Apple, Cranberry and Pistachio bread

I can’t think of a more festive holiday loaf than this quick bread. With apples, cranberries, and pistachios (and an apple-cinnamon glaze), this bread is the epitome of Christmas in both presentation and taste.

Apple, Cranberry & Pistachio Bread | Tutti Dolci

Nearly fall-apart tender, the bread keeps well and the flavors only intensify with age. Whether you wrap up a loaf as a gift or enjoy it with your family for breakfast, it’s sure to become a new seasonal favorite.

Apple, Cranberry & Pistachio Bread | Tutti Dolci
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Apple, Cranberry and Pistachio Bread

  • Author: Laura Kasavan
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 52 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 12 minutes
  • Yield: 1 loaf, 12 slices
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Bake
  • Cuisine: American
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Description

Moist and delicious apple, cranberry, and pistachio bread topped with spiced glaze, dried cranberries, and chopped pistachios. Festive and perfect for the holidays!


Ingredients

Bread

  • 1 1/2 cups flour
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/3 cup apple juice
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/4 cup low-fat buttermilk
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/3 cup pistachios, chopped
  • 1 cup peeled and grated apple

Glaze

  • 6 Tbsp powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1/8 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 Tbsp apple juice

Topping

  • 1 Tbsp dried cranberries
  • 1 Tbsp chopped pistachios

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F and spray a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan with nonstick spray.
  2. Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the center of the mixture. Combine apple juice, oil, buttermilk, egg, and vanilla in a medium bowl; add to flour mixture and stir just until combined. Fold in cranberries, pistachios, and apple. Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth top with an offset spatula.
  3. Bake for 50 to 52 minutes, rotating pan halfway through. If bread is browning too quickly, cover with foil. Bread is done when golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs attached. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes; remove bread from pan and cool completely on wire rack.
  4. For the glaze, whisk together powdered sugar, cinnamon, and apple juice in a small bowl. Set rack with bread over a piece of wax paper and drizzle with glaze; top with cranberries and pistachios and let set before serving.
  5. Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days.

Keywords: Apple, Cranberry, Pistachio, Quick Bread

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39 Comments

    1. Hi Karen, this is a quick bread recipe so it could be baked as muffins, but would not work so well as bars. If you are looking for a bar with similar flavors, try my cranberry pecan crumb bars and swap the pecans with pistachios. Hope that helps!

  1. Again, so pretty. You’ve loaded this bread with some of my favorite things. The greens and reds are lovely and I especially like the cinnamon in the glaze.

  2. Absolutely gorgeous and stunning looking bread. Pistachios are my favorite nut and I never use them in cooking/baking (partly b/c of how expensive they are) but man, the color contrast on this bread looks amazing!

  3. What a festive and delicious looking bread this is! Pistachios are one of my favorite things to eat! 🙂

  4. Ahh so pretty, Laura! It’s visually appealing (what a nice holiday recipe!) and I’m very sure it tastes amazing too!

  5. How pretty! It really is so Christmas-sy. And I can imagine how all the flavors go together so well.