White Chocolate Glazed Cranberry Eggnog Bread: Your Ultimate Christmas Baking Staple
Transform your holiday season with this incredibly moist, flavorful, and show-stopping Cranberry Eggnog Bread, elegantly finished with a luscious white chocolate glaze. This festive quick bread isn’t just a recipe; it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser and a beloved Christmas tradition in the making. Prepare to impress everyone who takes a bite!
Why This Cranberry Eggnog Bread is a Holiday Must-Bake
If you’re looking to introduce just one new recipe into your holiday baking repertoire this season, let this be it. This Cranberry Eggnog Bread is more than just a quick bread; it’s a festive experience, a recipe I personally perfected years ago, and one that has earned its permanent spot on our Christmas table every single year.
Its undeniable deliciousness means you won’t be able to resist a second slice – or even a third! Baking with eggnog is a cherished holiday tradition for many, and it brings a unique richness and warmth to baked goods. While eggnog itself can be a polarizing festive drink – you either adore it or actively avoid it – its flavor profile undergoes a magical transformation when incorporated into baking. In this bread, the eggnog contributes to an incredibly moist crumb and a subtle, spiced sweetness that beautifully complements the tart cranberries and bright orange zest.
Even if you’re typically an “eggnog hater,” I guarantee you will fall in love with this holiday bread. The distinct taste of eggnog mellows and blends perfectly with other ingredients, creating a harmonious flavor that is wonderfully festive without being overwhelmingly “eggnog-y.” Drizzled with a silky white chocolate glaze, this bread becomes an irresistible delight that has converted many skeptics into loyal fans. It’s the kind of recipe that makes people ask for the secret, and you’ll love sharing this delightful tradition.
Essential Ingredients & Helpful Notes for Perfect Bread
Crafting this delicious Cranberry Eggnog Bread requires a few simple ingredients, most of which you likely already have in your pantry during the holiday season. Here’s what you’ll need, along with a few useful notes to ensure your baking success:
- Olive Oil: Provides a wonderfully moist texture. Feel free to substitute with any neutral-flavored cooking oil like vegetable oil or canola oil.
- Brown Sugar: Adds a deep, caramel-like sweetness to the bread. Don’t forget to reserve some for sprinkling on top before baking, which creates a delightful crunchy crust.
- Eggs: Essential for structure and richness, binding all the ingredients together.
- Eggnog: The star liquid ingredient! I’ve successfully tested this recipe using both traditional dairy eggnog and non-dairy alternatives. Both yield fantastic results, so choose your preference.
- Baking Soda: Our leavening agent, ensuring a perfectly risen and tender loaf.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances all the flavors in the bread.
- All-Purpose Flour: The foundation of our bread. Measure it correctly for the best texture.
- Fresh Cranberries: These are crucial for that vibrant, tart burst of flavor and beautiful festive color. I highly recommend using fresh over frozen cranberries, as frozen ones can release too much water and make the batter watery, affecting the bread’s consistency.
- Vanilla Extract: A touch of warmth and classic sweetness that complements the eggnog.
- Orange Zest: Absolutely essential! This ingredient brightens the entire flavor profile and adds a fresh, aromatic note that truly elevates the bread. Don’t skip it!
- White Chocolate Chips: Used for the irresistible glaze. You’ll melt these down to create a smooth, pourable topping that sets into a delightful crunch when chilled.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Cranberry Eggnog Bread
Creating this festive Cranberry Eggnog Bread is surprisingly simple, making it a perfect project for any holiday baker, regardless of experience. Follow these straightforward steps to achieve a perfectly moist and flavorful loaf:
Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, combine the olive oil, rich brown sugar, eggs, fragrant vanilla extract, bright orange zest, and creamy eggnog. Beat these wet ingredients together until they are well combined and smooth, creating the flavorful base of your bread.
Step 2: In a separate, medium-sized bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: salt, baking soda, and all-purpose flour. This ensures even distribution of the leavening agent throughout the bread.
Step 3: Gradually add the whisked dry mixture to the wet ingredients. Beat until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to a tough bread. A few lumps are perfectly fine.
Step 4: Gently fold in the fresh cranberries using a rubber spatula. Distribute them evenly throughout the batter to ensure every slice gets a burst of tart fruitiness.
Step 5: Prepare your loaf pan by lightly greasing it with cooking spray or butter and flour. Carefully pour the cranberry eggnog batter into the prepared pan, ensuring an even distribution.
Step 6: For an extra touch of flavor and a beautiful golden-brown crust, sprinkle the top of the batter with additional brown sugar. You can also garnish with a few extra fresh cranberries for a visually appealing finish.
Step 7: Bake the Cranberry Eggnog Bread in a preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius) for 55-60 minutes. To check for doneness, insert a toothpick into the center of the loaf; it should come out clean. Once baked, carefully remove the bread from the oven. Allow it to cool in the pan for about 5-10 minutes before gently transferring it to a wire cooling rack to cool completely for another 15-20 minutes. This allows the bread to set properly and prevents it from becoming soggy.
While the bread cools, prepare your delightful white chocolate glaze. Melt the white chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl, heating in 20-second intervals and stirring thoroughly after each interval until smooth and creamy. Be very careful not to overheat or burn the chocolate. Alternatively, you can use the double boiler method for a more controlled melt. Once melted, generously drizzle the smooth white chocolate over the cooled cranberry eggnog bread. For a beautiful finish, consider placing the glazed bread in the refrigerator for a short while until the chocolate hardens, creating a lovely crunchy topping. This not only looks stunning but also adds a fantastic textural contrast to the soft bread.
Joy’s Tip: Serving & Storage Secrets
One of my favorite ways to enjoy this bread is served chilled. While it’s certainly delicious warm straight from the oven, the cold temperature allows the white chocolate glaze to harden into a wonderfully crunchy topping that contrasts beautifully with the soft, moist interior. This textural element truly elevates the experience!
To store, wrap the cooled bread tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and keep it in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh and delicious for up to 3 days. For longer storage, you can freeze individual slices or the whole loaf (unglazed or lightly glazed) for up to 2-3 months. Thaw at room temperature or gently warm before serving, and add a fresh drizzle of white chocolate if needed.
The Magic of Cranberries in Holiday Baking
After perfecting my Cranberry Cream Cheese Muffins, I became utterly obsessed with the delightful experience of baking with fresh cranberries, and for good reason! Their vibrant red hue immediately brings a festive cheer, but it’s their bold, tart flavor that truly sets them apart in holiday recipes. When baked into this eggnog bread, those huge pops of flavor cut through the richness, providing a refreshing contrast that makes each bite incredibly exciting. They don’t just add flavor; they add an essential brightness and a beautiful visual appeal that screams “holiday!”
Cranberries are a quintessential winter fruit, and their natural tartness pairs exceptionally well with the warm, spiced notes of eggnog and the creamy sweetness of white chocolate. The burst of cranberry in every bite prevents the bread from being overly sweet, creating a perfectly balanced profile that will delight your palate.
More Delightful Cranberry Recipes for Your Holiday Table
If you love the festive taste of cranberries as much as I do, here are some other fantastic recipes to add to your holiday baking list:
- Cranberry Blueberry Crisp
- White Chocolate Cranberry Pecan Cookies
- 3 Ingredient Cranberry Sauce
- Cranberry Cream Cheese Muffins
- Cranberry Apple Crisp
- Healthy Cranberry Orange Muffins
This Cranberry Eggnog Bread has truly become an irreplaceable Christmas staple in our home, a tradition we eagerly anticipate baking every single year. It’s perfect for a cozy Christmas morning breakfast, an impressive addition to your holiday brunch spread, or a delightful dessert to share after a festive meal. Its beautiful presentation also makes it an ideal homemade gift for loved ones or a standout treat to bring to any Christmas party.
Rest assured, all you eggnog skeptics, I promise this recipe will win you over! Every single person who has tried this bread has absolutely raved about it. The eggnog doesn’t dominate but rather infuses a subtle richness, so even those who aren’t usually crazy about the drink will genuinely adore this bread. It’s consistently moist, incredibly tender, and bursting with bright, festive flavors.
Recipe Tip: The Secret Power of Orange Zest
Seriously, orange zest is an absolute MUST in this recipe! It provides a bright, aromatic counterpoint to the rich eggnog and tart cranberries, lifting all the flavors and infusing a wonderful holiday essence. Don’t be tempted to skip this step – the difference it makes is truly remarkable, adding a layer of complexity and freshness that can’t be achieved otherwise.
This bread is a delightful blend of textures and flavors – from the moist, spiced loaf to the tart bursts of cranberry and the sweet, firm white chocolate glaze. It’s so yummy, you truly won’t stop at just one slice!
It’s a showstopper recipe that is not only gorgeous to look at, with its festive colors and elegant glaze, but also surprisingly easy to prepare. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or just starting out, you’ll find joy in making and sharing this extraordinary holiday treat. Give it a try this Christmas, and watch it become your new favorite tradition!
Cranberry Eggnog Bread
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Ingredients
- 1/3 cup olive oil , or vegetable oil
- 1 cup brown sugar, plus more for topping
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup eggnog
- 1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup fresh cranberries
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons orange zest
- 1/2 cup white chocolate chips, melted
Instructions
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In a large bowl, cream together the oil, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, orange zest, and eggnog.
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In a separate bowl, whisk together the salt, baking soda and flour.
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Add the dry mixture to the wet, beating well until combined.
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Fold in the fresh cranberries.
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Grease a loaf pan with cooking spray and pour in the batter.
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Sprinkle the top of the batter with additional brown sugar and garnish with a few more fresh cranberries.
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Bake the cranberry eggnog bread at 350 degrees for 55-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
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Allow the bread to cool for 5-10 minutes, then remove from it from the pan and place it onto a cooling rack to cool for 15-20 minutes.
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Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave in 20 second intervals, stirring until smooth (be careful not to burn). You could also do this with the double boiler method.
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Drizzle the melted white chocolate over the cranberry bread. Place it in the refrigerator until the chocolate is hardened
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Store leftovers in the fridge and enjoy within 3 days.
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