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  • Vegan cranberry orange yeast bun with fresh cranberries and orange icing, festively arranged on wood
  • Cranberry orange braid with icing on rack, served from above
  • Cranberry orange braid with glossy glaze, close-up
  • Cranberry orange braid cut open showing soft crumb, served
  • Cranberry orange braid on wooden board with greenery, festively plated
  • Cranberry orange yeast bun

17 DECEMBER 2019

Cranberry orange yeast bun

By Verena Frei

This post is also available in: deutsch

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Last updated 9 July 2026

Prep
15 min
Cook
30 min
Total
45 min
Servings
1 bun

Hello lovelies, today I‘m sharing my last recipe before Christmas (and for this year) with you: cranberry orange yeast bun. The bun or wreath has turned out so delicious and I wanted to give you the recipe as a little Christmas goodie. The fine flavors of oranges, the fresh cranberries and nuts in the filling harmonize so wonderfully with each other. It is great for a Christmas brunch or as a souvenir if you are invited over the holidays.

It doesn‘t only taste super delicious (preferably warm!) when it’s fresh, but also the next day with a little jam or vegan butter. Have you ever baked with fresh cranberries? I really like them and they can be bought fresh in the supermarkets at the moment, so take this opportunity and try it out. Fresh cranberries contain around 13 g of vitamin C per 100 g, a lot of vitamin A and antioxidants.

Cranberry orange braid with icing on rack, served from above

I‘m always amazed at how well the yeast dough with spelt flour and without the addition of eggs works. I‘m happy to add some apple sauce or yogurt to the dough as an egg substitute, so it becomes nice and fluffy. In addition to the fresh cranberries, I also used pecans, dates and marzipan for the filling, which gives it a fine nutty sweetness.

Cranberry orange braid with glossy glaze, close-upCranberry orange braid cut open showing soft crumb, served

For the icing I simply mixed some powdered sugar and freshly squeezed orange juice, but of course this is optional. The cranberry orange yeast bun tastes very delicious even without icing. If you prepare it for a brunch or breakfast, then you can easily go without it.

Cranberry orange braid on wooden board with greenery, festively plated

I hope I was able to inspire you for a Christmas bakery with this bun. It‘s not too sweet, beautiful to look at and certainly also very suitable as a souvenir. You can, for example, add a bow around the bun, then you have a great gift. Bring a suitable spread, you can already find recipes here on the blog.

If you're in the mood for more festive yeast bakes, I've got a few favorites for you: for something fruity there's my babka with carrot filling, for cozy winter mornings I love this brioche with apple cinnamon filling, and for a relaxed brunch I often bake my vegan raspberry curd yeast rolls. I'd be so happy if you bake this cranberry orange yeast bun and let me know how it turned out.

I wish all of my readers a wonderful and relaxed Christmas! Thank you for your loyalty this year, all comments, all pictures that have reached me and your wonderful feedback on my recipes. It means a lot to me. I‘m grateful every day that I can pursue my passion and inspire you with my recipes and pictures!

If you have Pinterest you can find me here and you can pin one of these pictures if you like:

Cranberry orange yeast bun

Yours, Verena

TIPS

Verena's notes

Tip from my kitchen: bake with fresh cranberries while they're around in winter – they give the filling its lovely tartness. Dried ones work in a pinch, so reduce the coconut blossom sugar a little. Feel free to leave out the marzipan if you prefer it less sweet. You can prepare the dough the night before and let it rise in the fridge overnight. Leftover slices freeze well and crisp back up in the oven.

Vegan cranberry orange yeast bun with fresh cranberries and orange icing, festively arranged on wood

5.0 from 1 vote

Cranberry orange yeast bun

Cranberry orange yeast bun - a delicious vegan braid filled with fresh cranberries, pecans and spices. Perfect for a festive breakfast / brunch.

  • Course:Dessert, Kuchen, Süsses, Cake, Sweet
  • Prep:15 min
  • Cook:30 min
  • Servings:1 bun
Vegan

EQUIPMENT

  • Baking oven

INGREDIENTS

Dough:

Filling:

INSTRUCTIONS

Dough

  1. Slightly warm up the milk (not too hot) and stir in yeast, maple syrup and butter until everything is dissolved
  2. Mix with all remaining ingredients and knead into a smooth dough
  3. Let the dough rise at a warm spot for approx. 1-2 hours
  4. In the meantime prepare the filling
  5. Place the dough on a floured work surface and knead once again
  6. Separate it in 2 pieces and roll out each half in a rectangular shape
  7. Place the filling on top of both halves (leave an 1cm edge) and roll them up lengthways
  8. Now slightly cut the dough rolls with a sharp knife lengthways about 4-5 times
  9. Braid them to a wreath and place it on a baking paper
  10. Coat it with a mix of vegan cream, maple syrup and some turmeric and place fresh cranberries, cut in halves, on top
  11. Bake at 180°C (356°F) for about 30-40 minutes

Filling

  1. Add all ingredients into a mixer or food processor and mix to a smooth mass – there can be some small crumbs left
Calories
310 kcal
GOOD TO KNOW

Frequently asked questions

  • Yes. You can knead the dough the night before and let it rise, covered, in the fridge overnight – then braid and bake it in the morning. The bun tastes best freshly baked, but the next day it's still lovely with a little jam or vegan butter.

  • Wrapped in a cloth or kept in a tin, the bun stays fresh for 2 to 3 days. It also freezes well – whole or in pieces, tightly wrapped. Let it thaw before serving and warm it briefly in the oven, then it tastes freshly baked again.

  • Yes, if you can't find fresh ones, dried cranberries work well in the filling – they are sweeter, so you can reduce the coconut blossom sugar a little. The marzipan is optional; leaving it out makes the bun less sweet and a touch fruitier.

  • A classic yeast braid relies on gluten to make it light and airy. With a gluten-free flour blend that contains a binder it still works, but turns out a little denser. Let the dough rise a bit longer and expect a finer crumb.

  • No, the icing of powdered sugar and orange juice is entirely optional. For a brunch or breakfast you can leave it off – thanks to the dates and maple syrup the bun is pleasantly sweet on its own. For a more festive look, brush it with vegan cream and maple syrup before baking for a lovely shine.

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