Go Back
Sliced cream cheese cranberry loaf on a wooden cutting board

Cream Cheese Cranberry Loaf

Cream Cheese Cranberry Loaf is a delicious treat that combines the richness of cream cheese and tart cranberries, ideal for breakfast or dessert.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes
Servings: 10 slices
Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 250
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
  • 1 tbsp flour for tossing cranberries
Optional Sweet Glaze
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 to 2 tbsp milk or orange juice

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat oven to 350F (175C). Grease and lightly flour a 9x5-inch loaf pan.
  2. In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
  3. In a large bowl, beat softened butter and cream cheese until smooth and fluffy. Add sugar and mix until light and creamy.
  4. Beat in eggs one at a time. Stir in vanilla extract.
  5. Add dry ingredients in three additions, alternating with milk. Mix gently until just combined. Do not overmix.
  6. Toss cranberries with 1 tablespoon flour and fold them into the batter.
Baking
  1. Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top.
  2. Bake for 55 to 65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  3. Let the loaf cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Glazing
  1. For the optional glaze, whisk powdered sugar with milk or orange juice and drizzle over the cooled loaf. Let set before slicing.

Notes

Make sure all your ingredients are at room temperature for easier mixing. Don’t overmix the batter; mix until just combined for a lighter loaf. If using frozen cranberries, do not thaw them before adding them to the batter to prevent excess moisture. Feel free to adjust the amount of sugar based on your sweetness preference. For nut lovers, add walnuts or pecans for extra crunch. Substitute cranberries with blueberries or chopped apples for different flavors.