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    Cranberry Soda Bread

    Oct 26, 2022 · 35 Comments

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    Enjoy Irish Soda Bread recipes? If so, you are in for a treat! My Cranberry Soda Bread is a festive twist on the original and is perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, holiday entertaining or simply with tea.

    Cranberry Soda Bread recipe comes together quick, is moist and sweet and makes a festive offering Christmas bread Thanksgiving bread

    Years ago around the holidays, I thought it would be appropriate to adapt my Irish Soda Bread into something a little more festive.

    So I decided to see what it would be like if I added fresh cranberries and lime zest in instead of my typical raisins. 

    Not only did this work BUT bay is it gorgeous AND delicious! So festive and everyone who has had this cranberry soda bread is smitten with it!

    Think food gift, Christmas breakfast or brunch or just because. Yum!!

    My recipe for Cranberry Soda Bread is moist, and sweet. Nothing dry about it. The cranberries give a nice burst of tart flavor.

    I literally stood in my kitchen, all alone and took bite after bite from the huge piece I was enjoying. I was making happy food noises as I took bites, lol! 

    Can you see the moistness of the "cake-like bread here compared a typical Irish Soda Bread?? If you enjoy cranberry scones, this is more like a giant cranberry scone recipe in both taste and texture.

    Cranberry Soda Bread recipe. Holiday bread. Christmas soda bread. Thanksgiving bread.

    All alone in my house I was like, mmmmm, omnmnmn, mmrrrffffhh, ummmppfhhh. When I realized what I was doing, I started cracking up!

    This bread is best warm in my opinion, like typical Irish Soda Bread. I mean it is good any time BUT hot-out-of-the-oven...you will be making happy-food-noises too, lol!

    You can plop the dough in your pan and bake it where you go. That is often what I choose to do. Or you can bake it at home and tent it lightly with foil (if it is still warm) as it travels. Wrap from the bottom, leaving the foil opened allowing steam to escape from the top.

    You can let it cool, plop it on a plate and use one of those see through gift bags to package it up complete with bow and recipe - an awesome holiday food gift idea (or any day)!

    Ingredients

    • cranberries
    • flour
    • sugar 
    • baking powder
    • salt
    • baking soda
    • butter 
    • lime (optional)
    • buttermilk
    • heavy cream
    • egg
    • coarse sugar for dusting
    Cranberry Soda Bread Recipe is a perfect Christmas recipe and Thanksgiving recipe. Festive Cranberry bread recipe for the holidays.

    Tips for making soda bread

    • Soda bread is very forgiving, and you can make it in one bowl. Preheat your oven, gather your ingredients and your bowl and you will have it in the oven in well under 10 minutes.
    • Parchment paper is key whether you make it in a cast iron skillet (mine is over 100 years old) or in an oven safe pan or even a cake pan. You want to use one of those thing to help it hold its shape. Whichever you choose line it with parchment paper, its fine if it sticks out of the pan. I am never without these parchment paper sheets, they are the best! 
    • Always make sure when baking your baking soda is fresh (not more than a month old if opened).
    • U.S. buttermilk does not have the same fat content as Irish, so adding in heavy cream is key.
    • Cranberries are tart, I recommend halving the berries and tossing with ¼ cup of the sugar first while you make the batter. (if you have time, allow them to sit that way for an 15-30 minutes or so), then fold them into your batter. 
    • Always let the faeries out! Or the devil...whichever theory you ascribe to!! After your batter is in the parchment paper lined pan, take a clean sharp knife and make a cross or X on top. 
    • Top the batter with coarse decorator sugar for an extra sweetness, and sparkling crust. The best! You can find them at most craft stores in the baking section or on Amazon. Love this sugar to top my sugar cookies with as well.
    • Bake on top rack set to the middle area (no rack above).
    • Bread is done when a wooden skewer or toothpick comes out mostly clean, not wet.
    • You can bake this as one large loaf or make two smaller ones (it really makes a big loaf!). Smaller loaves will take less time overall but typically still at least 40 minutes.
    • Lime zest completely optional, adds festive flecks of color for Christmas.

    Here is the link to my original Irish Soda Bread I would put my Irish Soda Bread up against anyone's.

    The TODAY show featured it and once the food editor of the Washington Post, who had a slice at an event we were at together called it "the prettiest Irish Soda Bread he ever saw" I am still smiling!! 

    Best Irish soda bread recipe. Sweet soda bread. Sweet Irish soda bread with raisins.

    I don't know about you, however as soon as I see that first bag of cranberries in the grocery store in the fall, I buy two right away and keep on buying until the season is over. You can make so many things with fresh cranberries. 

    Recipes using cranberries you may enjoy

    • Check out My Cranberry Goat Cheese Log recipe, so easy and so festive!
    • If you cranberries them as much as I do, you must make this Nantucket Pie aka Cranberry Pie (which is not a pie at all). This is just SO pretty and perfect for the holiday season, plus its so easy to make. Everyone always asks for the recipe. 
    Cranberry Pie aka Nantucket Pie is a memorable (and easy) Christmas or Thanksgiving dessert!
    • Also check out my Cranberry Lime Shortbread Cookies
    • Orange Cranberry Scones
    • Kale Salad with Goat Cheese & Cranberries
    • Raisin Scones are delicious all year round and quicker to bake.

    Cast Iron Pan - A must for every home cook. Lodge Pans are great and affordable, less than $20 for this pre-seasoned pan, which can last a lifetime!

    Parchment Paper- the one thing I can not be without, ever! This is pre-cut, which is just so easy & efficient!

    This post was originally published December, 2016. It was updated 10/26/22 with new information. This post contains affiliate links which mean if you click on one and purchase my suggested product, I get a payment of a few cents. Nutritional information calculated by a WordPress plugin.

    Cranberry Soda Bread is pretty and festive. It is sweet and moist and perfect for gift giving, breakfast or brunch!

    Cranberry Soda Bread

    Colleen Kennedy
    Cranberry Soda Bread is perfect recipe for Thanksgiving or Christmas breakfast, brunch or visiting. A twist on the classic Irish Soda Bread. Similar to cranberry scones in taste and texture.
    4.84 from 6 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 1 hour hr
    Total Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins
    Course Bread, Breakfast, christmas bread
    Cuisine American, Irish,
    Servings 10 servings
    Calories 490 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 cups of fresh or frozen cranberries
    • 4 ½ cups of flour
    • 1 ½ cups sugar divided
    • 2 ½ teaspoon baking powder
    • Dash of salt
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • ½ cup butter softened
    • 2 TBS lime zest (optional for a festive look)
    • 2 cups buttermilk
    • ½ cup heavy cream
    • 1 large egg
    • Coarse sugar for dusting

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees
    • To make 1 large loaf, use a 10-12 inch cast iron pan or ovenproof skillet with 2-inch or better sides or to make 2 loaves use 2 smaller cast iron skillets, ovenproof pans or 2 cake pans.
    • Cut a big enough circle of parchment paper out to line both the bottom and the sides of your pan(s).
    • Toss cranberries with ¼ cup of the sugar and set aside.
    • Whisk the flour, 1 ¼ cups of the sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in a large bowl until blended.
    • Add in the butter lime zest, buttermilk, heavy cream, egg and the cranberries that were tossed with the sugar to the dry ingredients and stir gently until incorporated – do not over mix.
    • Scrape mixture into pan(s) then "let the faeries out" by making a shallow "x" with a sharp knife in the center of the dough. Sprinkle coarse decorator sugar or regular sugar overtop your loaf/loaves (it makes for a nice crust) and bake for one hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes or until toothpick or skewer inserted comes out dry. For smaller loaves, check after 45 minutes, however, most likely it will take an hour to bake.
    • Once a wooden skewer inserted comes out not “wet” it is done. It can be moist crumbs...just not batter. Cool a bit then flip out of the pan(s), peel off the parchment paper and allow the bread to cool on a cooling rack, that is if you don’t just dig right in like my family and I do!

    Notes

    Tip: For sweeter berries, slice the cranberries in half and toss them with a little sugar before adding to the batter.
    For a sweeter loaf overall add in an additional 2-4 TBS sugar to the dough.
    Since this recipe yields a large loaf, often when I am making this for someone, I set aside 25-30% of the batter to make my family a small one….which we eat almost instantly! Depending on it’s size I start checking the smaller loaf after 35 minutes or so – the large one usually still takes an hour.
    This is wonderful for days after you make it as long as you have had it wrapped up tight. just pop a slice in the microwave for 20-30 seconds to warm it through and smear it with butter.
    If you intend to travel with a hot loaf, wrap in foil however, leave the top open to prevent the crust from getting moist from the heat being trapped.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 10gCalories: 490kcalCarbohydrates: 79gProtein: 8gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 62mgSodium: 375mgPotassium: 157mgFiber: 2gSugar: 33gVitamin A: 574IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 146mgIron: 3mg
    Keyword Christmas Soda Bread,, Cranberry Soda Bread
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Stephanie says

      December 12, 2016 at 3:35 pm

      Oh wow. This looks amazing!! I need this in my life asap!

      Reply
    2. The Food Hunter says

      December 12, 2016 at 9:23 pm

      Oh I will need to give these cranberries a try.

      Reply
      • Colleen says

        December 13, 2016 at 12:59 am

        I was super impressed! They will now be my go-to!

        Reply
    3. Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says

      December 13, 2016 at 12:50 am

      What a great idea, love this Christmas-themed soda bread!

      Reply
      • Colleen says

        December 13, 2016 at 1:00 am

        Thanks! It's perfect for this time of year!

        Reply
    4. Jennifer Farley says

      December 13, 2016 at 2:37 am

      Um, what a BRILLIANT way to use cranberries! I love this!

      Reply
    5. Ashley @ Wishes & Dishes says

      December 13, 2016 at 2:44 am

      I've never seen cranberry soda bread before! I love this!

      Reply
      • Marilyn says

        October 09, 2020 at 7:00 pm

        I didn’t have buttermilk, used diluted whole-milk canned milk with a little white vinegar and let sit a half hour, then subbed full-strength, whole-milk canned milk instead of cream. Wonderfully rich and moist with frozen cranberries, not too sweet thank goodness. Served warm with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream as a snack. Freezing other half. Love it!

        Reply
        • Colleen says

          October 15, 2020 at 3:55 pm

          Glad to hear it worked out with your substitution!

          Reply
    6. Alyssa | EverydayMaven says

      December 13, 2016 at 6:29 am

      That is stunning!!

      Reply
    7. Heather | All Roads Lead to the Kitchen says

      December 13, 2016 at 1:28 pm

      This looks incredible - so tall and packed with deliciousness. Love the Christmas twist on soda bread!

      Reply
    8. Erin @ Texanerin Baking says

      December 13, 2016 at 5:10 pm

      I'm all for straight out of the oven! Especially when it comes to this bread.

      Reply
    9. Angie | Big Bear's Wife says

      December 13, 2016 at 5:58 pm

      Good luck in the contest!!! This bread! ahh I love the cranberries spotted throughout!

      Reply
    10. LeticiaT says

      December 07, 2018 at 10:04 pm

      4 stars
      The sugar says divided, where does the 2nd part get added? Also when are the cranberries added? I must have missed it. Thanks

      Reply
      • Cesira says

        December 11, 2022 at 4:36 pm

        5 stars
        Hi Letitia,
        From the 1 1/2 cups of sugar, you remove 1/4 cup sugar to toss the cranberries in. Merry Christmas!
        Cesira

        Reply
        • Colleen says

          December 15, 2022 at 7:39 pm

          TY!

          Reply
    11. Marge says

      November 19, 2019 at 1:48 pm

      The recipe calls for 2 cups of cranberries in the beginning, the 2 more cups about halfway through the recipe. Is that correct?

      Reply
      • Colleen says

        November 19, 2019 at 3:54 pm

        Just 2 cups total. Thanks for pointing that out Marge!

        Reply
    12. Wanda says

      November 13, 2020 at 6:32 pm

      5 stars
      We do love soda bread and making it with cranberries is so clever! Can't wait to try it!

      Reply
    13. Jersey Girl Cooks says

      November 14, 2020 at 6:36 pm

      5 stars
      Cranberries make this Irish soda bread even better! Yum!

      Reply
    14. Clare says

      December 30, 2020 at 8:33 pm

      My house is ensconced with the fragrance of warm soda bread! 10 more minutes in the oven ... can’t wait to slice in to it!

      Reply
      • Colleen says

        January 06, 2021 at 9:12 pm

        I hope you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    15. larry says

      December 12, 2021 at 1:04 am

      I love this recipe. It is makes a woderful bread this time of year with the cranberries. I added some choped walnuts. Oh so good! Thanks for your great recipe. I will make more with fresh cranberries in season.

      Reply
      • Colleen says

        December 15, 2021 at 7:59 pm

        So happy you enjoyed it! Merry Christmas!

        Reply
    16. Amelia Susco says

      March 11, 2022 at 11:48 pm

      Can you use dried cranberries?

      Reply
      • Colleen says

        March 16, 2022 at 8:17 pm

        I have not tried this with dried, it should be fine just different since those are not tart. Do not add the 1/4 cup of sugar to toss with the berries...since they are sweetened.

        Reply
    17. Ayko says

      November 12, 2022 at 2:14 am

      5 stars
      Made this tonight, yes, get a cast iron skillet and a loaf pan, this is a big dough...also, I added orange instead of lime zest. It came out gorgeous ! very moist, with just the rignt amount of sweetness. Thank you for this ♥

      Reply
      • Colleen says

        November 12, 2022 at 10:06 pm

        Fantastic to hear Ayko! I have never tried it in a cast iron pan, love hearing that worked!

        Reply
    18. Angela Barton says

      November 14, 2022 at 7:56 am

      Found this recipe via Tik Tok and I'm dying to try this out, yum!! I would love to make smaller versions of this loaf in mini disposable pans for family and friends this christmas. Do you think this could work? Also is it 2 cups of halved cranberries or 2 cups whole and then cut the cranberries?

      Reply
      • Colleen says

        November 14, 2022 at 8:38 pm

        2 cups halved cranberries. That should work fine. Add the coarse sugar to the top to make it extra pretty!

        Reply
        • Angela Barton says

          November 15, 2022 at 1:22 pm

          Thank you! 🙂

          Reply
    19. Marti Goss says

      November 14, 2022 at 2:23 pm

      5 stars
      I cant believe how much this recipe made! enough for 2 large loaves! and its moist! Just yummy!!

      Reply
      • Colleen says

        November 14, 2022 at 8:28 pm

        So glad you love it Marti!!

        Reply
    20. Dorann says

      November 15, 2022 at 6:55 pm

      I couldn’t wait to try this yummy recipe. I do have a question for you, though after I mixed everything together, I noticed that there were still chunks of butter in my batter. I made sure the butter was very soft and I mixed it very well. Is it possible next time I could use melted butter? And I will get the same results.?

      Reply
      • Colleen says

        November 16, 2022 at 4:33 pm

        You can totally use melted butter as well.

        Reply

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