1. Preheat the oven to 350 F.

2. Lightly spray an 8 x 4-inch loaf pan with cooking spray.

3. To a food processor insert a metal blade and pulse to coarsely chop pecan halves, and then add cranberries and continue to pulse.

4. Now to a stand up mixer add butter, sugar, zest from an orange, eggs and vanilla.

5. Now to a seprate bowl add flour, baking powder and salt.

6. Add this flour mixture to the stand up mixer in 3 additions.

7. Add buttermilk in 2 additions.

8. Now fold the cranberry and pecan mixture into the batter.

9. Transfer batter to prepared pan.

10. Bake until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 55 to 60 minutes.

11. Cool in pan on a wire rack.