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Sweet, chewy, and studded with dried cranberries and walnuts, this Dutch Oven Cranberry Walnut Bread and comes together with minimal effort to deliver maximum flavor.
After trying Panera's Cranberry Walnut Bread years ago, I have been recreating the bread at home with spectacular results! Using my Dutch Oven Bread recipe as a starting point and adding in dried cranberries, and chopped walnuts, this cranberry walnut bread is chewy and yeasty, and downright FABULOUS!
Kristen's Tips For Perfect Results
While this Cranberry Walnut Dutch Oven Bread is one of the easiest bread recipes to make and suitable for beginners, I do have a few helpful tips to keep in mind.
- Select the right baking vessel. There is no substitution to using a heavy-bottomed Dutch oven pan fitted with a lid for this recipe. It creates the perfect environment for cooking the bread and if well-seasoned/cared for, the bread will not stick to your pan.
- Plan ahead. While this cranberry walnut bread is one of the easiest ways to prepare bread at home, it does need to proof for at least 12 hours before baking.
- Check your yeast. Use regular dry active yeast (not quick rise yeast) and be sure that your yeast has not expired. If it is not fresh, your bread will not proof and will be dense and flat when baked.
How to Make Cranberry Walnut Bread
The following tips are provided to help you achieve perfect results. You will find the ingredient quantities and detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Combine. In a large mixing bowl toss the yeast, flour, salt, cranberries, and walnuts together. Add in the water and mix together with a wooden spoon or spatula until the dough comes together. Expect the dough to be sticky and wetter than dough of traditional homemade whole wheat bread.
- Proof Dough. Once the dough is combined, cover with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap and let sit at room temperature for 12-18 hours. The yeast will activate and the bread will get yeasty and bubbly.
- Shape. Turn the risen bread dough out onto parchment paper LIGHTLY dusted with flour. With floured hands, quickly shape the dough into a circle. Let the dough rest on the parchment paper while the oven preheats.
- Preheat the Dutch Oven. Place the Dutch oven into the oven BEFORE turning the oven on to preheat. It is crucial to let the pan preheat as well--this will give this cranberry walnut bread it's chewy, crispy exterior.
- Transfer the Dough to Preheated Pan. Once the pan is preheated, carefully place the prepared dough into the pan and cover with the lid. *If using parchment paper, be sure it is safe for baking up to 450 degrees F. Otherwise, simply slide right into the pan--no need to grease.
- Bake. Bake the covered for 30 minutes and then uncover to continue baking for 20 minutes, which will help to crisp up the exterior of the bread.
- Cool and Slice. Once baked, let the bread cool slightly in the pan and then turn out and finish cooling on a cooling rack. Allow bread to cool for 30 minutes before slicing.
Serving Suggestions
There is nothing better than a slice of this Cranberry Walnut Bread when it is warm from the oven, but this bread can be used in so many ways.
- Create a sweet and savory sandwich by using the cranberry walnut bread as a base for a ham or turkey apple sandwich.
- Make a delicious grilled cheese sandwich, by layering slices of sharp cheddar cheese or leftover baked brie or whipped brie (that has been chilled and sliced) in between two slices of buttered cranberry walnut bread and then pan-frying until the bread is toasted and the cheese is melted.
- Spread Cranberry Walnut Bread with leftover cranberry orange sauce from your holiday for a little slice of heaven.
- Use chunks of this Cranberry Bread to create a sweet and savory Ham and Egg Breakfast Casserole or for a delicious spin on French Toast Casserole.
Storage Instructions
- At Room Temperature: Once the Cranberry Walnut bread is fully cooled, store the bread in an airtight sealed container or bag, at room temperature for 3-4 days.
- In the Freezer: To freeze Cranberry Walnut Bread, allow the bread to cool fully after being baked. Wrap well in plastic wrap, then a layer of foil, and then place in a freezer-safe bag. Store in the freezer for up to 1 month. Defrost at room temperature for 12 hours before serving.
Preventing the Bread from Sticking
If your Dutch oven pan is good-quality, you should have no issue with this dough sticking to the pan. However, some people have reported this issue. To prevent this from happening, use parchment paper or be sure to dust your bread with flour before transferring the bread dough to the pan. I don't recommend greasing the pan, as the oil can burn at the high temperature the bread is baked at.
More Homemade Bread Recipes
- Whole Wheat Cinnamon Raisin Bread
- Homemade Italian Bread
- Honey Whole Wheat Bread
- Whole Wheat Dutch Oven Bread
- Copycat Olive Garden Breadsticks
If you enjoyed this simple recipe for Cranberry Walnut Bread, I would love for you to leave a review and comment below.
Cranberry Walnut Bread
Sweet and tender, studded with dried cranberries and walnuts, this Dutch Oven Cranberry Walnut Bread is one of the easiest ways to make homemade bread. No kneading, no proofing--just mix, rise, and bake! It is the perfect base for sandwiches, breakfast casseroles, or just to eat toasted.
Ingredients
- 3 cups white wheat flour, or unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon dry active yeast
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ½ chopped walnuts
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- 1 ½ cups luke warm water
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, mix together flour, yeast, salt, cranberries, and walnuts. Add in water and mix well with a wooden spoon.
- Cover with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel and set in a draft-free spot to rise for 12-18 hours undisturbed.
- After the proofing time has passed, turn the dough out onto parchment paper that has been sprinkled lightly with flour and quickly shape into a circle. It will be sticky, so you may want to flour your hands as well. And try to not overwork the dough--just a rustic circle is all you are going for. Let the dough rest, while the oven preheats.
- Place the dutch oven fitted with its lid in the oven. Preheat to 450℉ (230℃). (Let the pan preheat in the oven.)
- Once the pan is preheated, carefully remove it from the oven and then carefully place the prepared dough into the pan and cover with the lid. If using parchment paper that is safe up to 450℉ (230℃), you can simply pick up the parchment paper and place into the dutch oven. If you don't have parchment paper, just place the bread dough directly to the dutch oven. DO NOT USE wax paper or a silicone baking sheet.
- Bake for 30 minutes covered. Remove the lid and bake for an additional 20 minutes.
- Remove bread from dutch oven and let cool on a wire rack completely before slicing and serving.
Equipment
Notes
Flour: Use all-purpose or whole white wheat flour. To measure the flour, scoop the flour out with a spoon and then place it in a measuring cup--this will ensure you don't use too much flour.
Nuts: Feel free to omit the walnuts from this bread to make it nut-free or swap out walnuts for pecans if desired.
Yeast: Be sure to use regular yeast, not quick-rise yeast, and be sure your yeast is not expired.
Note on Bread Sticking: If your dutch oven pan is good-quality, you should have no issue with this dough sticking to the pan. However, some people have reported this issue. To prevent this from happening, use parchment paper, or be sure to dust your bread with flour before transferring the bread dough to the pan. I don't recommend greasing the pan, as the oil can burn at the high temperature the bread is baked at.sticking to the pan. However, some people have reported this issue. To prevent this from happening, use parchment paper, or be sure to dust your bread with flour before transferring the bread dough to the pan. I don't recommend greasing the pan, as the oil can burn at the high temperature the bread is baked at.
Storage: Once fully cooled, store bread in a sealed container, or bag, at room temperature for up to 3 days. This bread can also be frozen for up to 1 month if wrapped in plastic wrap and then foil and then placed into a freezer-safe bag.
Pan: Anywhere from a 3.5 to a 6-quart dutch oven with a lid will work to bake this bread. I use a 4.5 quart myself.
Baking at a high altitude? Check out these adjustments that you may need to follow.
Nutrition
Calories: 100kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 3gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 219mgPotassium: 32mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gCalcium: 4mgIron: 1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Tried this recipe?Mention @amindfullmom or tag #amindfullmom!
This bread sounds great! Any changes if I want to use a bread maker machine?
Hi Joe! This is one recipe that won't work in the bread machine--the magic happens from the long proofing period and baking at high heat--neither can be achieved in the bread maker. However, if you want to make a cranberry walnut bread in your bread maker, I would use my recipe for Whole Wheat Whole Bread and then add in 1/4 cup each of walnuts and cranberries when the bread maker beeps to add them to to the dough. I hope that helps!
I just popped this Cranberry Walnut bread out of my oven. It is crunchy, delicious and so easy! One question, your recipe calls for 3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (no mention of whole wheat flour). So, I used unbleached white flour. Can I use half whole wheat? If so, are there any changes to the amounts? Thanks again!
Hi Melinda! I use whole white wheat flour for this recipe. I have tried using 100% whole wheat and that overwhelmed the flavor of the cranberries and walnuts. However, you can use a mixture of 100% whole wheat flour and all-purpose flour with success. I would just use half of each.
Any suggestions on how long to let it proof before baking, if I only have rapid rise yeast? Obviously not the 12-18 hours, maybe only a couple hours?
Hi Leah! I have not tried this bread with rapid rise yeast. First, you will need to only use 3/4 teaspoon of yeast. As for the amount of time to rise, I have not tested, so I can not be sure. You will need to wait until doubled and very bubbly.
This looks delicious! Can this be made with fresh cranberries?
Hi Cat! I have not tried making this recipe with fresh cranberries, nor am I sure would I recommend trying. Fresh cranberries have moisture that may interfere with the rising/proofing of the bread and they are fairly tart.
Do not use fresh cranberries! It leaves a distinct bitter sour gone bad taste with fresh ones! Found out the hard way! The rest of the bread is wonderful.
Can this be made in a loaf pan?
Hi Kathy! Unfortunately this type of bread cannot be. It needs to be in a thick dutch oven with tight fitting lid to cook properly. Sorry.
Just wondering if u know the caloric count for this recipe. I'm losing weight and love bread. Want to make this today. Thanks
Dawn, I do not know the cakoric count per slice of bread, however remember these are all all wholesome ingredients, healthy fats and full of fiber. One Alice of this bread will fuel you with healthy carbs that can be burned efficiently by your body as well. Enjoy. Eat clean and watch portions and then eat what you love.
Hi Kristen - Thanks for sharing this great bread with the Let's Get Real party. This will be my featured post at this week's party.
Gaye
Thank you so much! I really appreciate the feature>