December 13, 2022

Cranberry Bread (Gluten-Free)

Last Updated on September 21, 2026 by Carrie Korem, FNTP

Cranberry Bread is a classic holiday quick bread you can serve at breakfast, as a light dessert, or dried and used in bread pudding. This subtly sweet gluten free and grain-free loaf arrives heavily scented with vanilla and dotted with tangy cranberries.

Ingredients for Cranberry Bread

Unsweetened, dried cranberries (I used the Whole Foods brand, but here’s a good choice if you want to order online)
Rum or orange juice
Unsalted butter, melted and then cooled to room temperature
Organic cane sugar
Large eggs
Sour cream
Vanilla extract
Finely ground almond flour
Coconut flour
Unflavored gelatin
Baking powder
Celtic sea salt
Lemon zest

How to Make Gluten-Free Cranberry Bread

1. Place the cranberries and rum in a small saucepan and heat over low. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the berries soak up the rum and the liquid is gone (the cranberries will be damp – don’t cook the cranberries until they’re completely dry). Set aside and cool completely.
2. Preheat the oven to 325ºF and adjust the rack to the middle position. Butter and flour a 1.5 qt. glass baking pan. Place the cooled butter, maple sugar, eggs, sour cream and vanilla in a large mixing bowl and whisk until combined.
3. In a separate bowl, combine the almond flour, coconut flour, gelatin, baking powder, salt and lemon zest. Pour 1/3 of the flour mixture into the wet mixture and stir to combine. Add 1/2 of the remaining flour mixture and stir until combined. Add the remaining flour mixture and stir until combined. Fold in the plumped cranberries. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and let sit for 5 minutes before placing in the oven. Bake for 1 hour and 15-25 minutes, or until golden brown and when tested with a cake tester, the tester comes out clean (I know this seems like a long time to bake the loaf, but it takes this long for the batter to bake all the way through).
4. Cool for 10 minutes, then invert onto a cooling rack. Cool completely. Serve.

What’s the Secret to a Perfect Cranberry Bread

I personally think one of the best ways to create the perfect loaf is to plump the cranberries. I use dried, unsweetened cranberries and plump them with rum (you can use orange juice if you prefer). Dried cranberries work best because the fresh berries add too much moisture and cause white blotches throughout the dough.

The second secret is to add lemon or orange zest to the dough. This brightens the flavor of the entire loaf.

Lastly, it’s best to bake the loaf in a glass pan versus a metal pan. The glass pan will ensure even baking and a tender loaf.

Other Gluten-Free Breads to Enjoy

Pumpkin Bread
Banana Bread
Gluten-Free Cornbread

Cranberry Bread (Gluten-Free)

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Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 5 minutes
Yield: Makes one 9x4" loaf
Category: Baking
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free

Ingredients

Units

1 cup unsweetened, dried cranberries (I used the Whole Foods brand, but here's a good choice if you want to order online)
1/3 cup rum or orange juice
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and then cooled to room temperature
1/2 cup organic cane sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
1/2 cup sour cream, room temperature
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups finely ground almond flour
2 tablespoons coconut flour
1/2 teaspoon unflavored gelatin
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon Celtic sea salt
2 teaspoons lemon zest

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Instructions

Place the cranberries and rum in a small saucepan and heat over low. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the berries soak up the rum and the liquid is gone (the cranberries will be damp – don’t cook the cranberries until they’re completely dry). Set aside and cool completely.
Preheat the oven to 325ºF and adjust the rack to the middle position. Butter and flour a 9”x4” glass baking pan. Place the cooled butter, sugar, eggs, sour cream and vanilla in a large mixing bowl and whisk until combined.
In a separate bowl, combine the almond flour, coconut flour, gelatin, baking powder, salt and lemon zest. Pour 1/3 of the flour mixture into the wet mixture and stir to combine. Add 1/2 of the remaining flour mixture and stir until combined. Add the remaining flour mixture and stir until combined. Fold in the plumped cranberries. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and let sit for 5 minutes before placing in the oven. Bake for 1 hour and 15-25 minutes, or until golden brown and when tested with a cake tester, the tester comes out clean (I know this seems like a long time to bake the loaf, but it takes this long for the batter to bake all the way through).
Cool for 10 minutes, then invert onto a cooling rack. Cool completely. Serve.