A measuring cup full of bog cranberries (Vaccinium oxycoccos) is seen in the kitchen of Erin Anais Heist on Oct. 14, 2018. (Erin Anais Heist | For the Juneau Empire)

A measuring cup full of bog cranberries (Vaccinium oxycoccos) is seen in the kitchen of Erin Anais Heist on Oct. 14, 2018. (Erin Anais Heist | For the Juneau Empire)

Eating Wild: Cranberry-apple bread

It’s just sweet enough — not too sweet.

  • By Erin Anais Heist For the Juneau Empire
  • Thursday, November 8, 2018 1:53pm
  • Eating Wildfood

While our lush forest of evergreen spruce, hemlock and cedar may not cater to the grand landscapes of color “leaf-peepers” seek out in upstate New York, the fall colors of our alpine and muskegs can feel just as magical, if in miniature. Sit yourself down on a mossy hillock in one of your muskegs and you’ll find yourself in the midst of golds, purples, wine reds, oranges and violets. You’ll also be at exactly the right level to notice the smattering of jewels, also known as cranberries, that are nestled on the surface of the moss.

The bog cranberries (Vaccinium oxycoccos) found in our muskegs are firm in texture and almost identical to the kinds of cranberries you find in the grocery store. These berries grow along an almost invisible little vine, which is why they look as if they just sprouted straight up from the moss, and do not grow in clumps, which can make gathering somewhat time-intensive. The upside? You get to enjoy all those beautiful fall colors! When fully ripe, these berries will be totally red, when a little under-ripe, the side of the berry touching the moss will still be yellow.

It seemed obvious to pair these tart berries with some of the gorgeous apples we have available right now, so what follows is a simple apple-cranberry bread, just sweet enough — but not too sweet — moist, delicious and scientifically proven to be a hit at your office potluck.

A note about creaming butter and sugar. I’m not a baker. But I do know there are couple of things that equate to magic when baking. Creaming butter and sugar is one of them. I’m also the kind of person who hates kitchen gadgets, but this is one of the times where it’s really worth having that stand mixer with the paddle attachment. Unless you’re Michelle Obama, your arms will probably give out on you while trying to fully cream butter and sugar by hand.

So what’s the point? I told you — magic! Or also something to do with air, insulation and density. And no cheating by trying to melt, or partially melt, the butter. It has to be cooler than room temperature. Not a lot cooler, but at least a little, so while you can help yourself out by taking the butter out of the fridge and letting it sit for 15-20 minutes, you don’t want to use fully gooey room temp butter.

Cranberry-Apple Bread

Prep: 20 minutes active, 85 minutes total

Serves: 10

• 6 tbsp butter

¾ cup sugar

2 eggs

1 ½ cups flour

1 tsp cinnamon

1 ½ tsp baking powder

½ tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt

½ cup fresh cranberries

3 cups apples, medium diced

1 tsp lemon zest

½ cup toasted walnuts, chopped (optional)

Take butter out of the fridge and cut into cubes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. If you’ll be adding nuts, toast them until just browned, chop and set aside. In a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar at medium speed until fluffy, about five minutes. Mix in each egg, one at a time. In a separate bowl whisk together all of your dry ingredients — flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the mixer and mix until fully combined. Add the cranberries, apples, lemon zest, and nuts and mix until evenly distributed.

Grease your bread loaf pan (9-by-5 inches) and dust with flour. Scrape bread mix into the pan. Bake for 60-70 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and your bread is nice and browned. Cool for five minutes, then remove the bread from the pan and let cool for another couple of minutes before slicing and serving.


• Erin Anais Heist is a food blogger in Juneau. Readers can contact her at foodabe.com, or on Instagram or Twitter at @erinanais. “Eating Wild” recipes publish every other week.


A completed loaf of cranberry-apple bread is seen in the kitchen of Erin Anais Heist on Oct. 14, 2018. (Erin Anais Heist | For the Juneau Empire)

A completed loaf of cranberry-apple bread is seen in the kitchen of Erin Anais Heist on Oct. 14, 2018. (Erin Anais Heist | For the Juneau Empire)

A finished loaf of cranberry-apple bread is seen in the kitchen of Erin Anais Heist on Oct. 14, 2018. (Erin Anais Heist | For the Juneau Empire)

A finished loaf of cranberry-apple bread is seen in the kitchen of Erin Anais Heist on Oct. 14, 2018. (Erin Anais Heist | For the Juneau Empire)

Erin Anais Heist mixes bog cranberries (Vaccinium oxycoccos) with apples, butter and sugar for a loaf of bread in her kitchen on Oct. 14, 2018. (Erin Anais Heist | For the Juneau Empire)

Erin Anais Heist mixes bog cranberries (Vaccinium oxycoccos) with apples, butter and sugar for a loaf of bread in her kitchen on Oct. 14, 2018. (Erin Anais Heist | For the Juneau Empire)

More in Home

Juneau International Airport is getting new leadership in its administration and board of directors. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file photo)
Assembly names two new airport board members in shakeup after budget stalemate

Angela Rodell and David Epstein, both former members, to get quick start at seeking solution this week.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Nordic Ski Team member Ida Meyer competes at the Region VI Championships Friday in Fairbanks. Meyer placed seventh overall in the girls 7.5km Mass Start. The JDHS girls team placed second in the two-day regions, the boys third. JDHS senior Finn Lamb led the Crimson Bears boys with a sixth place finish in the 7.5km. (Photo courtesy JDHS Nordic Ski)
JDHS Crimson Bears take snow show on the road

Nordic Ski Team girls second, boys third at Region VI Championships.

Blank posts are seen where the two totem poles once stood at the Fred Meyer main entrance on Feb. 7, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Fred Meyer totem poles get a second chance at life

Tlingit master carver says they will be refurbished with tribal youth and repurposed.

President Donald Trump speaks to a capacity crowd at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage on July 9, 2022. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Here’s what Trump, after 20 days of his second term, has done so far specifically affecting Alaska

Nixing rules that limit oil drilling, renaming Mt. McKinley, shaking up U.S. Coast Guard among actions.

President Donald Trump walks away from the podium after speaking about a plane crash at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport during a news conference at the White House in Washington, on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. President Trumpճ remarks, suggesting that diversity in hiring and other Biden administration policies somehow caused the disaster, reflected his instinct to immediately frame major events through his political or ideological lens. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)
All of the Trump administration’s major moves in the first 20 days

The New York Times is tracking the actions of President Donald Trump… Continue reading

Construction progress on a new Kaladi Brothers warehouse in Midtown Anchorage is seen on April 22, 2024. Of all major Alaska economic sectors, construction had the highest percentage increase in nonresident hire in 2023, state economists report. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Nonresident hiring in Alaska hits new record, state analysis shows

The number of nonresidents working in Alaska hit a new record in… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore Layla Tokuoka (14) floats a jump shot over Wasilla senior Layla Hays (52) during the Crimson Bears’ 46-30 loss Saturday to the Warriors in the George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
A small Layla, a tall Layla give highlight plays on Saturday

JDHS’ Tokuoka, Wasilla’s Hays key second matchup of the weekend as Warriors prevail 46-30.

Lucas Bovitz of Juneau-Douglas: Yadaa.at Kale carries the puck with attention from Kenai Central goalie Evyn Witt and William Howard at the First National Cup Division II state hockey tournament Saturday at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna. (Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Crimson Bears hockey place third on state ice

Juneau-Douglas gets revenge win over Kenai

Aaron Surma, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness Juneau and the Juneau Suicide Prevention Council, gives a solo testimony to the Juneau Board of Education on Feb. 6, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
On top of a flat-funded BSA, Juneau Board of Education considers loss of local funding and grants

Principals and mental health advocate give feedback as the Juneau School District plans FY26 budget.

Most Read