I just stepped into my kitchen, turned on the light and was greeted by a massive amount of dirty dishes… not to mention a random stick of butter I left out this morning.
I walked across the way to the dining room table to find all of the half addressed holiday cards I have yet to send.
I shouldn’t even mention the atrocious pile of laundry that I’ve managed to ignore for weeks.
But all is well. All is juuuuust fine. Why? Because I’ve got my little nativity scene up. My Christmas lights are twinkling. I’ve hung silver snowflakes from my windows with scotch tape, and there are cranberry smells coming out of my kitchen. At this rate, I can ignore the household atrocities well into the new year.
Tart, fresh cranberries meet honey sweetened cornbread. Throw in some walnuts, throw in a loaf pan or two… you’ve got one lovely, dense, lightly crunchy quick bread. Great for breakfast. Super for gift giving. Wrap it up. Freeze it up. Butter it up. This bread is simple and comfortable.
Thank you Anna for the gorgeous Wisconsin honey! You’re a dream!
Honey Cranberry Cornmeal Quick Bread
recipe adapted from Epicurious.com
makes one large 9x5x3 loaf or two smaller loaves
{printthis]
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup white whole wheat flour (if you don’t have whole wheat flour, just use all-purpose flour)
1 cup medium or fine ground cornmeal (I used white cornmeal)
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup honey (or pure maple syrup if you have it on hand)
1 1/4 cup buttermilk
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup chopped walnuts (reserving a few whole walnut halves for decorating the top)
1 heaping cup to 1 1/2 cups fresh cranberries
Arrange a rack in the center of the oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour one 9x5x3-inch loaf pan, or two slightly smaller loaf pans. I think mine are 8x4x3-inches and I made two smaller loaves. Set aside the greased and floured loaf pans.
In a large bowl, whisk together both flours, cornmeal, sugar, salt and baking powder.
In a smaller bowl whisk together honey, eggs, buttermilk, melted butter and vanilla extract.
Add the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture and stir just until blended.
Fold in the cranberries and walnuts.
Divide batter between two smaller loaf pans or into one large loaf pan. Spread evenly. Add the whole walnut halves and place in preheated oven. For smaller loaves bake for 40-50 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center of the loaf comes of clean. For the larger loaf, bake for 60-70 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean.
Cool loaves in pan on a wire rack for 20 minutes. Invert onto a plate or board. Serve warm with butter or wrap and freeze for future you.
Dominique
Would it be possible for me to use dried cranberries instead of fresh?
joythebaker
Sure!
Elizabeth
I used spelt flour instead of whole wheat and a combination of white and yellow cornmeal because that’s what I had a on hand. I found the cranberries in the back of my freezer and I don’t know how long they’ve been there, so this was a low-stakes swap for me. It turned out really well! I had to extend my baking time but that seemed to be the only variance from the final product. My friends /loved/ this bread!
Lise
Somehow, I managed not to know about your blog until yesterday (don’t remember how I ended up here). I saw your quick breads and made this one today. Oh, my goodness!!! Yum! I’ll be giving this one for gifts this year. Is it horrible that I and three very small children polished off a whole loaf for snack? Can’t wait to try more of your recipes. Thank you so much!
Vanja Kragulj
I just made this today and it’s fantastic. It has a perfect amount of sweetness and tang. Thank you for the recipe. I will definitely make it again during cranberry season :)
Stefanie Peteren
Hi Joy,
I just made a summer (and muffin) version of this using blackberries instead of cranberries – yum!
Maggie
I took this to my mom’s baker friend today and he suggest subbing the cranberries for strawberries in the summer time. yum.
Tammy Fox
I’ve never commented but found your blog through Pioneer Woman, I think. Anyway, what a great blog. I made the cranberry bread this am and it is delicious. I added a little almond extract for fun. Thanks for inspiring me. Just hoping I don’t eat both loaves before the kids come home from school!!
sara
This looks amazing! Yum yum yum. :)
Amy B
Just made this! It was delish but I didn’t think it was sweet enough…so I boiled the leftover cranberries in a water/sugar mixture for a quick cranberry sauce and spread it on top! Very yummy and festive :)
rose
loved this. next time i will use a finer cornmeal (mine feels a tad gritty), but the flavors are lovely. i used about 1.5 cups of cranberries and the tart flavor is absolutely great!
thanks again joy – another winner.
essie
i found some leftover frozen cranberries, so made this & it was soooooooooooooooooooooooooo delish!!! i cut the sugar out completely, felt the honey was just enough sweetness.. plus never realized how cornmeal is perfect paired with honey, the combo is just divine! thanks for sharing, can’t wait to make it again!
Stephen Sharp
We can never get enough cranberries in our diet!
Ariel
Joy, this recipe is amazing! I made muffins out of them instead because I find them easier to eat, and they were delicious! The boy took one bite and was like oh, yeah, keep this recipe. I used up the last of my holiday cranberry stash, though :( Thanks for posting!!!
Amy P.
Hi Joy,
I bookmarked this recipe in December and finally got around to making it this week. Thank you so much for posting it because it is so delicious!
~Amy
Heather Jones
Made this, gifted this, loved this.
Ellen
I ate a slice broiled with butter, along with bacon and eggs over easy………..oh my, what a super new fave. And none of my family will eat it, so it is all mine!!
Amy
mmmm..yum. And I second the publishing on the Kindle comment, that would be AWESOME!
Irismes
Sounds great, though in the Caribbean its pretty hard to come across Cranberrys, any suggestions on substitutes?
meredith
i made this last night in 4 of the small,well mini loaf pans. this cake is absolutely fabulous.it is rich and buttery and rounded out by the wholesome taste of the walnuts and cornmeal.oh and the cranberries are a really nice tart surprise when you happen upon one! thanks so much for this fantastic recipe!
Logan
Looks great! Joy, you should totally publish your blog onto Kindle!
jazbakesonsunday
I just made this bread and it is delicious as a long as your serve it with a little butter and honey. I think the fresh cranberries are wonderful, but they are definitely tart, next time I will probably add 1/2 cup brown sugar to the recipe, I feel like that would give it a little more sweetness and help make it more moist. Otherwise it’s a great recipe! Oh and be sure and set your kitchen timer to the earliest cooking time and check it frequently because if cornbread is overcooked it is not moist and is rather crumbly.
LadyPreacher
As per my moniker, I made this tonight for church tomorrow. I was glad for the excuse to finally try this recipe. Instead of adding more sugar, I pulsed the cranberries in the food processor first so there’s a more even balance between the sweet and tart.
Jason Sandeman
This dish would be perfect with maple syrup. I am not stating that just because I am Canadian, and presently live in an area of Quebec that has the best maple syrup anywhere. No ma’am, I am not.
marla {Family Fresh Cooking}
This is my first time visiting your site. It is so beautiful and the recipes look delicious. This cranberry honey cake looks dangerous to have around……hard to resist and fabulous!!
Joanne Choi
these look yummy and delicious…hmmm…maybe I turn them into muffins this morning.
Terresa Wellborn
This puts the “yum” into the season for sure.
PS: Cool center cut piece of wood as a tivet/platter. Love your quirky original artsy food photos!
Anna
You’re welcome for the honey! How exciting to see my little jar in a photo on your blog.
I can’t wait to try this recipe. It will be a lovely snack when I’m sending out my ‘new year’s’ greeting cards post-Christmas!
Irina @ PastryPal
What a beaut of a holiday bread! Have a fantastic Christmas and New Year!
Evie
So festive!
Dani H
Congratulations on your nomination for best food blog at Apartment Therapy’s “The Homies 2009.” Anyone who would like to vote for you can use this link:
http://homies.apartmenttherapy.com/2009/category/home-cooking
redmenace
Sounds like my house. Lovely bread!
pity
so appropiate for this time of the year, it really looks delicious, have a lovely xmas, cheers from london
Michelle
Sounds just like my apartment! Except I’m baking sugar cookies :) That bread would be perfect for a holiday breakfast!
Emily
Question–when I mix up the wet ingredients, should it be lumpy? Mine was. 49 more minutes in the oven to go…
Rachael@SpachetheSpatula
Ah! I love all baked goods that include cornmeal- I just adore the texture :]
I also love fresh cranberries. I will certainly be making this upon returning home after Christmas!
Vicki
God bless you for mentioning that you atill have unanswered Christmas cards – I was chastising myself over our basket of unfinished mail – and the recipe sounds (and lokks!) great! Thank you and happy holidays!
Sook
I love this kind of bread. How delightful and perfect for Christmas time.
deva
it looked so good i was inspired to turn my own trick with cranberries! thanks ;)
The Duo Dishes
The cornmeal must add a nice texture. Sounds so different!
Dani
I always love to get a new quick bread recipe. I usually start baking and freezing mini breads in assorted shapes right after Thanksgiving. Wrap in coloured cellophane and tie with a ribbon; put two or three in a little basket, and you’ll bring a holiday smile to anyone. :D I’ve never thought to make a quick bread with cornmeal, so thank you, Joy, for another fabulous recipe. Warmest wishes for a very, merry Christmas!
Jan Connair
This looks awesome. Wish I had some cranberries on hand. The best I have is Craisins right now–think that would work?
I’ll bet you’d like my Eggnog Quick Bread. It actually uses eggnog in the batter, but doesn’t really end up tasting like eggnog, per se. More like a really yummy poundcake.
Recipe here: http://janconnair.wordpress.com/2008/12/02/now-dont-wrinkle-your-nose/
Terry Krongold
Hi, Joy! Happy Holidays! This recipe sounds great.
I see you’ve added a “print this recipe” function to your posts. I cannot find that functionality anywhere on Google. Any chance you’d share that info? Many thanks!
Terry
Lisa
Definitely on the menu for Christmas breakfast! But I’m a sucker for anything cranberry. Love your perfectly photographed pics, too.
Ellie Rae
Oh, this looks marvelous!
P.S. I’m a very recent follower of yours, and just made a recipe of yours for the first time! I made the carrot cake pancakes for my brother’s birthday breakfast (breakfast at 2:30 pm? Yes, yes indeed :)) and he LOVED them! Perhaps I should be leaving this comment on the carrot cake post itself, but oh my, I have never had a better pancake. Ever. They were perfect because his favorite cake has always been a big, layered carrot cake– pancakes are just brilliant! Thank you, can’t wait to try the rest of the pancake recipes… you have got me hooked!
Shauna from Piece of Cake
Ha! I feel you sister. The first paragraph of my last post reads much the same. My plan for coping involves stuffing my pie hole with, well, pie. And cookies. And muffins. And anything else that isn’t nailed down. Healthy?
Happy holidays, Joy, and thanks for being a great source of inspiration and entertainment this year!
aimee Guest
Your post came at just the right moment. My husband is demanding cranberry recipes and we love cornmeal. I baked this loaf and wrote about it on my blog, http://www.abundantfoodinthemaking.com/. Beautiful pictures and a terrific recipe.
Deanna
I think this will be on our Christmas day breakfast list. Looks delicious!
jenn
i was going to make your cinnamon roll muffins for christmas brunch but not i want to make this….. guess it’s going to have to be BOTH! :)
Estela @ Weekly Bite
Love the honey and cranberry combo!
Elizabeth
I just found your blog and it’s beautiful and delicious! I’m putting it in my bookmarks to stay :)
Linds
Hey Joy! Merry Christmas!
I have a question. I can’t find fresh cranberries here in Israel. Is there a good fresh fruit substitution?
Thank you!
Linds
heather
I just want to say, you are such a delight! In an imaginary world, I can imagine us getting on splendidly… and how could you not with someone who bakes like you do. Anyways, I thought ’tis the holiday season and a time to spread Christmas cheer. And right on with the Wisconsin honey — couldn’t get along without it!
Cheers and Happy Holidays to you and yours,
*Heather*
Kelly
Oh thank you thank you! This solves two problems: 1) what to do with some cranberries that are waiting patiently for me and 2) what to bring to Christmas!
Casey
Looks yummy! Unfortunately, I have to get through my pile of dishes before I can start baking anything!
beth
I think you might have accidentally walked through MY kitchen this morning. That whole first part of your post today is all too familiar. :) And this recipe sounds fabulous!
CookiePie
Lovely! And I just so happen to have extra cranberries and about a metric ton of cornmeal in the freezer. Bookmarking!
Kara
Crap I don’t have time to make this before we head out of town but I just have to find a way… it sounds amazing! (and I love the second and third pictures – with those fresh cranberries glistening)
Leo
Me encanta tu Blog.Rica esta receta.Un beso grande
Erika from The Pastry Chef At Home
Oh I ignore my househould atrocities all throughout the year!
Your bread looks so moist and beautiful – those cranberries add such a lovely color.
Jennifer
This sounds and LOOKS sooo amazing! Great quick bread for Christmas morning!
Liz
The cornmeal I bet adds nice texture. I plan to try this recipe with the addition of bit of orange zest.
Kristin
Wow, I thought you’d woken up in MY house! This recipe sounds great.
peachkins
bee-yoo-tiful loaf of bread!
linda
oh honey! oh maple syrup! i will just have to try these babies both ways…thanks for this great post. :)
joy, wishing you an awesome 2010 & looking forward to baking with you in the new year!
katherine
this sounds divine and it looks so lovely so it’s perfect for gift giving!
deva
buttermiilk makes everything lovely! this loaf looks very tempting!!
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is
I had no idea you could make a cornmeal quick break. Sounds awesome!
Chaitali
I love the wooden prop you’ve used in these pictures. So pretty!
Jackie
Hey Joy! I heart your blog, it cheers me up and makes me wish I was a dab hand in the kitchen.
Silvia
I love cranberries, they are tasty but not too sticky and sweet!
Thank you for everything Joy!