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Gluten Free Cranberry Orange Bread

Gluten Free Cranberry Orange Bread makes a delicious fall breakfast or side for your Thanksgiving Day meal. It’s moist, slightly tart from the cranberries and has a wonderful nuttiness from the walnuts, with a hint of citrus and balanced out with some sugar for sweetness.

sliced gluten free cranberry orange bread on wax paper

photos and recipe updated December 2019, video added January 2021
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Gluten Free Cranberry Orange Bread

Oh hello, November. You snuck up on us rather fast. But seriously, it’s NOVEMBER. And there’s only THREE AND A HALF WEEKS UNTIL THANKSGIVING.

I’m sorry if you feel like I’m shouting at you with my excessive caps but I just can’t get over how fast time is flying by. Didn’t the school year just start? Wasn’t it JUST Labor Day?

And not to throw you into a panic or anything, but there are only 7 weekends left before Christmas. Somebody posted it on my Instagram feed and I just about had a heart attack. 7 weekends left! SEVEN.

Of course, I’ve got a nice little Christmas list ready but I haven’t thought about anybody else. Ha! (This is an affiliate link but these shoes are at the top of my list, in case you were wondering. Ahem…Adam…mom *wink wink*)

I feel like cranberries are one of those foods associated with holidays. I guess that can be said about a lot of food but cranberries always make their way to pretty much any Thanksgiving Day meal. They also hang on straight through the Christmas season.

Question, do people still string cranberries and popcorn? Is that still a thing? I know in my house, if we strung popcorn and cranberries, Kelsey and my dogs would be fighting over who could eat it faster.

It would also probably motivate Mackenzie to crawl because girl loves to eat. So let’s just stick with cranberry orange bread, shall we? Whether you make it for the holidays or year round, enjoy!

Gluten Free Cranberry Bread is the perfect holiday loaf! It’s got a dairy-free option too! It’s full of flavor thanks to orange zest and extract and fresh cranberries and can be made with dried cranberries. This gluten free quick bread is easy and simple to make. You’d never know it was gluten free! It’s great for gifting too and can be made as four mini loaves. Gluten free bread recipe from @whattheforkblog - visit whattheforkfoodblog.com for more! #glutenfree #quickbread #glutenfreebread

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What You Need To Know About This Gluten Free Cranberry Orange Bread Recipe:

This bread makes a great holiday gift! The batter for this bread can also be baked in 4 Mini Loaf Pans which are the perfect size for gifting. 


Key Ingredients for Gluten Free Cranberry Orange Bread

  • Orange Zest – Orange zest is rubbed into the granulated sugar for a fresh, bright orange flavor!
  • Orange Extract – In addition to the orange zest, I add orange extract for a more pronounced orange flavor.
  • Cranberries – I use fresh cranberries but an equal amount of dried cranberries can be used instead. 
  • Walnuts – I love a little bit of walnuts or pecans with cranberries. If you have a nut allergy, just leave them out.
  • Vinegar – a little bit of acid in this recipe provides a tender crumb and light texture.

Equipment Needed to Make Gluten Free Quick Breads

  • 9 x 5 inch loaf pan – an 8.5 x 4.5 inch loaf pan will work too.
  • Mixing Bowls – one for dry the dry ingredients and one for the wet ingredients.
  • Measuring cups and spoons – just your standard kitchen tools for baking!
  • Parchment Paper – I like to line my loaf pan with parchment paper but for this recipe, it’s optional since there isn’t a streusel topping.
  • Microplane Zester/Grater – These are amazing for zesting fresh citrus! I use it for grating parmesan cheese, fresh nutmeg, and ginger too.
Gluten Free Cranberry Bread is the perfect holiday loaf! It’s got a dairy-free option too! It’s full of flavor thanks to orange zest and extract and fresh cranberries and can be made with dried cranberries. This gluten free quick bread is easy and simple to make. You’d never know it was gluten free! It’s great for gifting too and can be made as four mini loaves. Gluten free bread recipe from @whattheforkblog - visit whattheforkfoodblog.com for more! #glutenfree #quickbread #glutenfreebread

How to Make Gluten Free Cranberry Orange Bread

Step 1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan then line it with parchment paper.

Step 2. Add the granulated sugar and orange zest to a large bowl. Rub the zest into the sugar to release the natural oil.

Step 3. Add the gluten free flour, xanthan gum, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk to combine then gently stir in the cranberries and walnuts.

Step 4. In a medium bowl whisk together the eggs, brown sugar, milk, oil, vinegar, orange extract, and vanilla extract.

Step 5. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.

Step 6. Transfer the batter to the prepared baking pan and bake at 350 degrees for 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Step 7. Cool in the pan for 20 minutes then remove from the pan and discard the parchment paper. Cool completely on a wire rack before slicing.

Gluten Free Cranberry Bread is the perfect holiday loaf! It’s got a dairy-free option too! It’s full of flavor thanks to orange zest and extract and fresh cranberries and can be made with dried cranberries. This gluten free quick bread is easy and simple to make. You’d never know it was gluten free! It’s great for gifting too and can be made as four mini loaves. Gluten free bread recipe from @whattheforkblog - visit whattheforkfoodblog.com for more! #glutenfree #quickbread #glutenfreebread

Tips for Making Cranberry Orange Bread

  • Stir the cranberries and walnuts into the dry ingredients instead of folding them in at the end. It will keep them from sinking to the bottom of the loaf while baking.
  • Use room temperature milk and eggs. Using room temperature ingredients mix better.Your loaf will also rise better and bake more evenly.
  • Cool the loaf completely before slicing. Warm gluten free quick breads have a tendency to crumble if you try to cut into them while they’re still warm.
  • Watch the YouTube Video at the beginning of this post!

Can this Cranberry Orange Bread be made Dairy Free?

Yes! Just use unsweetened coconut milk beverage instead of regular milk. That’s it!

Very simple swap. The dairy free sub is also listed in the recipe card for your convenience.

Slices of gluten free cranberry orange bread

Other Gluten Free Quick Bread Recipes to Try:


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sliced gluten free cranberry orange bread on wax paper

Gluten Free Cranberry Orange Bread

4.81 from 89 ratings
Cranberry Orange Bread makes a delicious fall breakfast or side for your Thanksgiving Day meal. It’s moist, slightly tart from the cranberries and has a wonderful nuttiness from the walnuts, with a hint of citrus and balanced out with some sugar for sweetness.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 12 slices
Print Rate Pin

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup 106 g granulated sugar
  • zest from 1 orange
  • 2 cups gluten-free flour blend see notes
  • 1 teaspoon xanthan gum omit if your flour blend contains it
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1 cup fresh cranberries roughly chopped
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
  • 2 large eggs room temperature
  • 1/2 cup 103 g light brown sugar, packed
  • 2/3 cup milk room temperature (regular or unsweetened coconut milk)
  • 1/3 cup avocado oil see notes
  • 2 teaspoons white vinegar
  • 1 tsp orange extract
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan then line it with parchment paper.
  • Add the granulated sugar and orange zest to a large bowl. Rub the zest into the sugar to release the natural oil.
  • Add the gluten free flour, xanthan gum, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk to combine then gently stir in the cranberries and walnuts.
  • In a medium bowl whisk together the eggs, brown sugar, milk, oil, vinegar, orange extract, and vanilla extract.
  • Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
  • Transfer the batter to the prepared baking pan and bake at 350 degrees for 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  • Cool in the pan for 20 minutes then remove from the pan and discard the parchment paper. Cool completely on a wire rack before slicing.

Video

Notes

I used my Nightshade Free Gluten Free Flour Blend in this recipe. If you use a flour blend that contains xanthan gum, omit the amount called for in the recipe.
Dried cranberries can be used in place of the fresh cranberries. Just be sure to break up any clumps so they get distributed evenly throughout the batter.
Vegetable oil or canola oil can be used in place of the avocado oil.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1g | Calories: 162kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 2mg | Sodium: 190mg | Potassium: 43mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 23IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 55mg | Iron: 1mg

Disclaimers

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutrition Facts are estimated and aren't always accurate. Please consult a doctor or nutritionist if you have special dietary needs.

Did you make this?Mention @whattheforkfoodblog or leave a comment rating below!

Looking for more ways to use fresh cranberries? Check out my recipe for Slow Cooker Cranberry Sauce or Gluten Free Cranberry Upside-Down Cake!

Cranberry Orange Bread from What The Fork Food Blog

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Sincerely,
Shay

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Recipe Rating




  1. Amy says:

    5 stars
    This is so good! I have made it several times for myself and to give away. Everyone, GF or not, loves it! I use juice from the orange instead of the extract. But, other than that, make it just as written. Thank you for the wonderful recipe!

  2. Lee Fox says:

    5 stars
    Followed the directions, the bread came out well but defenetly needs more cranberries. I used Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1 flour. I didn’t have orange extract so I used organe zest and the orange flavor came through.

    • Thanks Lee! The amount of cranberries can definitely be increased a bit. Just keep an eye on the baking time because you may need to bake your bread longer when adding more cranberries.

  3. Sue Mirchant says:

    Doubled the recipe to make 2 loaves for my gluten free son, although we are all eating it! It’s a winner! Thank you. I also added a simple glaze of powdered sugar and orange juice to enhance the orange flavor.
    Has anyone tried this with regular flour?

  4. Diana says:

    5 stars
    Great recipe. I used Cup4Cup, butter instead of oil and put dried cranberries and nuts on the top with turbiando sugar. I’m now making 5 more loaves for other people.

  5. Tai East says:

    I absolutely love the combination of cranberry and orange, so definitely giving this a try! 😍 Just pinned for later! Thanks for sharing!

  6. Natasha Mairs says:

    This looks really tasty and perfect for this time of year.

  7. Karen M says:

    Shay, loved this bread. No one knew it was gluten free! Yay!!! It is delicious, I did use Cup 4 Cup GF Flour and a little more cranberries. I used veg. oil also. Fantastic.

  8. Rachel says:

    this page is loaded with information. Where, then, is the bit about the avocado oil?

  9. kaye mekawi says:

    I also added some sweet peel to balance out the tart of the cranberries. DELICIOUS

  10. Allene says:

    I’m considering substituting dried cranberries next time for the fresh, it seemed to me that the fresh cranberries were just too much zing! I’m afraid that my friends that received my cranberry bread won’t like it!

    • Shay says:

      Dried cranberries will work fine if fresh cranberries are too tart for your taste. I personally think they work well in the loaf because the sweetness of the bread balances it 🙂

  11. Laura Strnad says:

    5 stars
    I love this recipe and the fact that I can use regular flour in place of gluten-free flour. So many gluten-free recipes require almond flour, coconut and other kinds that are out of my price range. I will definitely try this one.

  12. Vivian says:

    You did it again! Your Cranberry Orange Bread is a winner! I brought a few slices with me on my staycation. Enjoying it on the lanai with cream cheese and my iced coffee.

  13. Thank you for sharing this lovely recipe! Me and my wife were looking for some inspiration to bake for our sons birthday party! Besides his cake we were looking for something like this! Sounds awesome!

  14. Nan says:

    I cannot have white vinegar. Could I use apple cider vinegar instead?

    • Sharon says:

      Yes, you could use apple cider vinegar to replace it or even lemon juice. If you have buttermilk, you can use that in place of the milk and vinegar. The milk + vinegar is my homemade way of making buttermilk 🙂

  15. Essie says:

    5 stars
    I love all things cranberry & orange. I wish I knew where to buy cranberries in April!

  16. Miz Helen says:

    5 stars
    I just love Cranberry bread and can’t wait to try your Cranberry Orange Bread it looks awesome!
    Thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and hope you stay warm and cozy on this cold day.
    Come Back Soon!
    Miz Helen

  17. Ah, this sounds so good! Thanks so much for sharing at the Create & Share Link Party. Hope to see you again tonight (7:00 PM MST)! http://www.designsbymissmandee.com/

  18. Rach D says:

    5 stars
    Sounds like a nice blend! Cranberry and orange; sounds delicious 🙂
    Visiting from Inspired By Me Mondays; hope to see you again this week!! Rachael @ Diamonds in the Rough

  19. Stephanie says:

    How perfect for Thanksgiving breakfast! Thank you so much for linking up at Tasty Tuesday! Your recipe has been pinned to the Tasty Tuesday Pinterest board! Please join us again this week!

  20. vegetarianmamma says:

    Thanks for linking up at our Gluten Free Fridays Party! I have tweeted and pinned your entry to our Gluten Free Fridays board on Pinterest! 🙂 I can’t wait to see what you share next time!
    -Cindy

  21. Farrah says:

    Ooo, this would be perfect for a fall potluck dessert! 😀

  22. Emily says:

    WOW!! this looks amazing! thanks for linking up to the Create LInk Inspire party. You are being featured today on Nap-Time Creations in some great fall food!! Check it out! Emily

  23. Heidi Fowler says:

    Your bread looks heavenly! Pinning. I can’t wait to try it.

  24. Such a beautiful bread, Sharon! I love quick breads. They are so easy and so delicious. Perfect for cold weather for sure. 😉 Thanks for sharing on Gluten-Free Wednesdays with us all. 🙂

    Shirley

  25. Brittany B says:

    This looks absolutely delicious!

    I would love to string popcorn and cranberries to decorate our Christmas tree this year but I think our daughter and the dogs would probably think it was a snack. I remember the popcorn and cranberries from when I was a kid.

    • Sharon says:

      It sounds like the perfect holiday activity, stringing popcorn and cranberries by the fire and sipping on some cocoa… But it would just end up being perfectly chaotic here!

  26. This looks so GREAT! Totally trying this recipe, I love breads like this to eat a slice for breakfast! Yummm pinning!

  27. Yum! Cranberry orange bread is one of my favourite things. This seems easy enough to swap out the dairy for, too. Will try and let you know 😉

  28. Cranberry Orange is such a great combo! Sweet, but with a zing!

  29. 5 stars
    Craving a slice of this cranberry and orange bread right now.. it looks seriously so moist and delicious!