Vegan Cranberry Orange Bread

This vegan cranberry orange bread is bursting with bright and tart flavors that make for a lovely Fall dessert. It’s a great addition to your Holiday breakfast or brunch table.

Sliced cranberry orange bread on cutting board.

This cranberry bread is adapted from my vegan lemon pound cake recipe. Fresh cranberries combined with fresh orange juice keep this bread soft and moist. No yeast is needed!

Ingredient Notes

Bowl of cake batter with fresh cranberries.
  • Cranberries: both fresh and frozen cranberries can be used. If using frozen cranberries, there is no need to thaw them. 
  • Unbleached All-Purpose Flour: adds more structure to the sweet bread than bleached flour.
  • Cornstarch: adds some lightness to the loaf.
  • Oat Milk: feel free to use soy milk or almond milk instead.
  • Vegetable Oil: melted vegan butter can be used as a substitute. I wouldn’t recommend skipping adding fat to the bread as it helps keep it moist. 
  • Apple Cider Vinegar: when paired with baking soda, vinegar act as the perfect leavening agent.
  • Grated Orange Zest: place the orange in a bowl with warm water for a few minutes to clean the orange’s skin of any wax before zesting. 
  • Confectioner’s Sugar: sift the sugar first to get a smoother glaze. 
  • Fresh Orange Juice: this will add a nice boost of orange flavor to the bread’s glaze but you may also use plant-based milk and vanilla. 

How to Make Vegan Cranberry Bread

  1. Set an oven rack in the center and preheat the oven to 350°F / 180°C. Lightly grease the loaf pan with oil or non-stick cooking spray.
  2. Sift the dry ingredients into a mixing bowl, then stir in the sugar. 
  3. In a separate bowl, mix the wet ingredients together.
  4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients in thirds, mixing after each addition, until the flour is just moistened. 
Bowl of cake batter with fresh cranberries mixed in.
  1. Gently fold in the cranberries, then pour the batter into the greased loaf tin and smooth the top. 
Unbaked cake batter in loaf tin.
  1. Gently tap the loaf tin on the counter three times.
  2. Bake for 55 to 65 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean. 
  3. Let the cake cool for 10 minutes in the tin, then remove and place on a rack to cool completely for 2 to 2-1/2 hours. 
  4. While the cake cools, make the glaze. Mix together the confectioner’s sugar and orange juice in a bowl until smooth.
Baked loaf of cranberry bread drizzled with icing on cooking rack.
  1. Pour the glaze over the cake and let it set before serving. Enjoy!
Cranberry orange bread slices on cutting board.

Storage Suggestions

Store any leftover cranberry bread in an airtight container. It will last 3 days at room temperature, a week in the fridge, and 2 months if freezing. 

Allow it to thaw overnight in the fridge before eating. Feel free to enjoy the bread cold, or heat it up for a few seconds in the microwave.

FAQs

Can I use this recipe to make vegan muffins? 

Absolutely! Instead of pouring the batter into a loaf tin, pour it into a muffin tin! Bake the cranberry orange muffins at 350°F for 30 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean. The recipe makes about 8 to 12 muffins.

Want more vegan sweet breads? Try these!

Sliced cranberry orange bread on cutting board.

Vegan Cranberry Orange Bread

5 from 2 votes
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 1 hour 5 minutes
Cooling Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Total: 3 hours 55 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 269kcal
Print Pin Rate
This vegan cranberry orange bread is bursting with bright and tart flavors that make for a lovely Fall dessert. It's a great addition to your Holiday breakfast or brunch table.

Equipment

Baking Recipes: For more accuracy, use Metric measurements and measuring spoons.

Ingredients

Dry Ingredients

  • 2 cups (250 g) unbleached all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
  • 3 tablespoons (30 g) cornstarch
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • cup (250 g) granulated cane sugar

Wet Ingredients

  • ¼ cup (60 ml) oat milk, (soy or almond milk are alternatives)
  • ½ tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • ½ cup (120 ml) fresh orange juice, (from 2 oranges)
  • ½ cup (120 ml) vegetable oil, (or melted vegan butter)
  • 2 tablespoons grated orange zest, (from 3 oranges)

Add-ins

  • 1 ½ cups (150 g) cranberries, fresh or frozen (not thawed), chopped

Glaze (optional)

  • ¾ cup (90 g) confectioner’s sugar
  • 4 teaspoons fresh orange juice, (from ½ orange)

Instructions

  • Set an oven rack in the center and preheat the oven to 350°F / 180°C. Lightly grease the loaf pan with oil or non-stick cooking spray.
  • Sift the cornstarch, flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Stir in the sugar.
    2 cups (250 g) unbleached all-purpose flour ,3 tablespoons (30 g) cornstarch ,2 teaspoons baking powder ,½ teaspoon baking soda ,½ teaspoon salt ,1¼ cup (250 g) granulated cane sugar
  • In a small bowl, combine the oat milk, vinegar, orange juice, vegan butter or oil and orange zest.
    ¼ cup (60 ml) oat milk ,½ tablespoon apple cider vinegar ,½ cup (120 ml) fresh orange juice ,½ cup (120 ml) vegetable oil ,2 tablespoons grated orange zest
  • Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients in thirds, mixing after each addition, until the flour is just moistened. Don’t overmix. Gently fold in the cranberries.
    1 ½ cups (150 g) cranberries
  • Pour the batter into the loaf tin and smooth the top. Gently tap the pan on the counter three times to release air bubbles.
  • Bake for 55 to 65 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean.
  • Allow the cake to cool in the tin for 15 minutes, then transfer it to a rack to cool completely for about 2 to 2½ hours.
  • Make the glaze by mixing the confectioner’s sugar and orange juice in a bowl until smooth. Pour it over the cake and allow it to cool or set before serving.
    ¾ cup (90 g) confectioner’s sugar ,4 teaspoons fresh orange juice
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Nutrition

Calories: 269kcal | Carbohydrates: 75g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.04g | Sodium: 325mg | Potassium: 95mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 34g | Vitamin A: 72IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 81mg | Iron: 2mg
Nutrition Disclaimer
Course: Brunch, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian

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2 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Amazing recipe. Thank you for this, it was gone in 2 days!