Cranberry pumpkin nut bread is a delightful blend of traditional pumpkin bread flavors and the tartness of dried cranberries, all complemented by crunchy nuts. This recipe is perfect for fall festivities or as a holiday treat.
#### Ingredients:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 500g bag fresh cranberries, rinsed and drained
- 1 can (15 ounces) pumpkin puree
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 cups all-purpose flour, divided
- 1 cup chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans)
#### Instructions:
1. **Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan:**
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray.
2. **Mix Dry Ingredients:**
- In a large bowl, combine 2 cups of the all-purpose flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
- Mix well to ensure there are no clumps.
3. **Cream Butter and Sugar:**
- In another large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
4. **Add Wet Ingredients:**
- Gradually add in the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Stir in the vanilla extract and pumpkin puree until fully combined.
5. **Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients:**
- Add half of the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and mix gently.
- Add the rest of the dry ingredients and mix just until combined.
- Fold in the drained cranberries and chopped nuts carefully to avoid breaking them up too much.
6. **Bake the Bread:**
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan.
- Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
7. **Cool and Serve:**
- Allow the bread to cool completely on the rack before slicing and serving.
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature, or wrap tightly in plastic wrap and freeze for later use.
#### Tips:
- For extra flavor, you can add 1 teaspoon of ground ginger or allspice to the dry ingredients mixture.
- To make this recipe more SEO-friendly, include keywords like "cranberry pumpkin bread," "holiday baking recipes," and "pumpkin nut bread."
By following these detailed steps, you'll be able to create a delicious cranberry pumpkin nut bread that's sure to become a favorite among family and friends!