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    Home » Recipes » Quick Bread

    Gluten Free Cranberry Orange Bread

    Published: Apr 5, 2013 · Modified: Sep 9, 2022 by Christine · This post may contain affiliate links · 4 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    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.

    slices of gluten free cranberry orange bread on a platter

    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.

    sliced loaf of gluten free cranberry orange bread

    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.

    slices staked of gluten free cranberry orange bread

    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.

    sifting flour into a bowl

    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?

    ingredients on a counter

    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

    flour sifting orange juice in a bowl flour sifted into the batter

    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).

    batter up close cranberries added to batter batter for cranberry orange bread

    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.

    pouring batter into a baking pan batter spread in a baking pan

    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.

    baked loaf of gluten free cranberry orange bread on a wire rack

    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.

    up close of gluten free cranberry orange bread

    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

    slices of gluten free cranberry orange bread on a platter

    Gluten Free Cranberry Orange Bread {Dairy Free}

    Sliced thick, the sweet, tart flavor of this Gluten Free Cranberry Orange Bread makes it the perfect bread for sharing! The recipe is simple to make - no mixer required so it can be baking in your oven in no time!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: bread, Breakfast, Snack
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 50 minutes minutes
    Rest time: 3 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour hour 13 minutes minutes
    Servings: 12 slices
    Calories: 205kcal
    Author: Christine

    Ingredients

    • 280 grams gluten free flour about 2 cups
    • 150 grams granulated sugar about ¾ cup
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ¼ teaspoon allspice
    • ¾ cup orange juice
    • ¼ cup non dairy butter melted
    • 2 eggs
    • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    • 1 cup whole cranberries fresh or frozen

    Instructions

    • In a large bowl, sift together the gluten free flour mix, sugar, salt, baking soda, baking powder, xanthan gum, cinnamon and allspice. Combine them well with a whisk. Set aside.
    • In a medium bowl, mix together the orange juice, butter, eggs and vanilla.
    • Add all the liquid ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir just until combined.
    • Gently fold in the cranberries.
    • Set the batter aside to rest for 30 minutes.
    • Preheat the oven to 350 F. Spray an 8" x 4.5" baking pan with cooking spray.
    • Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
    • Bake for 45-50 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the middle of the loaf.
    • Cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes before removing from pan to finish cooling.
    • Slice with a sharp knife and serve.

    Notes

    • The gluten free flour mix used in the recipe is here.
    • Other mixes may work but they have not been tested.
    • Sift the dry ingredients before mixing together.
    • Cranberries can be fresh or frozen, if frozen do not thaw before adding to the batter.
    • Let batter rest for 30 minutes before baking.
    • Baking time may be between 45 - 50 minutes.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 205kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 184mg | Potassium: 101mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 81IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 44mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @zest_for_baking or tag #zestforbaking!

     

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lana

      February 03, 2016 at 11:49 am

      Have you had any luck trying to find or make puff pastry? I have several recipes that I used to use that had puff pastry and I am not able to find any nor any recipes.

      Suggestions?

      Thanks
      Lana

      Reply
      • C.J. Brady

        February 07, 2016 at 3:39 pm

        Hi Lana,

        I haven't ever made puff pastry. This looks like it may be a good option though http://www.glutenfreemall.com/catalog/geefree-puff-pastry-glutenfree-sheets-frozen-unit-p-3515.html

        Might be worth a try.

        Hope that helps!

        ~Christine

        Reply
    2. Lillian Goldstein

      November 24, 2022 at 6:15 am

      Hi, started to make this recipe and noticed you say to mix all dry ingredients including xanthan gum. Although, xanthan gum is not liste in your ingredients. How much do I use?

      Thank you,
      Lillian

      Reply
      • Christine

        November 28, 2022 at 8:43 pm

        Hi Lillian,

        I'm sorry for the late reply here. Use 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum.

        Christine

        Reply
    5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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    Christine Brady.

    Hi, I'm Christine, a gluten free baker and baking problem-solver. I love baking breads and sharing best practices so that everyone can bake tasty treats too. Zest For Baking (est. 2013) is where you'll find gluten free (and dairy free) recipes, tips for substituting ingredients, and help navigating the world of gluten free baking.

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    Since 2013, Christine has been helping readers with gluten free baking challenges and substitution issues, all while creating delicious gluten free baking recipes that no one would guess are actually gluten free. Her Zest For Baking recipes have been featured on Beyond Celiac, The Daily Meal, Bloglovin' and Dr. Axe, to name a few. When she's not hanging out on Facebook or sharing pictures on Instagram or pinning on Pinterest, you can find her in her kitchen, creating more ZestForBaking.com recipes!

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