Bread Machine Cranberry Walnut Bread + Recipe Video

This bread machine cranberry walnut bread is stuffed with dried cranberries & chopped walnuts. It is delicious and perfect as toast or as a crunchy sandwich bread. My cranberry bread is not a sweet “quick bread” (e.g. banana bread). Rather, it is a nutty & slightly sweet “traditional” sandwich bread.

This is a great recipe if you are looking for a fun bread to make for breakfast & lunch or to serve as a tasty side dish.

Bread Machine Cranberry Bread with Chopped Walnuts

Recipe Sections

1. Ingredients
2. Instructions
3. Recipe Video
4. Helpful Tips

Recipe Rating 4.97 from 58 votes Featured Comment Terry “I don’t usually post comments but this bread is worthy of leaving a note of thanks! I made this bread exactly as instructed by the recipe and it is GREAT. Everything about it is perfect. I also love your bread machine gingerbread recipe and appreciate your well written notes and tips.”

Since this cranberry walnut bread recipe is done in a bread machine, it is simple & easy to make. This recipe takes me about 5-10 minutes to prepare and then the bread machine does the hard work (such as mixing, kneading & baking). FYI – You will find a printable and “pin-able” recipe at the bottom of this page.

Key Ingredients – Dried Cranberries & Chopped Walnuts

FYI – For details on how to make the 1 lb version of this recipe, please visit my 1 lb Bread Machine Cranberry Walnut Bread page.

Ingredients for 1.5 lb Setting

• 1 1/8 Cups – Milk (warm) – 259 milliliters – FYI – 1 1/8 cups of milk is equivalent to 1 cup and 2 tablespoons of milk
• 4 Tablespoons – Unsalted Butter (softened) – 57 grams
• 3 Cups – Bread Flour – 360 grams
• 2 Tablespoons – Light Brown Sugar – 27 grams
• 1 Teaspoon – Salt – 6 grams
• 1 Teaspoon – Bread Machine Yeast – 3 grams – Not active dry yeast
• 1/2 Cup – Chopped Walnuts – 58 grams
• 1/2 Cup – Dried Cranberries – 58 grams

Ingredients for 2 lb Setting

• 1 1/2 Cups – Milk (warm) – 355 milliliters
• 5 Tablespoons – Unsalted Butter (softened) – 71 grams
• 4 Cups – Bread Flour – 480 grams
• 3 Tablespoons – Light Brown Sugar – 39 grams
• 1 1/2 Teaspoons – Salt – 9 grams
• 1 1/2 Teaspoons – Bread Machine Yeast – 4.5 grams – Not active dry yeast
• 2/3 Cup – Chopped Walnuts – 76 grams
• 2/3 Cup – Dried Cranberries – 76 grams

Servings – Roughly 12 slices

Equipment – Measuring cup & spoons, flexible spatula, oven mitts, cooling rack and bread machine.

2/3/25 – Recipe updated to add 2 lb setting version to existing 1.5 lb recipe

Recipe Video – How To Make Bread Machine Cranberry Walnut Bread

Instructions – Bread Machine Cranberry Bread

• Bread machine settings – 1.5 lb or 2 lb, light color and “basic/white” bread setting.
• Unplug the bread machine and then remove the bread pan from the bread machine.
• Add the milk & softened butter into the bread pan and then add the other ingredients (except the dried cranberries & chopped walnuts – they are added later).
• Place the bread machine yeast in last and the yeast should not touch the liquid or salt (until the bread machine is turned on and the ingredients start to be mixed together). Some people like to make a small “divot” on top of the flour in order to hold the yeast in one spot before the machine starts.
• Put the bread pan (with ingredients) back into the bread machine, close the bread machine lid and then plug in the bread machine.
• Enter the correct settings (1.5 lb or 2 lb, light color & basic/white bread) and press the “start” button.
• When the bread machine’s first mixing cycle has stopped and before the second (& final) mixing cycle starts, you should add the dried cranberries & chopped walnuts. FYI – Read your bread machine manual on when & how to add fruits & nuts when using your bread machine. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your specific bread machine.
• When the bread machine has finished baking the bread, unplug the bread machine.
• Remove the bread pan from the unplugged bread machine. Use oven mitts when removing the bread machine container (bread pan) as it will be very hot!
• Take the bread out of the bread pan and place the bread on a wire cooling rack. Wear oven mitts.
• After removing the bread, don’t forget to remove the mixing paddle if it is stuck in the bread. Use oven mitts as the mixing paddle will be very hot coming out of the bread machine. Or wait until the bread is completely cooled and then remove the mixing paddle.
• Please read the tips section below for extra information on how to make this recipe successfully & to avoid common bread machine problems. You also can watch my recipe video to “see” how to perform each recipe step.

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2lb Setting Version – Cranberry Walnut Bread in my Zojirushi Bread Maker

1.5 lb Setting Version – Bread Machine Cranberry Walnut Bread

Helpful Tips

• The tips below are designed to help bread machine “novices” and those who haven’t touched their bread machine in years.
• Click on this “print recipe” link if you want to print out this recipe. It includes all of the recipe’s ingredients and instructions. However, the recipe print function does not include our tips section. Please read the tips section in order to avoid common recipe problems.
• If you would rather “see” how this recipe is made, please watch the step-by-step recipe video on this page. It is a short & simple video that shows you the steps & ingredients involved in making this recipe and what the whole wheat bread looks like when it is finished. Many people find recipe videos useful because the videos visually reinforce or clarify the steps detailed in a recipe’s written instructions.
• This recipe is part of Bread Dad’s series on easy Bread Machine Recipes (such as buttery white bread, French bread and cinnamon raisin bread).

• This cranberry bread is a sandwich-type bread so you need to use the “basic” bread setting. You should not use the “quick bread” or “cake” settings that are often used for sweet quick breads like banana bread.
• Optional – If you would like to make the dough in your bread machine but finish baking it in your oven, you should visit my oven-baked Cranberry Walnut Bread Recipe. It is the “oven version” of this bread machine cranberry walnut bread recipe. This method allows you to avoid a bread machine mixing paddle hole and the bread machine “block” loaf shape.
• Optional – If you would like to add more fiber to this bread, you can replace 1 cup of bread flour with 1 cup of old fashioned oat flakes or 1 cup of whole wheat flour. Therefore, instead of 3 cups of bread flour, you would use 2 cups of bread flour and 1 cup of old fashioned oat flakes (or whole wheat flour). However, you still need the bread flour in order to make a soft bread with “rise” (so I wouldn’t go below the 2 cups of bread flour).
• Optional – If you don’t want to use butter, you can replace the butter with an equal amount of vegetable oil. Use a neutral flavored oil (e.g. canola or corn oil) for the best results. Stronger flavored oils can interfere with the cranberry & nut flavors.

• Optional – If you don’t have enough dried cranberries, you can replace the cranberries with raisins, dried blueberries, dried cherries, etc. Or you can use a 50/50 combination of dried fruits (e.g. dried cranberries & dried blueberries) in order to make your homemade cranberry bread even more unique.
• Optional – If you don’t like or don’t have chopped walnuts, you can use chopped pecans in order to make this recipe. Pecans are similar to walnuts but are slightly sweeter.
• Visitors – Do you like to add anything extra to this recipe? Do you prefer to use a different type of dried fruit? Please post your recipe variations in the comment section below.
• Visitor variations – Marsha likes to top the bread with “orange marmalade and almond butter or cream cheese and turkey”, Jody likes to add some “orange zest”, Randal used “buttermilk” instead of milk, Sue replaced 1 cup of bread flour with 1 cup of whole wheat flour, etc.

• Do NOT use cold milk. The main problem with using regular milk is that people tend to use cold refrigerated milk and this can slow the yeast growth. Try to use warm milk (or instant powdered milk mixed into warm water). If the milk is just coming out of the refrigerator and thus is too cold, I like to put the milk in my microwave for 20-30 seconds in order to warm it up. However, you should also be aware that the milk/water should not be too hot because very hot milk/water can kill the yeast.
• You can use dairy-based milk or non-dairy milk (such as soy milk or oat milk) to make this recipe. I prefer to use whole milk because it adds more flavor to the bread. But if you want to reduce the saturated fat in this recipe, you can use skim milk or non-dairy milk.
• Optional – If you want to create an even softer cranberry walnut bread, use buttermilk instead of the milk called for in the recipe. Buttermilk is acidic and this helps to “tenderize” the gluten in the flour. Buttermilk is a great way to soften homemade bread. Visit Bread Dad’s Buttermilk Powder page to learn how to make your own buttermilk.

• Use FRESH walnuts. After you have opened a bag of chopped walnuts, the walnuts can go rancid (bad) quickly due to their high oil content. Once the walnut package has been opened, you should store the chopped walnuts in an airtight container in your refrigerator or freezer. Do not use old walnuts that have been sitting in your pantry in an already opened bag.
• Make sure to use CHOPPED walnuts (or chopped pecans) because it is easier for the small bits of chopped walnuts to be mixed into the dough. Do not use larger walnut halves, etc.
• I do not recommend soaking the dried cranberries for this recipe. Any extra moisture can throw off a bread machine recipe.
• I like to break up any large clumps of dried cranberries before adding them to the bread pan. This makes it easier for them to be mixed into the dough.
• I would NOT replace the dried cranberries in this recipe with frozen or fresh cranberries. The use of frozen or fresh cranberries is more likely to throw off the liquid-to-dry ingredient ratio of this recipe (due to cranberry “breakage’ during the machine mixing & baking, ice on the frozen berries, etc.). If too much moisture is added to a sandwich bread recipe, you are more likely to have a bread collapse or undercooked bread. Thanks Pam for the question!

• Add the dried cranberries & chopped walnuts after the first mixing/kneading cycle during the “rest” period before the start of your bread machine’s second mixing/kneading cycle.
• The second mixing cycle will slowly mix all of the walnuts & cranberries into the dough. It might take a little while. Be patient!
• Do not add the dried cranberries & chopped walnuts too late or they will not be mixed into the dough properly.
• For safety reasons, when adding the chopped walnuts & dried cranberries, you should not put your hands inside a bread machine. Moreover, you should always wear oven mitts when dealing with a bread machine because the interior can get quite hot.
• Moreover, ALWAYS follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your specific bread machine on how and when to safely add ingredients such as nuts or cranberries once a bread machine is turned on.
• FYI – Some bread machines come with an automatic fruit & nut dispenser and this unit adds the fruit/nuts at the right time for those specific machines. Other bread machines will beep when it is time to add fruit or nuts. Check your bread machine manual for further details.

• Always use FRESH ingredients (e.g. bread flour) for the best results. Ingredients that have been sitting in the pantry for months can become stale or pick up weird smells & flavors.
• Try to keep your ingredients (e.g. flour) in airtight food containers in order to extend their shelf life. Airtight containers protect ingredients from moisture (in the air), pests, dust, etc.
• Old flour (when not stored in an airtight container) can absorb a lot of moisture from the air. This extra moisture throws off recipes and can lead to bread collapses, etc.
• If you have run out of bread flour, you can use all-purpose flour as an alternative. However, the bread will not be as airy (as a bread made with bread flour). Bread flour is better than all-purpose flour for making sandwich-type breads. All-purpose flour is better for cookies, pies, etc.

• The basic/white bread setting is usually setting 1 on most bread machines.
• Using the “basic/white” bread setting on my Sunbeam bread machine, the first mixing cycle stops about 10 minutes after the bread machine starts. During this initial mixing “halt”, the bread is allowed to rise for 20 minutes. Then the second mixing cycle will commence (about 30 minutes after the bread machine is started).
• FYI – If you use the recipe settings (1.5 lb, basic bread & light color), this bread takes about 2:53 hours to mix & bake in my Sunbeam bread machine.

• If you have a problem with a bread machine recipe, please make sure that you are following the recipe exactly (e.g. using the correct bread machine settings), you are using the correct amount of an ingredient (e.g. don’t eyeball the measurements versus using a measurement cup or accidentally add a teaspoon when a tablespoon is called for), you are using the correct ingredients (e.g. bread machine yeast versus regular yeast or bread flour versus all purpose flour), etc. Please don’t “wing” things with recipes.
• Be sure to use the correct amount of liquid called for in a recipe. For example, too much liquid can cause a bread top to collapse, etc.
• If you haven’t used your bread machine or bread maker in a long time, please buy some new bread machine yeast before making your bread. Old yeast can die or lose its potency and this will lead to bread that does not rise properly. Bread machine yeast is not likely to be viable if it has been sitting in your pantry for years.
• Bread machine yeast loses its potency over time. Generally, bread machine yeast lasts for only 3-4 months after you have opened the bottle. However, if the yeast is exposed to air & moisture (e.g. the bottle not sealed tight) or exposed to higher temperatures, the yeast will expire even more quickly.
• Optional – If you like breads with nuts, you should try our Oat Nut Bread recipe. Made with chopped walnuts and old-fashioned oat flakes. Also check out Bread Dad’s Granola Bread recipe if you would like to try a similar bread made with granola and dried cranberries.
• Sweet Quick Bread – If you are looking for a cranberry bread that is sweet “quick bread” (e.g. similar to banana bread) and not a sandwich-type bread, you should try our Cranberry Quick Bread with Fresh Cranberries, Cranberry Quick Bread with Dried Cranberries or Pumpkin Cranberry Bread recipes.

• You can also use this homemade bread to make one of Bread Dad’s delicious & toasty Panini Recipes.
• Since this recipe contains chopped walnuts, please do not serve it to anyone with a nut allergy or to anyone who might have a potential choking issue (e.g. young children).
• Before using your bread machine, you should always read your bread machine manufacturer’s instructions in order to use the bread machine safely & effectively.
• My recipes are based on US ingredient measurements (e.g. US cups & tablespoons). However, as a courtesy to our European visitors, I have also included some very ROUGH European equivalents (e.g. grams & milliliters). Since I rarely use European measurements when baking, please let me know in the comment section below if any of the European ingredient measurements need to be changed (e.g. for XYZ ingredient, milliliters are more commonly used versus the grams information listed in the recipe).
• Always wear oven mitts/gloves when dealing with a bread machine. The bread pan and the rest of the bread machine can get very hot during the baking process. This means that the bread pan and bread machine is likely to be very hot when you attempt to remove a baked good from the bread machine and/or bread pan.
• For more easy bread recipes, please visit Bread Dad’s main Homemade Bread Recipes or Bread Machine Recipes sections.

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Reference Sources

1. Wikipedia, Bread Machine
2. Wikipedia, Cranberry
3. Wikipedia, Walnut

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