Description
Whipping up this cream cheese cranberry loaf brings pure comfort straight from your kitchen to the table. Tangy cranberries and rich cream cheese create a delightful quick bread perfect for sharing with friends during cozy afternoons.
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 1 cup fresh cranberries
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup granulated sugar
Supporting Ingredients:
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup milk
Seasoning and Leavening Agents:
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 350°F and coat a 9×5-inch loaf pan with butter or nonstick spray.
- Whisk 2 cups flour, 1 tsp baking powder, and ½ tsp salt together in a medium bowl until no lumps remain.
- Use an electric mixer to blend 8 oz cream cheese, ½ cup butter, and 1 cup sugar until silky smooth, about 3 minutes.
- Crack 2 eggs into the cream cheese mixture, blending thoroughly after each egg.
- Drizzle ¼ cup milk and 1 tsp vanilla extract into the batter, stirring gently.
- Fold the flour mixture into the wet ingredients, stirring until just combined – stop mixing when no dry streaks appear.
- Carefully tumble 1 cup fresh cranberries into the batter, using light strokes to distribute evenly.
- Transfer the entire batter into the prepared loaf pan, smoothing the top with a spatula.
- Slide the pan into the 350°F oven and bake for 55-60 minutes, checking doneness with a toothpick.
- Remove the pan and let the loaf rest for 10 minutes inside.
- Slide the loaf onto a wire rack and allow it to cool completely before cutting.
- Slice the loaf and serve at your preferred temperature.
Notes
- Fold cranberries gently to prevent tough spots in your loaf and keep them evenly distributed throughout the batter.
- Room temperature cream cheese and butter help create a smoother, more consistent mixing process and prevent lumpy texture.
- Let the loaf cool completely before slicing to ensure clean cuts and help the crumb set properly.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute the all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend to maintain the soft, tender texture of the loaf.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes - 1 hour
- Category: Breads
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 293 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 193 mg
- Fat: 19 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 1.2 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 57 mg