Cranberry Orange Walnut Bread

Sweet, tart and bursting with flavors..is the best way I can describe this bread! This festive loaf makes a perfect gift for a teacher or neighbor, or just the right take-along for a potluck. Wrap it in a brand-new dish towel, in clear cellophane and ribbon, or in butcher paper with white string. It will be delicious no matter what.

Ingredients

Cooking spray (or vegetable oil)

1 1⁄3 cup all-purpose white flour

1 cup whole-wheat flour

1 1⁄2 cup light brown sugar

2 1⁄2 teaspoon baking powder

1⁄4 teaspoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1⁄2 teaspoon salt

1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted and cooled or 1/2 cup canola oil

Grated zest of 2 well-wahed oranges

2 large eggs

1⁄2 cup plain low-fat Greek or regular yogurt or buttermilk

1 (12-ounce) bag cranberries (about 2 1/2 cups) fresh or frozen

1 1⁄2 cup toasted walnuts, coarsely chopped (To toast walnuts, put them on a small baking sheet in a 350-degree oven until they are fragrant and look a shade darker, around 5 minutes)

Turn the oven on and set it to 350 degrees. Spray the loaf pans with cooking spray (or grease them with oil).

Put the flours, sugar, baking powder, ginger, cinnamon, and salt in the large bowl and use the whisk to mix it well.

Put the butter or oil and orange zest in the small bowl and use the mixer or a spoon to combine until well blended. Add the eggs and yogurt and mix well.

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until just moistened, then scrape down the sides of the bowl and gently stir in the cranberries and walnuts.

Pour the batter into the prepared pans 2 8- x 4-inch metal or glass loaf pans
Put the pans in the oven and bake until a toothpick, when you stick it into the loaf, comes out clean with no batter on it, about 45 minutes.

Set the loaves aside to cool in the pans for 5 minutes, then turn the loaves out onto the cooling rack and let them cool completely. Leave at room temperature for up to 3 days.

If your kids are anything like mine you might not have any left to gift :) The good thing is this recipe makes two loaves. I was able to share some with friends!

Until next time... XOXO