Gluten Free Cranberry Orange Bread

Wake up to a refreshing and bright slice of irresistible Gluten Free Cranberry Orange Bread. It’s the perfect breakfast pairing with a warm cup of coffee or tea.

Getting ready for the Holidays? Serve this sweet and tart cranberry orange bread recipe alongside your other favorite brunch dishes. 

Not only is this quick bread full of cranberries and infused with orange juice, but you’re going to love the health benefits, too!

What health benefits are in this gluten free quick bread?

Firstly, cranberries are high in vitamin C and fiber and contain only 45 calories per cup. In terms of antioxidants, cranberries are loaded with this disease-fighting power punch, surpassing nearly every fruit and vegetable.

That’s not all! One cup of whole cranberries has 8,983 total antioxidant-packed properties!

Not to mention the orange juice that is used to heighten the flavor profile and offer some health benefits, too. Can you say vitamin C, please! 

Oranges are known for their natural anti-inflammatory properties as well as a great source of fiber. Plus, oranges are also antioxidant superstars in themselves.

So if the health benefits alone weren’t enough to entice you into whipping up this gluten free cranberry orange quick bread, the ease of the recipe surely will.

A share-worthy recipe, indeed!

If you’re like me you’re going to want to make an extra loaf to have on standby! This will be devoured in no time. 

And if you’re feeling extra generous this Christmas, bake up a few loaves of this dairy free Gluten Free Orange Cranberry Bread to share as a gift for friends, family, and co-workers.

What does this bread taste like?

This tender loaf makes a sweet bread that is infused with a bright punch of oranges and tart cranberries. You’ll absolutely fall in love with the sweet and tart combination.

Fresh or Frozen Cranberries?

This gluten free cranberry bread made with orange juice works well with fresh or frozen cranberries. If using frozen cranberries, do not defrost them beforehand. 

On another note, dried cranberries are an option but they are much sweeter and the texture is much different. I do not recommend dried cranberries in this recipe, but if used it would be best to reduce the amount of sugar in the ingredients.

What is the best flour to use?

For this cranberry orange bread, I used my Gluten Free Bread Flour Mix. Be sure to weigh the flour with a kitchen scale. This will ensure that you're getting just the right amount to make the perfect bread dough.

PRO TIP: Sifting the dry ingredients will produce a lighter crumb texture in this gluten free cranberry bread.

Looking for more gluten free quick bread recipes? Check these out!

• Omega-3 Loaded, Gluten Free Cinnamon Quick Bread
• Quick Gluten Free Pita Bread Recipe
• Coconut Flour Zucchini Bread {Dairy Free}
• Easy Gluten Free Potato Bread {Dairy Free, Sugar Free}

What ingredients are in the dough?

Dry ingredients: gluten free flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, xanthan gum, cinnamon, and allspice 

Refrigerated Ingredients: orange juice, non-dairy butter (melted), and eggs

Fresh or frozen cranberries

Additions (optional): add up to 1 cup of chopped walnuts or chocolate chips

Can I use regular butter?

Yup! Regular butter will work just fine in this cranberry orange bread!

How to make this gluten free quick bread 

The great thing about quick bread like this gluten free orange juice infused cranberry bread is that there are only a few steps for it to come together, you guessed it, quickly! No mixer required.

Mixing

Step 1: In a large bowl, sift all the dry ingredients and combine them well with a wire whisk. Set aside.

Step 2: In a medium bowl, mix together the orange juice, butter, eggs, and vanilla.

Step 3: Pour the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix just until combined.

Step 4: Gently fold in the cranberries (and walnuts, if desired).

Step 5: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and grease a large loaf pan and set aside.

PRO TIP: As with most bread batters, allow to rest for 10 minutes before spreading into the pan to bake. This step helps with hydrating the starches in the flour mix and will give you a much better rise and texture as it allows the bread to become more structured when baked.

Add to the baking dish

Step 6: After resting, pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. If you’re adding walnuts, sprinkle a few extras on top. This will give you a beautiful look. You can also push down a few more cranberries, as well.

Baking and Cooling

Step 7: Bake at 350 for 55 minutes. Test with a toothpick to check for doneness.

Note: Your bread may take an additional 5 – 10 minutes, depending on if your cranberries were frozen or not.

Allow the cranberry orange bread to cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then remove it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

Storage

Enjoy your freshly baked cranberry quick bread within a few days or freeze.

To freeze: wrap unsliced loaf in plastic wrap and place in a freezer-safe bag. Alternatively, you can slice your bread first and simply place a piece of wax paper between each slice before wrapping and placing it in a bag. Store up to 2 months. 

To defrost: pull the loaf or a few slices and allow to thaw at room temperature.

Serving this for a Thanksgiving or Christmas morning bite? Spread some softened cream cheese or apple butter on top and enjoy! 

You’ll love this Gluten Free Cranberry Orange Bread recipe any time of year

Next check out Marvelous Makeover Gluten Free Blueberry Banana Muffins

Recipe