Ingredients For Your Cranberry Walnut Bread
- All-Purpose Flour. Have a little extra ready to rub on your hands and dust on surfaces.
- Instant Yeast. Make sure you get the right packet.
- Salt. Fine sea salt is preferred.
- Dried Cranberries. Also called Craisins.
- Chopped Walnuts.
- Honey. You may use a vegan honey substitute.
Please note, that the recipe card has more complete instructions. This is intended as an overview.
How To Test If Yeast Is Still Active
- A great way to make sure your yeast is active, is to dissolve ½ teaspoon of sugar into ½ cup of warm water , stir in ½ teaspoon of yeast and allow to sit for 5-10 minutes.
- This is called proofing, after 10 minutes, it should be light and bubbly and smelly yeasty.
- If doesnt do the above, the yeast is gassed and wont do its job.
- I store my yeast in the fridge as I use it all the time, it will last even longer if store in the freezer.
- For more information read this article from King Arthur Baking outlines how to test yeast, baking powder and baking soda.
Your Printable Recipe Card
Below are the detailed instructions with process photos and a video companion to help you with any techniques that are new to you.
If you print the recipe card all the photos will not print. This will help you reduce the clutter on your print out and save you ink and paper.
Friday 2nd of September 2022
Soak the dried berries ahead of time, drain and use the collected water in the recipe.
Wednesday 6th of April 2022
This may be a silly question, but when you add the second half of the nuts and cranberries, do you degas and roll out the dough, or just fold it in with the 4th stretch and fold?
Diane
Thursday 7th of April 2022
Hi Don, So sorry to take so long to answer. I just realized you asked this. Of course it is not a silly question. Here is our answer. If you want to degass the dough that is fine. The crumb will be close and dense if you degass. if that is the crumb you desire just flatten the dough as best you can with your hands and then do the add ins. Most of the gasses will deflate or escape. You may have more gasses form in the dough as it ferments in the long cold rise. You can further deflate the dough at the bench rest and final rise. I hope this helps. Happy Baking!
Missy
Tuesday 22nd of March 2022
I have made your sourdough sandwich bread every week for 2 months, it’s our favorite! I can’t wait to make it into this artisan loaf. I plan to use dried figs and walnuts and my mouth is salivating already!
Diane
Wednesday 23rd of March 2022
Vicki
Diane
Diane
Also Check: Nyx Butter Gloss Vanilla Cream Pie
Crusty Cranberry Nut No Knead Bread
Yeasted bread has never been easier. This simple mixing method produces the most beautiful and crusty cranberry nut no knead bread with practically zero hands-on work!
This recipe is brought to you in partnership with Red Star Yeast.
Heres a recipe youre going to memorize and Im not saying that because its so simple. Im saying it because its an unbelievably and awesomely delicious homemade bread with a major crust, a soft and chewy texture, and plenty of irresistible nuts and dried cranberries to keep each piece interesting and unique. You wont be able to stop making it. You wont be able to stop eating it. And, as such, youll memorize the recipe in no time. Thats a guarantee.
Ive made this no knead bread 4x within 2 weeks and Im not even a bread person. But it MADE ME A BREAD PERSON. Not sure if thats a bad thing?
Homemade bread and easy are terms that dont typically go hand-in-hand. When you think of homemade bread, you get pretty freaked out, right? Seems like a terrible idea, majorly complicated, and a general waste of time. This recipe, however, will completely change that universal thought. I realize thats a pretty big promise, but Im confident your perception of homemade bread will switch from too fancy schmancy to wow, I can do this.
This bread, like my homemade artisan bread and olive bread, has all the bells and whistles and takes zero effort to make. If youre feeling lazy this recipe is for you.
What Advantage Does The Development Of The Dough Have To The Inclusions
Adding your inclusions at the start of the kneading process allows for the flavor of the inclusions to be spread throughout the dough. Whatever seeds, herbs or fruits you add will be crushed or broken down by your hands while you work the dough. This will allow the oils and flavors to be released which will spread the flavor throughout the dough.
Recommended Reading: How To Make Shepherd’s Pie Easy
How To Make Cranberry Nut Bread
Begin by combining the buttermilk, orange zest, orange juice, melted butter and egg in a small bowl.
Since the recipe calls for only 2/3 cup of buttermilk, you might not want to buy a whole carton. Its easy to make your own by combining regular milk with a bit of lemon juice or vinegar . Whisk well to combine and set aside.
Next, combine the dry ingredients together in a large bowl.
Whisk well.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry.
Stir gently with a rubber spatula until just combined.
Add the halved cranberries and nuts.
Mix again to incorporate.
Scrape the batter into a greased loaf pan.
Bake for about one hour, then cool in the pan on a rack for ten minutes.
Turn the loaf out onto the rack to cool completely.
Slice, serve and enjoy!
No Dutch Oven No Problem
While baking the bread in a dutch oven is key to this breads texture, you can get around it. Instead, place the rounded dough on a parchment paper lined or generously floured baking pan. Score the bread as noted in step 3 below. Preheat the oven. After the oven is preheated, place a shallow metal or cast iron baking pan or skillet on the bottom oven rack. Carefully and quickly pour 3-4 cups of boiling water into it. Place the scored dough/baking pan on a higher rack and quickly shut the oven, trapping the steam inside. The steam helps create a crispier crust. Bake for about 30 minutes, but begin checking at 25 minutes. Gently tap the loaf if it sounds hollow, the bread is done.
Its so easy, youll be silly not to try it. And youll really be missing out!
Step-by-step pictures and additional tips below the recipe.
- Yield:1 loaf 10-12 servings 1x
Keywords: cranberry no knead bread
Gently stir all of the ingredients together:
This will be a super sticky dough. Remember, do NOT be tempted to add more flour. It will stick to your hands. Thats nothing a quick wash cant fix!
Let the dough rise at room temperature. This recipe is very forgiving. Any normal-ish room temperature is fine. Youll know that the dough is finished rising when it has doubled in size and air bubbles have formed on top.
Bake! Eat! Enjoy!
Also Check: Banana Cream Pie Milkshake Sonic
What Is The Best Dutch Oven For Bread Baking
The short answer is whatever dutch oven you own! Truly, I really dont want you to go out and buy one for this purpose.
I personally own a Staub, an investment for sure, but I use it for more than breadbaking!
Like these drool worthy dinners Red Wine Braised Short Ribs, Beer Beef Stew, and Sunday Pot Roast! I have several Lodge pans as well as have heard friends say they love their Amazon Basics pieces and I have an ancient pot my mom gave me that is chipped and perfect for bread baking.
This STAUB 5.75 QT DUTCH OVEN is my favorite. Its great at high heat and perfect for soups, stews, roasts and bread baking!
Cranberry Walnut Bread Recipe With Yeast
Bakery-quality yeast bread got a thousand times better with the addition of cranberries and walnuts. This Cranberry Walnut Bread recipe has a beautiful texture and delicious flavor.
This cranberry walnut loaf is guaranteed to be an instant hit at breakfast or dinner. Just look at how gorgeous it is!
Read Also: Campbell Soup Shepherd’s Pie Recipe
The Original Cranberry Walnut Bread
The original cranberry walnut bread is a so-called quick bread. Much like banana bread or zucchini bread.
Quick bread is a cake-like bread made using chemical leaveners like baking powder and baking soda. This type of leavening gives you a very delicate and fine crumb structure and usually, youd use all-purpose flour or cake flour to help this along.
Some more bread-like versions exist, but they are mostly made with bakers yeast.
My bread in this recipe makes sourdough bread with bourbon-soaked cranberries and toasted walnuts, but with all the tell-tale signs of sourdough bread: crispy crust, soft but a bit chewy crumb, and excellent well-developed taste.
How To Serve Walnut Cranberry Bread
There are a few ways in which you can enjoy this cranberry quick bread. Here are a few suggestions:
- Dust with icing sugar before serving
- Top the bread with a quick glaze made of icing sugar and milk or cream.
- Serve it for breakfast with butter and jam
- Slice it into smaller portions as part of teatime dessert tray
- Toast slices in a dry pan on the stovetop and topped with vanilla ice cream
I hope you give this recipe a try! You wont be disappointed. Enjoy!
You May Like: How Much Is A Mcdonald’s Apple Pie
Equipment Needed To Make No
- Loaf Pan. In the Fall and Winter, when baking bread warms up the house and brings comfort to all, I like to have disposable loaf pans on hand so that I can take a loaf to a friend or neighbor in need of cheer. Mini loaf pans are also perfect for gift giving of this festive bread.
- Parchment Paper. To keep things from sticking and make clean-up a breeze.
Equipment Needed For No
You May Like: Blue Bunny Birthday Cake Ice Cream Sandwich
Do You Need To Soak Inclusions Before Adding Them To Sourdough
Certain seeds will benefit from pre-soaking before being added to a sourdough seeds like chia and flax need to be soaked before hand to allow them the opportunity to break down during the baking process. Dried fruits benefit from pre-soaking but it is not necessary for a successful bake.
The benefits of pre-soaking your dried fruits would include the fruit being softer and presenting a pleasant texture for eating rather than dry, firm and gummy. Pre-soaking the fruit will also give the fruit the opportunity to flavor the bread more fully by allowing the juices to release during the kneading process.
Look at the pretty purple swirls running through the loaf. That is from the soaked walnuts that are included in this loaf, not the cranberries. Surprise!
Lets Make Cranberry Walnut Bread
Okay, so weve gone over why the no knead method works and why youll achieve optimal results using a hot Dutch oven. Now lets bring both concepts together!
Per usual, you can find the specific ingredients and step-by-step instructions for this cranberry walnut bread recipe in the recipe card below, but heres an overview to give you an idea:
Also Check: Best Ice Cream Cake Nyc
Cranberry Walnut Loaf Faqs
Is cranberry yeast bread the same as quick bread?:
No, its not. Quick bread doesnt use yeast. It relies on baking soda, baking powder, or eggs as leavening. Quick breads have a much fluffier interior compared to this denser yeast bread.
Can you use dried cranberries for baking?
Yes! Dried cranberries bake up sweet and delicious. They can be added right to the dough or plumped up ahead of time by letting them soak in warm water for 15 to 20 minutes. Soaking makes them plump and juicy. Another option is to put them in a microwave-safe bowl, cover them with liquid, and microwave them for 30 to 60 seconds. Let them sit for 5 minutes.
Can I use fresh or frozen cranberries instead of dried cranberries?
Yes, you can. I recommend roughly chopping them and then measuring since there is a difference in measurement.
Are dried cranberries and craisins the same thing?
Yes, they are the same. Craisins is a registered trade name by Ocean Spray and cant be used by other manufacturers.
Walnut Cranberry Bread Recipe
This Walnut Cranberry Bread is a classic quick bread thats so easy to make. Bursting with tart cranberries and crunchy walnuts, this festive bread is great for the holidays or just about any time of the year!
I have always adored the combination of cranberries and nuts and this cranberry quick bread recipe is no exception.
It makes an excellent teatime treat or lunchbox snack or you could even wrap up a loaf to give to friends and family over the holidays they will love you for it!
The ease of quick bread is that it doesnt require any kneading or rising time, so the whole thing can be ready in about an hour. Youll use sour milk in this recipe which is like buttermilk and will help to give your bread the rise it needs.
The crumb in this loaf is tender and moist and if walnuts arent your thing, you can easily swap them out for another kind of nut.
Read Also: Key Lime Pie New York Times
Tips & Tricks For This Cranberry Walnut Bread
The Amount Of Walnuts And Berries
As you can see below we loaded this dough with soaked walnuts and cranberries. This is more than the recipe card calls for. We used 2 cups each of cranberries and walnuts which gave a very full loaf with a lot of texture.
The crumb is also degassed. The result is a very moist crumb with small holes, and lots of nuts and cranberries. It is a delicious loaf, but may be difficult to work with.
The loaf below is made with only 1 cup of cranberries and 1 cup of chopped walnuts. We also left the crumb open. The result is a moist but much lighter loaf.
In the recipe card we split the difference. We used about 1 1/2 cups each of the chopped nuts and berries.
Read Also: Baskin Robbins Coupons For Cakes
Why Bake Bread In A Dutch Oven
There is one main reason why its recommended to use a cast iron Dutch oven to bake crusty breads at home: it creates steam!
Yup, its all about steam here. The Dutch oven is like a vessel that allows steam from the moist dough to evenly circulate in a contained space, so that the dough can stay moist longer and rise better. The result? Beautiful crusty bread. Plus, youll also get that beautiful shiny exterior.
Before baking your cranberry nut bread, preheat a Dutch oven in a very hot 450 degree F oven. This way, when you pop the unbaked dough into the Dutch oven, itll be hot and start creating steam immediately.