Make the holidays delightful with this festive treat!
Share the joy of mealtime or you’re making it even more meaningful. 100% of the Share to Care sponsor fees fund meals for families in need. Learn More
Homemade Goodness for Gift Giving
When the gift-giving season arrives, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. What do people want? When are the best sales? Are we forgetting anyone? While we can’t completely avoid shopping, one way to simplify gift-giving is by giving homemade treats. And for me, these Christmas Cranberry Loaves are always a hit with friends and family. They also make the perfect last-minute surprise. Packed with tangy cranberries and topped with a buttery crumble, they are sure to steal your heart at first bite.
A Simple Recipe with Love
Don’t worry; this recipe is incredibly easy. You only need one bowl to mix the batter. The only step that might trip up new bakers is beating the sugar and eggs. As you’ll see in the recipe, it’s essential to beat this duo until they double in size. This crucial step will ensure your loaves rise perfectly. So don’t skip it!
Golden and Irresistible
Bake the loaves until they just start to turn golden on top and an inserted toothpick comes out clean. If you’re worried about the tops browning too much before the center is done, you can cover them with foil (especially if you’re making one large loaf). Allow the loaves to cool before slicing, even though it’s tempting not to. Trust me, it’s worth the wait! So go ahead and indulge in this sweet holiday treat that we enjoy year after year.
Recipe: Christmas Cranberry Loaf
Makes 2 loaves
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 50 minutes
Share the joy of mealtime or you’re making it even more meaningful. 100% of the Share to Care sponsor fees fund meals for families in need. Learn More
Ingredients
- 2 cups sugar
- 3 eggs, at room temperature
- ¾ cup butter, at room temperature
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- 2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 (8 oz) bag fresh cranberries
Crumble Topping
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup flour
- ⅓ cup butter
Preparation
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and thoroughly grease two loaf pans. Alternatively, you can use one very large loaf pan or a 9-inch cake pan.
- In a large bowl, add the eggs and sugar, and beat for 5 minutes until the mixture doubles in volume (this step is crucial, so don’t skip it!).
- Mix in the butter, vanilla extract, and almond extract until smooth.
- Gently add the flour, baking powder, and salt, and mix until just combined. Fold in the cranberries.
- Transfer the batter to the prepared pans.
- In a small bowl, mix the topping ingredients until they have a sandy texture. Sprinkle the crumble over the loaves.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes for two loaves or 60-70 minutes for one large loaf. Bake until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
- Allow the loaves to cool before slicing.
