White Chocolate Cranberry Bread (Starbucks & Publix Inspired)

This white chocolate cranberry bread is a tart, sweet, and tender holiday loaf with a creamy vanilla coating on top. Think of it as a mashup of Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars and Publix Tutto Cranberry White Chocolate Bread, in one easy quick bread. Made with fresh or frozen cranberries and white chocolate chips, it's a Christmas morning favorite that's hard to stop slicing.

🔴A Mashup of Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars and Publix Tutto Cranberry White Chocolate Bread

If you love the tart cranberries and sweet white chocolate in Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars, or the seasonal Publix Tutto Cranberry White Chocolate Bread, this loaf is for you. It has the same tart pops of cranberry, sweet white chocolate chips, and a rich vanilla coating, all in an easy quick bread you can bake at home. One reader even said it tastes just like the Starbucks bar.

🎄Christmas Morning Treat

This cranberry quick bread, along with Cranberry Eggnog Bread and Make Ahead Monkey Bread, is a Christmas morning favorite. With tart cranberry and sweet vanilla flavor, it's hard to resist not gobbling up the entire loaf before all the presents are opened!

This is a great make ahead, easy recipe that can use either fresh or frozen cranberries. It's also freezer friendly (without the topping, which can be made very easily and applied after the bread defrosts).

🥘Ingredients

• fresh cranberries- may also use frozen, but do not defrost
• flour- spoon and level into measuring cup for best results
• sugar
• baking powder, baking soda & salt- leavening agents for the bread
• milk- I often use 2% to make the bread extra creamy
• butter- melt before using
• egg- use at room temperature for easier mixing
• white chocolate chips- for a sweet bite in the bread batter
• vanilla melting wafers, additional white chocolate chips & dried cranberries- for the topping

🔪How To Make White Chocolate Cranberry Bread

1. Step 1: Chop cranberries in a food processor; set aside.

2. Step 2: Combine ingredients for the batter; stir in chopped fresh cranberries and white chocolate chips; mix until just combined.

3. Step 3: Transfer batter to prepared loaf pan and bake.

4. Step 4: Allow to fully cool on wire rack before making and applying the topping.

Hint: Line your loaf pan with parchment paper before adding the batter, then use the paper after baking to lift the loaf out of the pan.

🌿Healthy Ingredient Substitutions

• White Whole Wheat Flour: For a boost of fiber and nutrients, you can swap out half of the all-purpose flour (1 cup) for white whole wheat flour. It keeps the bread relatively light and tender compared to standard whole wheat flour.
• Coconut Sugar: You can replace the white granulated sugar with a 1:1 ratio of coconut sugar. It's an unrefined, lower-glycemic option (just note that it will give the bread a slightly darker, more golden-brown color!).
• Walnuts or Pecans: To cut down on refined sugar and add a boost of healthy fats and protein, swap the white chocolate chips in the batter for an equal amount of chopped walnuts or pecans.

📖Easy Recipe Variations

• Orange Cranberry Twist: Add 1 tablespoon of fresh orange zest to the batter and swap 2 tablespoons of the milk for fresh orange juice to give the bread a bright, citrusy zing that pairs perfectly with the cranberries (as found in our Cranberry Muffins).
• Warm Winter Spices: Whisk 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon of nutmeg into your dry ingredients before mixing. This gives the loaf a cozy, bakery-style spice profile that smells amazing while baking.
• Cream Cheese Drizzle: Skip the candy melt topping and instead whisk together 2 ounces of softened cream cheese, ½ cup of powdered sugar, and 1 tablespoon of milk. Drizzle this tangy glaze over the cooled loaf for a classic coffee shop finish.

See Cranberry Mini Pies for an easy dessert option that uses fresh cranberries.

🍽Equipment

• food processor or cutting board and knife
• medium mixing bowl
• large mixing bowl
• 2 microwave safe dishes
• small mixing bowl
• scraping/rubber spatula
• 9x5x3 metal loaf pan
• parchment paper
• wire rack
• spreading spatula

🍶Storing White Chocolate Cranberry Bread

Wrap White Chocolate Cranberry Bread in plastic wrap and store on your countertop for up to 3 days. You may also refrigerate for up to 5 days. The topping will get harder in the fridge. Have the bread sit out on the counter to soften before slicing and serving.

Freezing is only recommended if the bread does not have a topping; you may freeze loaf in freezer safe packaging for up to 3 months.

❓White Chocolate Cranberry Bread FAQ

🔴More Cranberry Recipes

Looking for other fresh cranberry recipes like this white chocolate cranberry bread? Try these:

🍴What To Serve With Cranberry Bread

These are some other festive Christmas recipes to serve and enjoy during the holidays:

📋Recipe With Step-By-Step Instructions

White Chocolate Cranberry Bread

Kitchen Ready Betty

Bring the bakery to your kitchen with this easy White Chocolate Cranberry Bread, packed with tart berries, sweet white chocolate chips, and a rich vanilla coating. Inspired by Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars and Publix's seasonal loaf, this festive quick bread is the perfect make-ahead treat for holiday mornings.

5 from 2 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr

Rest Time 1 hour hr

Total Time 2 hours hrs 20 minutes mins

Course Breakfast, Desserts

Cuisine American

Servings 12

Calories 255 kcal

Equipment

• 9x5 metal loaf pan

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Ingredients

  

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For the bread:

• 2 cups fresh cranberries if using frozen, do not defrost
• ½ cup white chocolate chips I use Ghirardelli
• 2 cups all-purpose flour spooned and leveled for best results
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 & ½ teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup milk, scant 2 tablespoons I use 2%
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 egg, beaten bring to room temperature before using for easier mixing

For the topping (optional):

• ½ cup vanilla flavored melting wafers I use Ghirardelli
• 2-3 tablespoons white chocolate chips
• ¼ cup dried cranberries

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Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Chop cranberries in a food processor (or slice cranberries in half on a cutting board).
• Place chopped cranberries in a medium mixing bowl. Add ½ cup white chocolate chips and stir to combine; set aside.
• Combine remaining dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl; mix thoroughly; set aside.
• In a separate bowl, add melted butter, milk and beaten egg; stir to combine, then add this mixture to the dry ingredient bowl and mix until just moistened.
• Fold in the cranberries and white chocolate chips; do not overmix.
• Lightly grease a 9x5x3 loaf pan, then line it with parchment paper. Spoon mixture into pan.
• Bake for 55-65 minutes in a preheated 350 degree oven or until loaf tests done.
• Allow the bread to cool for 15 minutes, then lift it up out of the pan, using the parchment paper ends as handles. Cool completely on wire rack (about 1 hour).
• To make the topping, melt the vanilla candy melts, covered, in the microwave at half power. Check at 15 second intervals and stir to smooth.
• Immediately spread the smooth melting wafer mixture onto the top of the loaf. Then gently press in dried cranberries and reserved white chocolate chips.

Notes

Wrap the bread in plastic wrap and store on your countertop for up to 3 days. You may also refrigerate for up to 5 days. The topping will get harder in the fridge. Have it sit out a little bit on the counter to soften before slicing and serving.

This bread freezes well, but only without its topping. You can always add the topping after it fully defrosts. The bread is also very good without the topping!

Nutrition

Serving: 1 sliceCalories: 255kcalCarbohydrates: 46gProtein: 3gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 9mgSodium: 240mgPotassium: 87mgFiber: 1gSugar: 28gVitamin A: 87IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 77mgIron: 1mg

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_{Please note that nutritional information is provided by a third party service and is intended for guidance purposes only. KitchenReadyBetty.com makes no claims to its accuracy.}