Description
A sweet and festive loaf swirled with tangy cranberry filling and topped with a light glaze — perfect for holidays and gifting.
Ingredients
For Dough:
- 3 cups flour
- 2 ¼ teaspoons yeast
- ¾ cup warm milk
- ¼ cup sugar
- ¼ cup melted butter
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon salt
For Cranberry Filling:
- 1 cup cranberry sauce or jam
- 2 tablespoons sugar (if needed)
For Glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1–2 tablespoons milk or orange juice
Instructions
- Prepare the dough: In a mixing bowl, combine warm milk, yeast, sugar, egg, melted butter, and salt. Stir until blended. Gradually add flour and knead the mixture until you have a smooth, elastic dough. Cover and let it rise for 1 to 1 ½ hours until it doubles in size.
- Shape the loaf: Roll out the risen dough into a rectangle on a floured surface. Spread the cranberry sauce or jam evenly over the dough. If the cranberry sauce is not sweet enough, sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of sugar before spreading.
- Form the swirl: Carefully roll the dough with the filling into a log. Slice the log lengthwise down the middle to create two long sections, then twist them together, exposing the cranberry swirls, and shape into a loaf form.
- Second rise: Place the twisted loaf into a greased loaf pan. Cover and allow it to rise for about 30 minutes until it puffs up.
- Bake the loaf: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the loaf for 30 to 35 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
- Glaze the loaf: Mix powdered sugar with 1 to 2 tablespoons of milk or orange juice until smooth. Once the loaf has cooled, drizzle the glaze over the top to finish.
Notes
- For extra flavor, add orange zest to the cranberry filling or the glaze.
- Ensure the milk is warm, not hot, when activating the yeast to avoid killing it.
- Let the loaf cool completely before glazing to prevent the glaze from melting too much.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Bread, Holiday
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
