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Cream Cheese Cranberry Bread Recipe

4.7 from 427 reviews

This Cream Cheese Cranberry Bread is a moist, flavorful quick bread combining the richness of cream cheese with tart cranberries. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a holiday treat, this recipe yields tender loaves filled with fresh or frozen cranberries and optional chopped pecans, baked to golden perfection.

Ingredients

Scale

Batter

  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 8 oz package cream cheese, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 4 eggs

Dry Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Add-ins

  • 2 cups cranberries, fresh or frozen
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the bread.
  2. Cream Butter, Cream Cheese, Sugar & Vanilla: In a large mixing bowl, beat together the softened butter, cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
  3. Add Eggs: Add eggs one at a time to the mixture, beating well after each addition to ensure they are fully incorporated.
  4. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.
  5. Mix Dry Ingredients Into Wet Batter: Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet batter and mix until just combined.
  6. Fold in Cranberries and Pecans: Gently fold in the cranberries and chopped pecans, being careful not to overmix.
  7. Prepare Pans and Pour Batter: Grease two 9×5 inch loaf pans. Pour the batter evenly into the pans. Alternatively, you can use four mini loaf pans.
  8. Bake the Bread: Bake in preheated oven for 45-60 minutes if using two large loaf pans, or about 40 minutes if using four mini loaf pans. Test for doneness by inserting a toothpick; it should come out clean.
  9. Cool: Allow the bread to cool in the pans for about 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

  • This recipe can be baked in one loaf pan for about 90 minutes; however, using two loaf pans helps ensure the bread bakes through evenly.
  • Frozen cranberries can be used if fresh are not available; do not thaw before folding into the batter.
  • Chopped pecans are optional but add a nice crunch and flavor.
  • Check doneness by inserting a toothpick in the center; if it comes out with moist crumbs, the bread is done.
  • Allow bread to cool completely before slicing to prevent crumbling.

Keywords: Cream Cheese Cranberry Bread, Cranberry Bread, Quick Bread, Holiday Bread, Cranberry Loaf, Cream Cheese Bread