This gluten free paleo Cranberry Orange Bread recipe is aromatic with orange and warm spices, and subtly sweet. It has lovely sweet/tart flavor bursts thanks to fresh cranberries. And it’s easy to make, and perfect for breakfast or snack time!

Chilly fall and winter evenings are perfect for snuggling up with cozy blankets and mugs of steaming hot chocolate. And chilly days are perfect for baking.
Fresh cranberries are easy to find at the grocery store in the fall. But I buy them as long as I can find them!

I make cranberry sauce for topping yogurt, oatmeal (or my noatmeal), and toast. And also, because I like to add fresh cranberries to baked goods to bump up the nutrition and for some seasonal wintry flair.
This recipe for Cranberry Orange Bread was adapted from my recipe for Best Paleo Sandwich Bread over on my other blog, An Edible Mosaic. Because it’s by far my favorite paleo bread! (It has great flavor and texture, and also keeps well in the fridge.)

Here I jazzed that bread up with fresh cranberries, orange zest, walnuts, vanilla, and warm spics. And a bit of coconut sugar adds a touch of sweetness.
This Orange Cranberry Bread recipe is perfect for breakfast or a snack along with a cup of coffee. And I like it even better toasted and topped with a pat of butter!
Jump to:

What is Quick Bread?
Quick bread is bread that’s not leavened with yeast. Many quick breads are leavened with baking powder and/or baking soda.
What Are Some Types of Quick Bread?
A few common types of quick bread include:
- Banana Bread
- Zucchini Bread
- Pumpkin Bread
How to Make Quick Bread
Here are the basic steps for how to make quick bread:
- Whisk the dry ingredients in a large bowl.
- Whisk together the wet ingredients in a separate bowl.
- Use a wooden spoon to stir the wet ingredients into the dry.
- Pour the batter into a loaf pan and bake in a pre-heated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with just a couple crumbs.
- Cool, and then slice and enjoy!

The Best Gluten Free Cranberry Orange Bread Recipe
This paleo recipe for Cranberry Orange Bread is very easy to make! It’s similar to any other quick bread recipe. The main difference is that it uses gluten free flours and paleo-friendly coconut sugar.
Here's what you're going to love about this delicious gluten free bread:
- Gluten free and paleo. Even without the gluten, this bread is incredible! It slices perfectly and has great texture and flavor.
- Festive flavor. With cranberry and orange, it's perfect for the holidays and continuing into January.
- Like any other quick bread recipe, it's quick and easy to make. The batter isn't fussy. It's a matter of whisking together the dry ingredients and wet ingredients in separate bowls, and then combining them and baking!

Cranberry Orange Bread FAQs
Does Cranberry Bread Need to be Refrigerated?
You can store this Cranberry Orange Bread wrapped at room temperature for 2 days. After that, move it to the fridge for up to 3 days more.
Can You Substitute Dried Cranberries for Fresh in This Cranberry Orange Bread Recipe?
Yes! Instead of using ½ cup of fresh cranberries, simply use ⅓ cup of dried cranberries. You can use unsweetened dried cranberries or reduced sugar dried cranberries.
Do You Have to Cook Cranberries Before Baking?
No, you don’t need to cook fresh cranberries before baking! They will soften as this bread cooks.
More Gluten Free Bread Recipes to Make


Cranberry Orange Bread
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
Description
This gluten free paleo Cranberry Orange Bread recipe is aromatic with orange and warm spices, and subtly sweet. It has lovely sweet/tart flavor bursts thanks to fresh cranberries. And it’s easy to make, and perfect for breakfast or snack time!
Ingredients
- 2 cups almond flour
- 6 tablespoons arrowroot starch
- 4 tablespoons golden flaxseed meal
- 2 tablespoons tapioca starch
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- 4 tablespoons coconut oil ((or ghee), melted and cooled slightly, plus more to grease the loaf pan)
- 4 large eggs (lightly beaten)
- ½ cup plain unsweetened almond “milk”
- ½ cup coconut sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons fresh orange zest
- ½ cup walnuts (chopped)
- ½ cup fresh cranberries (coarsely chopped)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F; generously grease an 8 ½ by 4 ½-inch loaf pan with ghee or coconut oil.
- Whisk together the almond flour, arrowroot starch, flaxseed meal, tapioca starch, cinnamon, salt, baking soda, and nutmeg in a large bowl.
- Whisk together the slightly cooled butter or coconut oil, eggs, almond “milk”, coconut sugar, vinegar, vanilla, and orange zest in a medium bowl.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry all at once and stir until combined, being careful not to over-mix. Fold in the walnuts and cranberries.
- Immediately pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 45 to 50 minutes in a metal pan.
- Cool completely on a wire rack before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Store wrapped at room temperature for 2 days. After 2 days, store any leftovers wrapped in the fridge for up to 3 days more.
- Recipe yields 1 loaf; cut it into 12 slices and 1 slice is 1 serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Brunch, Dessert, Snack
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Calories: 257
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 262
- Fat: 20
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 17
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 7
- Cholesterol: 55
Keywords: Cranberry Orange Bread, Cranberry Orange Bread Recipe, Orange Cranberry Bread

This post was first published on Healthy Sweet Eats on December 29, 2016. It was updated with more information on November 29, 2021.
Dana
Can you swap Xanthan gum and Guar gum for the arrowroot and tapioca?
faith
Dana, I haven't tried this recipe with those changes (I try to avoid gums because they usually give me stomach cramping, but that doesn't happen to everyone), but they might work in this recipe. If you give it a try, please let me know how it goes!