convenient shopping list from my Instacart affiliate link. For a printable recipe card with exact measurements and detailed instructions, scroll down to the recipe card section.
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Ingredient List
How to make cranberry orange soda bread
Prepare: Measure the ingredients, and chop the cranberries. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees f. Line the skillet or cake pan with parchment paper.
STEP 1: Place the cranberries into a small bowl add the maple syrup; set aside.
STEP 2: In a large bowl combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, sugar, salt, and orange zest.
STEP 3: Whisk the egg, cold buttermilk, and yogurt together in a separate bowl.
STEP 4: Use a wooden spoon, or electric mixer at low speed and gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry mixture of ingredients until it forms a sticky dough.
STEP 5: Form the dough into 2 mounds of equal size in a prepared pan and bake in a preheated oven until the bread is golden brown on the outside and a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the middle – about 45-50 minutes.
NOTE: If you prefer a loaf-shaped soda bread, over a round loaf, you can use two loaf pans instead of a cast iron skillet.
Recommended equipment to make this recipe
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Buy Now → Recipe variations
Dried cherries and pecans– replace the walnuts and cranberries with dried cherries and pecans.
Cinnamon and raisin – replace the cranberries with raisins and a tablespoon of ground cinnamon.
Cheddar and herb – for savory soda bread, add 3/4 cup cheddar cheese and 1/2 cup of your favorite chopped herbs and a tablespoon of caraway seeds.
Fresh fruit soda bread – replace fresh cranberries with chopped seasonal fruit such as apples, pears, or peaches.
How to store leftovers
Store leftover cranberry soda bread at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Freeze soda bread wrapped tightly for up to three months—Defrost at room temperature.
Serving suggestions
Our favorite way to enjoy orange cranberrysoda bread is for a holiday breakfast or brunch with an air fryer frittata, impossible breakfast pie and sausage. It also tastes great as a snack toasted or with a light lunch salad.
Tips & Tricks
- This bread is not sweet, if you you prefer a sweeter bread, increase the sweetener up to 3 tablespoons.
- If buttermilk is not available, you can make your own by mixing vinegar or lemon juice with milk ( 1 tablespoon per cup of milk).
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Recipe FAQs
Whole wheat flour creates a dense texture in baked goods. For the best results, use half all-purpose white flour and half whole wheat flour, or use all-purpose flour without whole wheat flour. If the dough appears dry, add a tablespoon of water for every cup of whole wheat
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Click on serving size to scale this recipe
Cranberry Orange Soda Bread
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
- 1 3/4 cups buttermilk
- 1 egg
- 2 cups all purpose white flour
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 1/2 cups cranberries fresh or frozen
- 2 tablespoons syrup
- 3/4 cup chopped walnuts
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
Instructions
- Prepare: Measure the ingredients and chop the cranberries. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees f. Line two cast iron skillets or cake pans with parchment paper.
- Place the chopped cranberries into a small bowl and stir in the maple syrup and set aside
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, sugar, salt and orange zest.
- In a smaller mixing bowl, whisk the egg, buttermilk and yogurt together.
- Use a wooden spoon or electric mixer at low speed and gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients.
- Add the walnuts and cranberries and stir with a spoon until everything is mixed together.
- Form the dough into 2 mounds of equal size and place them into the prepared baking pans. Bake until golden brown – about 45 to 50 minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and can vary based on cooking methods and ingredients used
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