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This is the archived version of the Milk Street website and is no longer up to date.

Please visit 177milkstreet.com to see the current website with all of the latest recipes!

Orange-Cranberry Soda Bread with White Chocolate Chunks

Makes one 7½-inch loaf

1¼ hours 25 minutes active, plus cooling

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This is not your traditional Irish soda bread. The crumb is fragrant with orange zest and studded with tangy dried cranberries plus bits of creamy white chocolate that add the perfect amount of sweetness. We adapted the recipe from “Rising Hope” by Rachel Stonehouse and Kaila H. Johnson, both members of the team at London’s Luminary Bakery, a social enterprise that supports disadvantaged women by teaching them baking skills. The bread is the creation of Aine, the former head baker at Luminary Bakery, who taught the recipe to trainees in the days before Christmas. Indeed, the rustic loaf is special enough for a holiday breakfast or brunch, but it comes together so quickly and easily that it’s great at any time of the year.

Makes one 7½-inch

loaf

Tip

Don’t chop the white chocolate into tiny bits. Keep the pieces chunky—roughly ½ inch in size—otherwise they will simply disappear into the crumb. Also, don’t knead the dough as if it was a yeasted dough. Handle it gently, as if making biscuits or scones. A light, gentle touch helps ensure a tender crumb.

1¼ hours

25 minutes active, plus cooling

Ingredients

  • 210

    grams (1½ cups) dried cranberries, roughly chopped

  • 1

    tablespoon grated orange zest, plus 2 tablespoons orange juice

Directions

Reviews
Peter R.
April 3, 2025
Amazing for any winter holiday!
As an Irishman, I try to have traditional fare for my family regularly, but I think the ubiquitous soda bread is like scotch, an acquired taste. However, this bread is a great variation, and though not traditional at all, it is now in my bread repertoire! My guests and family devoured every crumb and it was only improved when toasted! You guys are great! This recipe was another success! Thank you for teaching me so much!
Audrey S.
January 19, 2025
Wonderful
Made & served this morning. It got rave reviews from our guests (amazing considering I also served the incomparable Torta Belozzi. ) I can guarantee it will be made numerous times in the upcoming years!
Catherine S.
December 14, 2024
I finally made this
I finally made this after years of looking at it and thinking I need to pick up those white chocolate chips. Today I made three loaves and the smell in my kitchen was amazing and they look absolutely beautiful. Bringing for a neighbor dinner tonight and I can’t wait.
Joyce S.
March 17, 2024
Delicious but…….
This was so yummy, moist and flavorful! It was gone in one day! However, my batter/dough was too moist and I could not form a ball. It came out shaped more like a thick pizza crust (about an inch high) and a bit higher in the center. I adjusted the baking time to compensate. Where did I go wrong?
Kim V.
March 15, 2024
We love it!
I followed the suggestions in the accompanying article, and it came out great. I discovered this recipe while looking for a different bread and decided to make it tonight during our huge snowstorm. I had cream cheese chips on hand that I subbed for the white chocolate. Highly recommend it! I also used white whole wheat flour (King Arthur) and sprinkled some sanding sugar on the loaf before baking it. Nice crunch.
Maureen R.

Easy and delicious. Moist and perfect with a cup of tea. Will make again.

Amy T.

Followed this recipe exactly and we really enjoyed it. I liked the texture the most on baking day. The next day, it still tasted fine but the crumb was a bit tougher but still wonderful dipped in tea.

Frances R.

This was so delicious. I froze 1/2 and I hope it will be good. I will make this again!

Brenda S.

This is delicious, fast, and easy. I agree that it is a bit tougher the next day but still good. I will measure ingredients the night before, then mix and bake in the morning for my brunch group. I too hope it freezes well.

Marianne S.

Could this be made with frozen whole cranberries instead of the dried?

Lynn C.

Hi Marianne -

Unfortunately, no. Fresh fruit has more water than dried fruit (which has basically none). Using fresh fruit will throw off the balance of wet to dry ingredients in the recipe. You can try using other dried fruits, but keep in mind that the recipe was developed to highlight the balance between the tartness of the cranberries and the sweetness of the white chocolate so not all dried fruit will work here. We would recommend dried sour cherries as a good substitute.

Best,
The Milk Street Team

Maura M.

Unsweetened or sweetened dried cranberries?

Lynn C.

Hi Maura -

We always call for sweetened dried cranberries. Unsweetened cranberries are not only exceptionally tart but very hard to find.

Best,
The Milk Street Team


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