Christmas Cranberry Loaf

 

The holiday gift-giving season can be a source of stress, but homemade gifts are a heartfelt solution. This Christmas Cranberry Loaf is a beloved favorite, perfect for sharing with friends and family. Bursting with tart cranberries and crowned with a buttery crumble topping, it’s a delicious treat that spreads holiday cheer with every bite.

Ingredients

For the Loaf:

• ¾ cup (1½ sticks) butter, at room temperature

• 2 cups granulated sugar

• 3 large eggs, at room temperature

• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

• ½ teaspoon almond extract

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• ½ teaspoon salt

• 1 (8 oz) bag fresh cranberries

For the Crumble Topping:

• ¼ cup all-purpose flour

• ¼ cup packed brown sugar

• ⅓ cup butter, softened

Instructions

1. Prepare the Pans and Oven:

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

• Generously grease two 8x4-inch loaf pans (or one 9x5-inch loaf pan for a larger loaf).

2. Make the Crumble Topping:

• In a small bowl, combine the ¼ cup flour and ¼ cup brown sugar.

• Add the ⅓ cup of softened butter and use a fork or your fingers to mix until the mixture is crumbly and resembles coarse sand. Set aside.

3. Make the Loaf Batter:

• In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the sugar and eggs together on medium-high speed for about 5 minutes. The mixture should become pale, thick, and nearly double in volume.

• Add the ¾ cup of softened butter, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Mix until smooth and well combined.

• In a separate bowl, whisk together the 2 cups of flour, baking powder, and salt.

• Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients using a spatula, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.

• Gently fold the fresh cranberries into the batter.

4. Assemble and Bake:

• Divide the batter evenly between the two prepared loaf pans (or pour all into the single larger pan).

• Sprinkle the crumble topping evenly over the batter.

• Bake for 45-50 minutes for two loaves, or 60-70 minutes for one large loaf. The loaf is done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

• Allow the loaves to cool in their pans for about 15 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Gifting Tip: Once completely cool, wrap the loaf in parchment paper and then plastic wrap or cellophane for a beautiful, ready-to-gift presentation.