Cranberry Fruit Bread
Submitted by franciepad on March 15, 2005 at 12:06 pm

I have been making this delicious bread for years now. It's a favorite during the holidays. The bread freezes beautifully and this recipe makes 2 large loaves. Enjoy!

2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup solid vegetable shortening
3/4 cup fresh orange juice
1 egg, well beaten
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
1 cup cranberries, fresh -coarsely chopped

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees

2. Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda into medium bowl; cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse meal. Beat juice, egg and zest lightly in small bowl; add to dry ingredients tossing with fork until mixture is evenly moistened. Fold in cranberries.

3. Turn batter into 2 lightly greased loaf pans or divide evenly among 3 smaller loaf pans. Bake until golden brown and wooden pick inserted in center of cake is withdrawn clean, about 1 hour for large loaf or 45 minutes for small loaves. Cool pans on wire rack 10 minutes; turn out bread. Continue cooling to room temperature.