Pomegranate Orange Bread Recipe (Easy Mini Loaves to Gift)
on Dec 08, 2025
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Bread that smells like citrus and tastes like winter — that’s what you get with this recipe. The bright orange flavor pairs beautifully with juicy pomegranate seeds for a loaf that feels festive and special.
Mini loaves are lovely gifts: they’re easy to wrap, share with neighbors or friends, or freeze for later. Plus, the pomegranates add a little antioxidant boost — a small, tasty way to sneak some extra nutrition into holiday treats.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Pomegranate Orange Bread
Festive citrus and pomegranate flavor
Orange zest and fresh juice give the bread a clean, bright flavor. Pomegranate seeds add sweet pops of color and a little crunch in every slice.
Mini loaves make the best edible holiday gifts
Mini loaves wrap easily and look special tied with twine or ribbon. You can bake several at once, and they freeze well, so you can work ahead before your schedule gets busy.
Pin this now to find it later
Pin ItHealthier bread made with yogurt and fresh fruit
Yogurt adds moisture and a light tang without heavy butter. You get a soft crumb and a loaf that tastes fresh instead of overly sweet.
Ingredients for Pomegranate Orange Mini Loaf Bread
Simple pantry ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
¾ cup sugar
1½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
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Fresh pomegranate seeds and real orange juice
¾ cup plain yogurt
2 teaspoons orange zest
½ cup fresh orange juice
¼ cup olive oil
2 eggs
1 cup fresh pomegranate seeds
Optional glaze and crunchy almond topping
½ cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon orange juice, plus more if needed
¼ cup slivered almonds (optional)
How to Make Pomegranate Orange Bread
Mix the dry ingredients
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease four mini loaf pans or one standard loaf pan.
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Whisk the yogurt, eggs, and orange juice
In a second bowl, whisk yogurt, orange zest, orange juice, olive oil, and eggs until smooth.
Fold in fresh pomegranate seeds
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Gently fold in the pomegranate seeds.
ANeed help getting those seeds out? Read this post for an easy, mess-free way to open a pomegranate.
Bake mini loaves or a full loaf
Pour the batter into prepared non-stick mini loaf pan. Top with almonds if using.
Bake mini loaves for 35 to 45 minutes. Bake one large loaf for 55 to 65 minutes. The bread is done when a toothpick comes out clean.
Tips for Baking the Best Orange Pomegranate Bread
How to remove pomegranate seeds the easy way
Slice the fruit in half. Hold a half cut-side down over a bowl and tap the rind with a wooden spoon. The seeds fall out fast, and you keep the mess controlled.
Bake time for mini loaves vs. one loaf
Mini loaves bake faster and rise evenly. A full loaf needs more time. Check early so you don’t overbake.
How to store and freeze mini loaf bread
Cool completely. Wrap in parchment and then foil, or use beeswax wrap. Freeze up to three months. Thaw at room temperature for the best texture.
How to wrap mini loaves for holiday gifts
Use parchment, twine, and a sprig of greenery for a clean, natural look. Add a hand-written recipe card if you want the gift to feel personal.
Recipe Variations for Orange Bread
Add nuts for a crunchy holiday bread
Walnuts, pecans, or almonds add a deeper flavor and texture that pairs well with orange.
Make dairy-free pomegranate orange bread
Swap yogurt for a dairy-free yogurt and use the same amount. Skip the glaze, or use powdered sugar mixed with orange juice only.
Swap in seasonal fruit like cranberries or apples
Dried cranberries or small diced apples work well when pomegranates are out of season. Keep the orange base for a holiday flavor.
Add warm spices like cinnamon or nutmeg
A half-teaspoon of cinnamon or a pinch of nutmeg adds warmth and makes the loaf taste cozy for winter baking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I freeze pomegranate orange bread?
Yes. Freeze whole loaves or slices. Thaw at room temperature.
Can I use cranberry instead of pomegranate?
Yes. Use equal amounts of fresh or dried cranberries.
Can I make this bread gluten-free?
Use a trusted 1:1 gluten-free flour blend and check texture as it bakes.
How long does mini loaf bread stay fresh?
The bread stays fresh for 2 to 3 days at room temperature or up to 3 months in the freezer.
Pomegranate Orange Bread
Ingredients
- 2 cup all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup sugar, I use raw sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup plain yogurt, I use whole milk yogurt
- 2 teaspoons grated orange peel
- 1/2 cup fresh orange juice
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup pomegranate seeds
For the Glaze
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon orange juice, plus 1 a little extra if needed
Optional
- Slivered Almonds
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Grease loaf pan and set aside – I used a mini loaf pan.
- Mix dry ingredients in a medium sized bowl.
- Mix wet ingredients and add to dry ingredients. Stir together until just combined. Add pomegranate seeds and fold gently until well mixed.
- Pour into prepared pan. Top with nuts, if desired.
- Bake in preheated oven – 35-45 minutes for mini loaves or 55-65 for a bigger loaf – until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool in pan for 15 minutes then remove loaves to cooling rack and cool completely.
- Make the icing and drizzle on top of the bread. Allow the glaze to harden before slicing.
- Enjoy!
Those look great! (It looks like we share the same affinity for Pampered Chef products, too!)
Hehe! Thanks, Lynda. I used to sell Pampered Chef – way back in a different life… 🙂
Thanks for the giveaway, Id make mini banana bread.
I would use it to make mini pumpkin loaf cakes.
If I won, I’d use the pan to bake my home-made yeast breads into mini loaves.
I would love it for my lemon poppy seed cakes
roddjackson at hotmail dot com
I would use it to make cornbread,potato bread, cinnamon bread, and blueberry loaves.
I would use it for the mini meatloaves to give to friends.
mrsrodjac at Hotmail dot com
I would use it for banana bread
thanks
Thanks for the giveaway. If I won I’d make all sorts of gluten free mini loaves, including a pumpkin, zucchini, and a banana loaf.
If I won the pan I would use it to make all sorts of mini bread loaves… Banana, blueberry, cinnamon, Mini meatloaves… The possibilities are endless!!
I would love to win this mini loaf pan. I like to make the mini loaf breads so we can enjoy one share some and freeze the rest for later enjoyment.
Thanks for hosting this giveaway! I would love to win and make the pomegranate orange bread in it!
My boys (6 and 4) love when we make banana bread in the one I have, we customize the loafs–chocolate chips, blueberries, cinnamon and sugar, craisins…it’d be great to let each of them have their own pan to work with!
I would make banana bread
Thanks for the chance to win!
Those mini loaf pans would make cute zucchini bread!
I would make so much. I’m a Pinterest addict! Right now I want to make chocolate peppermint bread. Thanks!
I would make mini lemon loaf cakes, mini french bread loaves and probably the pomegranate orange bread from the recipe you posted. Thank you for the giveaway!
I would make mini loafs of bread as fun and easy Christmas gifts. Flavors could include banana chocolate chip, pumpkin pecan or blueberry walnut. Yum!
I would use it for mini cornbread loaves. I love cornbread, especially with a warm bowl of chili in this frigid weather.
I make mini cranberry orange bread loaves for Christmas and these mini loaf pans would be perfect!
ZUCCHINI BREAD ORANGE CRANBERRY BREAD OR HECK WHAT EVER BREAD I CAN FIND BUT BY MAKING MINI BREADS I CAN SHARE RECIPES EASIER OR STORE IN THE FREEZER SO I AM ONLY HAVING SMALLER PORTIONS AROUND
I love to make fruit breads and give them as gifts. This would be perfect. I hope I am the lucky one… Thank you.
Just saw your post… bookmarked the recipe; can’t wait to make this. : ) *Cute little pans…
I would love to make mini pumpkin, cinnamon, blueberry breads, pecan butter cakes, and lately I have been making meatloaves.
I would love to win this as I make only the small loaves of many kinds of quick bread. I think the big ones get done on the outside and not the inside and I hate dark overbaked crusts. Thanks for the giveaway.
Mini loaves would make great gift basket fillers and I would use it through out the year to make sweets for elderly or single friends…the big loaves are just too big. I’m diabetic as well, so a smaller loaf helps me keep my portion in control….thanks!
I would make bananna bread and make some extra batches to freeze for quick breakfasts. No feeling like you have to eat it all that day for the freshest taste (although we can easily go through 3/4 of a loaf with 3 kids around). So many options of things to bake in a mini size
Your mini loaves look just beautiful! I love making mini loaves throughout the year whether it be banana bread or something more special like your recipe above, they freeze well and make for great little gifts! I can’t wait to give your recipe a try!
Super delicious looking! These would be perfect to make mini wild rice cranberry walnut bread that I just made this weekend!
I would use this for similar sweet breads. It’s the perfect size for just two people 🙂 Or one really hungry construction worker…
I make a similar bread with cranberries and orange, but pomegranate sounds so good! I would probably try your recipe first. If i won from you i would feel obligated to 🙂
I’ve been craving pumpkin spice bread with walnuts 🙂
My 2 year old daughter loves pomegranate seeds. I would love to teach her how to make this yummy bread and creating mini loaves would be just right for her size. A new holiday tradition of making pomegranate orange bread? yes indeed!
can this be done in a bread machine