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Cranberry Walnut Bread

A delightful blend of tart cranberries and crunchy walnuts, this homemade bread offers a comforting taste of nostalgia and warmth, perfect for any occasion.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 18 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 12 slices
Course: Baking, Breakfast, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 160

Ingredients
  

Dry Ingredients
  • 3 cups 3 cups all-purpose flour Look for high-protein bread flour for a chewier texture.
  • 1 teaspoon 1 teaspoon kosher salt Avoid table salt as it can be too salty.
  • 1 teaspoon 1 teaspoon rapid-rise yeast Active dry yeast can be used as a substitute.
Wet Ingredients
  • 1.5 cups 1 1/2 cups water, room temperature Ensure it's not too hot to avoid killing the yeast.
  • 2 tablespoons 2 tablespoons honey Maple syrup can be used as a substitute.
Mix-ins
  • 1 cup 1 cup dried cranberries Use sweetened cranberries for a delightful taste.
  • 0.5 cup 1/2 cup walnuts, roughly chopped Toasted walnuts provide extra depth.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine 3 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon of kosher salt, and 1 teaspoon of rapid-rise yeast. Whisk together until blended.
  2. Add 1 1/2 cups of room temperature water and 2 tablespoons of honey into the bowl. Mix until all ingredients come together into a shaggy dough.
  3. Fold in 1 cup of dried cranberries and 1/2 cup of roughly chopped walnuts, ensuring they are evenly distributed through the dough.
  4. Transfer the dough to a clean, greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let it rise at room temperature for 18 hours.
Baking
  1. Place the dough onto a floured piece of parchment paper. Gently stretch and fold it over itself to form a round ball. Lightly spray with nonstick cooking spray, cover with plastic wrap and let it rest for an additional 30 minutes.
  2. Place your Dutch oven into a cold oven, then preheat the oven to 450°F.
  3. Score the top of the dough with an 'X' to allow steam to escape during baking.
  4. Transfer the dough on parchment paper into the hot Dutch oven. Cover with the lid and bake for 30 minutes, then remove the lid and bake for an additional 15 minutes or until golden brown.
  5. Remove the loaf from the Dutch oven and let it cool on a wire rack for about 30 minutes before slicing and serving.

Notes

This bread can be sliced better when slightly cooled rather than hot out of the oven.