My Mom’s Most-Requested Thanksgiving Recipe Is From the Back of the Bag

We didn’t have many Thanksgiving traditions growing up. Every year, we tried a different turkey technique, got creative with sides, and took a generally nontraditional approach. In fact, my most vivid Thanksgiving memory is the year the fire department had to come because we accidentally left the manual in our brand-new oven—not our proudest moment.

Still, there were a few must-haves on the table: my dad’s stuffed mushrooms, mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes, and my mom’s cranberry bread. As with many of our so-called “family recipes,” it turns out that her bread recipe came straight from the back of a bag. Despite that, it still remains my favorite thing on the Thanksgiving table—here’s why it deserves a spot on yours, too.

My Family’s Favorite Ocean Spray Cranberry Bread Recipe

It never occurred to me that this wasn’t a chef-developed or heirloom recipe until I realized why my mom always insisted on buying Ocean Spray cranberries—never another brand. That’s because her beloved Cranberry-Orange Bread recipe was printed right there on the back of the bag.

I can’t recall exactly when the tradition began, but I do remember falling in love with it right away. We always served the bread at the start of the meal alongside soups and salads—even though it’s basically dessert. And who doesn’t want to start Thanksgiving with dessert?

It’s a simple quick bread that comes together in under an hour, with wonderfully balanced sweet and tart flavors. I know it’s an easy recipe because my mom was the one in charge of making it—and she was decidedly not a baker. It was the one constant on our Thanksgiving table (except for the year she accidentally used salt instead of sugar, and we all nearly choked on the inedible results).

My favorite part of this recipe, which is now available on Ocean Spray’s website, is that it calls for both orange juice and zest to add lots of bright citrus flavor to the bread. Plus, it only uses one bowl—crucial for cutting down on dirty dishes. Hot tip: We always use a food processor to quickly chop the cranberries—otherwise they roll around on the cutting board, making the job finicky and tedious.

If you’re looking for a Thanksgiving addition that pairs beautifully with classic holiday flavors, but is ten times easier than most breads or rolls, look no further. You can find a nearly identical recipe right here on Allrecipes, backed by hundreds of five-star reviews.