Apple Cranberry Bread with Streusel

This moist Apple Cranberry Bread is filled with tart cranberries and sweet bites of apple, then topped with brown sugar streusel and a bright lemon glaze.

I love sweet bread, especially when it has a crumbly streusel topping. It is called bread instead of cake, so enjoying a slice for breakfast feels perfectly reasonable to me.

This apple cranberry bread recipe has a soft, tender center filled with fruit. The buttery brown sugar streusel adds a little crunch, and the lemon glaze wakes up the tart cranberry flavor. The glaze is optional, but that bright lemon finish is too good for me to skip.

Bake it a day before a holiday breakfast or brunch, enjoy a slice with coffee, or deliver a fresh loaf as a homemade gift. It looks festive without asking you to fuss with a complicated recipe.

Why You Will Love This Apple Cranberry Bread

• Sweet and tart flavor. Firm apples add sweetness while fresh cranberries bring a bright, tart bite.
• Two delicious toppings. Brown sugar streusel adds crunch, and lemon glaze gives the loaf a fresh finish.
• Simple quick bread. There is no yeast, kneading, or rising time.
• Easy to make ahead. Bake the loaf the day before and free your oven for the rest of the meal.
• Perfect for sharing. This pretty loaf makes a welcome holiday breakfast, brunch treat, or homemade gift.

Ingredients and Helpful Tips

The printable recipe card has the exact amounts and complete directions. Here are a few ingredients that make this cranberry apple loaf special.

Apples

Use a firm apple that will hold its shape while the bread bakes. Honeycrisp is my choice when I want a sweeter apple. Granny Smith adds a tart flavor that contrasts nicely with the sweet bread. Another firm apple that you have available will also work. Chop it into 1/4-inch pieces so you get small bites of apple throughout the loaf.

Cranberries

Fresh or frozen cranberries work in this recipe. Frozen cranberries are actually easy to chop. You can add them while they are still frozen or after they thaw. If they have collected ice crystals in the freezer, thaw them and pat them dry before adding them to the batter.

Flour

The recipe uses all-purpose flour and a small amount of whole-wheat flour. Whole-wheat flour adds a light nutty flavor and a little structure. You can replace it with the same amount of all-purpose flour if that is what you keep in your pantry.

Buttermilk

Buttermilk helps make the bread tender and works with the baking soda to help the loaf rise.

Lemon

Fresh lemon juice and zest brighten the batter. A little more lemon juice goes into the glaze, where its flavor contrasts beautifully with the cranberries.

Streusel

Keep the butter cold when making the brown sugar streusel. Cold butter helps the topping stay crumbly instead of melting into a paste before the bread reaches the oven.

Can I Use Dried Cranberries

I have not tested this recipe with dried cranberries. Fresh or frozen cranberries are my recommendation because they provide the tart flavor and moisture this bread was designed to have.

How to Make Apple Cranberry Bread

The batter comes together quickly, so prepare the pan and heat the oven before you begin mixing.

1. Prepare the pan. Heat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan. For easier removal, line it with parchment paper and lightly spray the paper with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Combine the dry ingredients. Whisk the all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl.
3. Mix the wet ingredients. In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs. Add the cooled melted butter, buttermilk, lemon juice, and lemon zest.
4. Make the batter. Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients. Stir only until the flour is almost combined. Fold in the chopped apple and cranberries without overmixing.
5. Fill the pan. Spread the batter evenly in the prepared loaf pan.
6. Make the streusel. Combine the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Cut in the cold butter with two forks or a pastry cutter until the mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle it evenly over the batter.
7. Bake. Bake for about 50 minutes, turning the pan halfway through. The bread is done when the topping is lightly browned and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs.
8. Cool and glaze. Cool the loaf completely in the pan on a wire rack. Remove it from the pan, stir together the glaze ingredients, and drizzle the glaze over the cooled bread.

Tips for the Best Cranberry Apple Bread

• Do not overmix the batter. Stir only until the wet and dry ingredients come together. Too much mixing can make quick bread heavy.
• Chop the apples into 1/4-inch pieces. Small pieces spread through the loaf and bake until tender.
• Keep the streusel butter cold. Use two forks or a pastry cutter so the warmth of your hands does not soften it.
• Check the center of the loaf. A lightly browned topping can look finished before the middle is ready. The toothpick should return with a few crumbs, not wet batter.
• Cool the bread before adding the glaze. Glaze will melt into a warm loaf instead of forming a pretty drizzle on top.
• Add 1/2 cup of chopped nuts to the bread if you like. You can also sprinkle a few into the streusel.

Serving and Holiday Gifting

Serve this apple cranberry bread for breakfast or brunch with coffee or tea. It also makes a festive snack while everyone is waiting for the holiday meal. Because it can be baked a day ahead, it is one less thing competing for oven space on a busy morning.

For gifting, I deliver the loaf fresh and lightly covered. That protects the bread while helping the streusel keep more of its crunch. Add the lemon glaze after the bread is completely cool so it stays pretty for sharing.

How to Store Apple Cranberry Bread

Keep the bread lightly covered at room temperature. This is a moist loaf, and sealing it airtight can soften the streusel and make the top soggy.

If your kitchen is warm or humid, refrigerate the bread. Refrigeration is the safer choice in those conditions, but it will soften some of the crunch in the topping.

Can You Freeze Cranberry Apple Bread

Yes. I have frozen this bread after adding the glaze. Let it thaw before serving. You can add a fresh drizzle of glaze after it thaws if you want to brighten the appearance, but it is not necessary. The lemon flavor will still be there.

To warm a slice, heat it briefly in the microwave. That is the reheating method I have tested for this bread.

More Cranberry Recipes

If you love baking with cranberries, try my Cranberry Orange Muffins for another breakfast or brunch treat. The Cranberry Walnut Bread is a soft yeast loaf, while my Cranberry Walnut Sourdough has a chewy artisan-style crumb.

For dessert, the Cranberry Upside-Down Cake shows off fresh or frozen berries beautifully. You may also like Baked Cranberry Vanilla Donuts or my make-ahead Frozen Cranberry Salad for the holidays.

Did you make this Apple Cranberry Bread? Please leave a rating and a comment below. I love hearing what you served it with and whether your family reached for breakfast seconds!

Did you enjoy this recipe? Don’t forget to pin it for later and follow me on Pinterest for more delicious recipes like this one!

Welcome to #CranberryWeek, hosted by Caroline’s Cooking and A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures. We’ll be sharing cranberry-inspired creations all week long in celebration of national cranberry day. Search #CranberryWeek to keep up to date and follow the #CranberryWeek Pinterest board for more cranberry inspiration. But first, see all the other cranberry recipes being shared today:

• Cranberry-Apple Pancakes from The Chef Next Door
• Cranberry Apple Sauce from Cooking With Carlee
• Cranberry Bliss Bars from Palatable Pastime
• Cranberry Cheesecake Brownies by The Bitter Side of Sweet
• Cranberry Cheesecake Dream Bars from Life Currents
• Cranberry Streusel Bread from Hostess At Heart
• Pumpkin Dump Cake with Cranberries from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Roasted Cranberry Bourbon Crush from Take Two Tapas
• Savory Cranberry and Cheese Tart from Caroline’s Cooking
• Tuna Salad with Cranberries from Sew You Think You Can Cook

THIS POST HAS BEEN UPGRADED FROM 11/25/16 TO IMPROVE THE READER EXPERIENCE.