Cranberry Bread with Cream Cheese Swirl has all the flavors of Christmas in one sweet, rich, easy to make bread. Tart cranberry, almond and sweet cream cheese filling. Delicious!
We love baking around the holidays, whether it be bread, Christmas desserts, or Christmas cookies. Try any of our baked Christmas treats with a rich cup of hot cocoa or this citrusy holiday wassail.
Cranberry Bread with Cream Cheese Swirl
I love everything about this Cranberry Bread with Cream Cheese Swirl. Every bite tastes like Christmas, and I’m not talking about fruitcake! I am not a big bread fan (I know, I know… what food blogger isn’t in love with bread?) so telling you that I am in love with this bread is saying something. I took a bite of this bread, and then another and I pretty much was half way through the loaf before I had to call people to come over and take the rest from me before I ate it all. Believe me, I really could have eaten every. last. bite.
Easy Sweet Bread Recipe
This sweet cranberry bread recipe is super easy to put together! It’s a recipe adapted from a Pillsbury recipe I saw years ago and loved. This kind of bread doesn’t require any kneading, no yeast, no waiting for it to rise, none of that. Cranberry bread has a soft texture, similar to muffins, or a sweet cake. Just mix the ingredients together and bake! That’s it. The beautiful color and texture make this an easy recipe to bake up when you have company coming, or as a gift.
Cranberry Bread As A Gift
This bread is so pretty and makes for the perfect gift around Christmastime. Make a whole loaf, or bake into mini loaves and take to neighbors and friends for Christmas. Just wrap it tightly, add a bow and you have a gorgeous gift that everyone will love!
Tips for Perfect Cranberry Bread with Cream Cheese Swirl
- This recipe is easy but you need to take a bit of time when assembling the ingredients so it doesn’t look like a mixed up mess. Part of the deliciousness of this bread is its presentation.
- Once the batter is mixed, gently fold in the cranberries and almonds. Don’t over mix!
- Work in layers. Spread half of the cranberry bread batter in the bottom of a loaf pan, then spread the cream cheese mixture, then top with another layer of the bread batter.
- Use a knife to get perfect cream cheese swirls in the bread.
- Once it bakes, you can’t really see the cream cheese swirl but trust me, it’s there! The swirl melts into the batter and helps keep a moist, light texture that tastes so yummy!
- Store this bread in the refrigerator, tightly wrapped. It’ll stay good for up to a week.
More Delicious Sweet Bread Recipes
If you like this recipe you’ll love these others!
- Pumpkin Bread (made three ways!)
- Zucchini Bread
- Sweet Coconut Bread
- Chocolate Banana Bread
- Homemade Banana Bread
- Easy Strawberry Cinnamon Twists
- Best Homemade Cinnamon Rolls
How to make Cranberry Bread with Cream Cheese Swirl
Ingredients
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- 1 egg
- 2 C. all-purpose flour
- 1 C. sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 3/4 c. apple juice
- 1/4 c. butter melted
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp. almond extract
- 1 egg beaten
- 2 c. coarsely chopped fresh cranberries
- sliced almonds optional, to taste
Instructions
- Heat oven to 325 degrees. Grease bottom only of 9x5 bread loaf pan with shortening; lightly flour. In small bowl, beat cream cheese until light and fluffy. Add 1 egg; blend well. Set aside.
- In large bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir in apple juice, butter, vanilla extract, almond extract and beaten egg until well blended. Fold in cranberries and nuts. Spoon half of batter into pan. Spoon cream cheese mixture evenly over batter. Top with remaining batter and swirl batter with a knife a few times (to swirl the cream cheese through the batter). Sprinkle almonds over the top (optional).
- Bake 65 to 75 minutes or until top springs back when touched lightly in center. Cool 15 minutes; remove from pan. Cool completely, about 1 hour. Wrap tightly and store in refrigerator.
Nutrition
Gina says
Hi there! Can I use dried cranberries for this recipe? TIA!
Favorite Family Recipes says
Fresh cranberries introduce liquid into the batter, so switching them for dried might make your bread dry. Maybe add a few tablespoons of milk or water to the batter to counteract that? Let me know how it goes if you try it!
Vicky says
This recipe is excellent! I have a question about the cream cheese filling. The recipe states sweet cream cheese swirl.
The filling does not call for any sweetener. Was an ingredient left out?
Favorite Family Recipes says
The sugar from the cake batter sweetens the cream cheese!
Vicky says
Thank you for the response. I really appreciate it.
This recipe is way too good! Once I start eating it I can’t stop.
I made several for my friends and
now I’m constantly asked when I will be making more.
Thank you for your kindness in posting this amazing recipe 😊.
Michelle says
This is SO good…very moist and a perfect blend of sweet and tart. I make mini loaves and share so that I don’t eat it all. My current favorite!!!
Sara says
Make this today and it was an instant family hit. I doubled the recipes and used my homemade cranberry sauce (leftover from thanksgiving) instead of the chopped cranberries. I cooked it in my Bundt pan. Finished it with a powdered sugar glaze with a hint of almond extract. It turned out perfect, moist and delicious!
Sara says
5 stars!
Toni Dash says
Such a delicious bread recipe! My family really enjoyed this!
Beth says
My husband and daughter are going to love this recipe! I’m so excited to give this a try!
wilhelmina says
This bread has the best flavor! I love using cranberries this time of year and the cream cheese swirl takes this bread up a notch. YUM!
Kate says
This sounds amazing! Love the idea of a festive Cranberry loaf, but the cream cheese makes this next-level! Thanks for a great recipe.
Alice | SkinnySpatula says
Pinning this recipe as I’d really like a loaf of this for Christmas!
Kylie says
Perfect for this time of year! Baked it today to get into the festive spirit!
Dannii says
We always make a big loaf of this to have on Christmas morning. Perfect with champagne.
Julia says
I love how the cranberries pops the color in the bread! I am saving this recipe to try it this weekend! It look so delicious!
Melanie says
How long do you cook the mini loafs? mine are 5 23/32 X 3 5/16 X1 7/8 in
Favorite Family Recipes says
I would reduce the oven temp by 25 degrees. Then start by baking for 25 minutes, and check the middle with a toothpick until it comes out clean. Hope this helps!
Jan says
Thanks for the delicious recipe! Can I freeze the cooked loaves?
Favorite Family Recipes says
I haven’t tried freezing them before – but I don’t see why not!
Janet Williamson says
Can I use leftover cranberry’s and sauce in this recipe?
Favorite Family Recipes says
We haven’t used leftover cranberry sauce in this bread before. It will probably add too much moisture to the bread. Thank you for asking!
Mary says
Have you ever used orange juice in place of apple juice?
Favorite Family Recipes says
I haven’t, but it sounds yummy! Let us know how it goes if you do try it!
Margaret says
Do you have a cooking time when I make smaller loaves?, this will make an excellent gift for family and friends!
Favorite Family Recipes says
I haven’t tried it in smaller loaves, but if I was trying it I’d probably cook it at a little lower temperature and just keep checking it until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the middle. Hope this helps!
Karen C says
I double the recipe and it makes 7 mini loaves. I bake for 55 mins but check at 50 mins and every 5 mins after until a toothpick comes out clean. Excellent little loaves! This is my 3rd year making this. In the oven baking right this moment. Mmmm….
Nancy says
This sounds really good. Need to p/u some sliced almonds and I plan to make it for Thanksgiving. Thanks!
Favorite Family Recipes says
Hope you like it! 😀
Jessenia says
I was wondering if you can use frozen cranberrys??
Erica says
That should probably be ok– maybe rinse them first just to get the ice off of them?
Karen says
I’m confused by your directions. You say to add an egg to the cream cheese and blend. Then in the next step, you say to add the wet ingredients (including a beaten egg) to the dry ingredients. However, you only list one egg in the ingredients list. Does this recipe call for one egg or two?
Erica says
There are two eggs in the recipe, they are listed separately because one is beaten. One egg is near the top of the ingredient list and the other is near the bottom.
Llora Beth says
Can you use dried Cranberries?
Erica says
It won’t be the same with dried, but you can if you would like!
Sue K says
I would soak the dried cranberries in water for 15 minutesto a half hour to put moisture back in
Erica says
great idea!
Irina Rebello says
Looks amazing. Has anyone tried w gluten free flour?
Susanne Leasure says
I use dried cranberries and it was delicious !
KK says
What can you use instead of apple juice
Jenn@eatcakefordinner says
This really does sound fabulous. I could totally eat the whole loaf too.
Ali says
Beautiful! I will have to stock back up on cranberries and try this out. Thanks for the recipe 🙂