When the holiday season arrives, there is frequently a sense of fear. Who wants what, when are the best sales, and did we leave anyone out? While not all buying can be avoided, I’ve made an effort to give homemade gifts wherever feasible, which for me means food. These Christmas Cranberry Loaves are a hit with friends and family alike, and they make the ideal last-minute treat. It’s bound to be love at first bite, with acidic cranberries and a buttery crumble on top.

Overall, this is a fairly simple dish. The batter is mixed in one bowl, and the only step that a novice baker might miss is beating the sugar and eggs. The first stage, as shown in the recipe, is to beat the pair until it doubles in size. This is an important step that will help your loaves rise properly. Don’t miss it!

Bake the loaves until the tops are just beginning to turn brown and a toothpick inserted comes out clean. If you’re worried about your loaves browning too much before the middle is done, cover the top with foil (this step is normally necessary if you’re creating one huge loaf). Allow the loaves to cool before slicing for the nicest texture; I know it’s difficult, but it’s worth it! We hope you appreciate this festive treat as much as we do!