A Perfectly Moist and Tender Gluten-Free Cranberry Nut Bread
Hark, my dear readers, for I have concocted a recipe that shall tantalize your taste buds and warm your hearts. I present to thee the Gluten-Free Cranberry Fruit Nut Bread, a recipe so delectable that it shall make your taste buds dance with joy.
This Nut Bread is not just any ordinary bread, for it is free from gluten and dairy. Yet fear not, for its absence of gluten or dairy does not compromise its flavor nor its texture. The recipe calls for juicy fresh cranberries, chopped walnuts, and a hint of orange zest that perfectly complement the soft and fluffy crumb.
It’s crucial to prepare dishes that meet everyone’s dietary needs, and this recipe can be enjoyed by all, including those who require gluten-free bread or dairy-free cuisine. This bread is also perfect for those who desire healthy recipes but do not wish to forego the pleasure of fine dining.
I invite you to indulge in this Gluten-Free Cranberry Fruit Nut Bread Recipe and bask in its sensational goodness. So let us embark on this culinary journey together, shall we?
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Oh, fair readers! How your taste buds will delight in the flavors of this gluten-free cranberry fruit nut bread recipe! Trust me, this is not just any ordinary recipe – it’s a symphony of textures and flavors perfectly combined to create a spectacularly delicious bread.
Firstly, you must know that this recipe is completely free of gluten – imagine being empowered to indulge in scrumptious creations without worrying about any gluten-related issues! Apart from this, it is also dairy-free and doesn’t discriminate against anyone. And let me tell you, the texture is not at all crumbly like other gluten-free bread recipes – it holds together beautifully, making it perfect for sandwiches or even as an accompaniment to your meals.
As you prepare your flour mixture with baking powder and soda, coconut sugar, and other ingredients (1x, 2x, 3x), you’ll be tantalized by the sweet aroma of the cranberries and walnuts. Trust me on this: as soon as this bread hits the oven, the fragrance will permeate every corner of your home. You’ll be unable to resist taking multiple peeks inside the oven!
But what’s most exciting about this recipe is the finish – the crust becomes gorgeously golden brown while the center remains perfectly moist. The tartness of fresh cranberries combines wonderfully with crunchy walnuts, and orange zest adds a special twist. The resulting bread has just the perfect balance between tartness and sweetness that leaves your taste buds screaming for more.
So dear readers, if a delicious gluten-free cranberry nut bread that would taste heavenly with a cup of tea or coffee sounds like your personal heaven – then waste no time! Get baking and see for yourself how impeccable this recipe really is.
Ingredient List
Before starting, make sure you have all the necessary ingredients for this gluten-free cranberry fruit nut bread recipe. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Gluten-free flour: 2 cups of gluten-free flour, preferably homemade gluten-free flour.
- Granulated sugar: ¾ cup of granulated sugar, or coconut sugar or any sweetener of your choice.
- Baking powder and baking soda: 2 teaspoons of baking powder and 1 tsp of baking soda.
- Salt: ½ teaspoon of salt (or 2 tsp if using unsalted butter/shortening).
- Fresh cranberries: 1 cup of fresh cranberries.
- Chopped walnuts: 1 cup chopped walnuts
- Egg: 1 large egg at room temperature.
- Shortening and butter: 3⁄4 cup (12 tablespoons) shortening or unsalted butter (or combination).
- Orange zest and juice from one large orange.
- Cider vinegar
- Optional: ocean spray cranberry or dried cranberries.
All these ingredients will be the building blocks to make a yummy loaf of gluten-free cranberry nut bread that will satisfy your cravings for a hearty breakfast, snack or even gift it to your loved ones on special occasions.
The Recipe How-To
Now that you have all the ingredients ready, let’s dive into the recipe:
Step 1: Preheat and Prepare
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan with shortening or butter and set it aside.
Step 2: Combine dry ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together 2 cups gluten-free flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, ½ teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon baking soda.
Step 3: Mix the wet ingredients
In a separate bowl, mix together 1 cup fresh cranberries, 2/3 cup granulated sugar, and 1 tablespoon of fresh squeezed orange juice. Let it sit for a couple of minutes until most of the sugar is absorbed.
Next, add in the wet ingredients one at a time:
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Beat in 1 egg.
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Add in ½ cup of melted shortening or butter.
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Mix in another tablespoon of fresh squeezed orange juice.
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Stir in 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar.
Step 4: Combine dry and wet ingredients
Mix the dry mixture into the wet mixture about a third at a time.
Once all the dry mixtures are combined, fold in:
- 2 cups chopped walnuts.
-Grated zest from an orange peel.
-1 tsp of orange extract.
Step 5: Bake
Pour your batter into your greased loaf pan and smooth it out evenly.
Bake your bread for about 50 to 60 minutes, or until golden brown on top and it passes the toothpick test when you insert one through the center of the loaf.
Step 6: Cool
Let your freshly baked bread cool inside its pan for about 5 to 10 minutes before carefully removing it from the pan and then placing it on a wire rack to finish cooling.
Now get ready to enjoy a slice of this delicious and healthy Gluten Free Cranberry Fruit Nut Bread!
Substitutions and Variations
Oh, how sweet the joy of creating variations and substitutions to please every palate! Have no fear, for this recipe lends itself well to many variations that will taste good as they nourish your body.
Let’s start with flours: you can substitute gluten-free flour mix with almond flour, oat flour or coconut flour if you want more fiber content. If you prefer keto or low-carb options, swap out the gluten-free flour for almond flour and use a sugar substitute instead of granulated sugar.
For those avoiding walnuts, other nuts like pecans, almonds or hazelnuts work well in this recipe as a substitute. And for an extra zing of flavor, try adding shredded coconut or raisins instead of nuts.
As for the fruit, if fresh cranberries are unavailable, dried cranberries soaked in orange juice work well too. You could also replace half the cranberries with blueberries, raspberries or strawberries.
Finally, if you don’t have access to ocean spray cranberry juice, use regular cranberry juice mixed with apple cider vinegar as a substitute.
With these variants and substitutions at your disposal, rest assured that you’ll be able to fit this recipe into any dietary restrictions and enjoy it just as much–or even better–than before!
Serving and Pairing
As a health-conscious food blogger, I am delighted to suggest some fantastic serving and pairing options for your Gluten Free Cranberry Fruit Nut Bread Recipe. Since this bread is such a versatile snack, it pairs well with various beverages and forms of toppings.
Firstly, start by slicing the gluten-free cranberry nut bread into thick pieces. The slices look stunning when toasted and spread with some coconut oil or almond butter. These combinations provide a nice balance of flavors alongside the fresh cranberries and chopped walnuts, adding an extra layer of richness to the bread’s texture.
Alternatively, placing chunks of the bread straight into your warm hearty soup or stews makes for an excellent comfort meal. The hint of orange zest in the cranberry walnut bread compliments any soup containing carrots or sweet potatoes. You can also crumble it into pieces over top a salad for that added crunch.
When pairing beverage, I recommend serving this healthy bread recipe with hot steamy cups of chai latte or caramel latte for that added sweetness which marries perfectly with the tartness of fresh cranberries. If you fancy something cold, try serving a glass of frothy almond milk or oat milk latte to enjoy while munching on this bite comforting snack.
In conclusion, there is no wrong way to serve this Gluten Free Cranberry Fruit Nut Bread recipe! Experiment with your favorite ways to gorge on this treat, fall in love with each slice’s amazing taste and possibilites.
Make-Ahead, Storing and Reheating
The aroma of freshly baked Cranberry Fruit Nut Bread wafts through your kitchen, teasing your taste buds with a perfect balance of sweetness and tartness. What’s even better is that this gluten-free bread can be made ahead of time and stored for a few days in an airtight container or frozen for later enjoyment.
To make this nut bread ahead of time, you can store it at room temperature for up to two days. To maintain the bread’s freshness, you should slice it into portions and store the portions in an airtight container or wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Once ready to serve, you can reheat the slices by toasting them or microwaving them for 15-30 seconds.
If you want to keep this loaf on hand for longer, you can also freeze it after it has cooled completely. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and place it in an airtight container or freezer bag to prevent freezer burn. When you’re ready to enjoy it, just let it thaw at room temperature or reheat slices after they have thawed.
This bread is perfect for those busy mornings – slice and toast with butter for a quick breakfast treat, or warm up a slice and serve with fresh cream for an indulgent dessert. You won’t have to go without your favorite gluten-free Cranberry Fruit Nut Bread recipe just because you’re short on time!
Tips for Perfect Results
Now that you have learned about the ingredients and the steps for making Gluten-Free Cranberry Fruit Nut Bread, let me share with you some tips to ensure the perfect results.
Firstly, it is essential to use fresh cranberries. Fresh cranberries provide a tart and tangy flavor that really elevates the bread’s taste. Dried cranberries act as a good substitute, but they can make the bread too sweet, so be mindful of the amount of sugar you add to your recipe.
Secondly, keeping a close eye on the baking time is crucial when making this bread. Over-baking may result in dry bread texture. Therefore, it is vital to check the bread’s doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center of the bread. If the toothpick comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs adhering to it, then the bread is ready.
Thirdly, I highly recommend using homemade gluten-free flour mix instead of store-bought ones. Homemade gluten-free flour mix does not contain any chemical preservatives or additives that might affect your health negatively.
Fourthly, adding chopped nuts such as walnuts or pecans gives this bread an amazing crunch and extra nutrients. Chopped nuts also complement the tartness of fresh cranberries.
Lastly, if you don’t have any fresh oranges at hand, you can use orange zest instead. Orange zest gives a strong citrus scent and flavor to your Cranberry Fruit Nut Bread without adding extra juice or pulp moisture that might change the texture of the bread.
These tips will immensely help you in creating perfect Gluten-Free Cranberry Fruit Nut Bread every time you want to indulge in this healthy treat. Enjoy!
FAQ
But wait, before you head to the kitchen to whip up this delicious gluten-free cranberry fruit nut bread recipe, I’ve got some frequently asked questions that I’d like to address. These queries may help you along the way and are essential to get a perfect loaf each time you make it. So, let’s dive in without any delay.
Why is my cranberry nut bread crumbly?
When making this bread, it’s important to keep in mind that an excessive amount of flour can lead to a dry and crumbly texture. The method of measuring flour plays a crucial role in ensuring that the bread comes out moist. For best results, carefully spoon the flour into a dry measuring cup and use the back of a table knife to level it off.
What holds gluten-free bread together?
When it comes to gluten-free breads, gums are often used as a binding agent. One of the commonly used gums is xanthan gum which is made from a type of bacteria known as Xanthomonas campestris. The process involves allowing the bacteria to ferment on a sugar source before the resulting gel is dried and milled into a fine powder for use. Guar gum is another commonly used gum in gluten-free baking.
Why is there apple cider vinegar in gluten-free bread?
When preparing gluten-free dough, you can add apple cider vinegar or other kinds of acid to the mixture, as this will make the dough lighter. If you’re using 500 g of flour, you can add up to four tablespoons of acid without worrying that it will affect the taste of the finished product. For an even lighter yeast dough, you can try adding a packet of baking powder or cream of tartar baking powder to the 500g flour mixture.
Does homemade gluten-free bread taste good?
Even though many people think that gluten-free bread can be tasteless, we are here to show you otherwise. Our gluten-free bread recipes are not only delicious but amazing. You don’t have to worry about the texture either; our recipes result in fluffy white bread, tasty flatbread, and even fruity loaves. So, explore our collection of gluten-free bread recipes and discover a new love for bread that is gluten-free.
Are cranberries gluten-free?
Crafting a homemade cranberry sauce that is gluten-free is a simple feat. As long as the fresh cranberry has not been exposed to gluten through its preparation or manipulation, it is safe to utilize in your recipe.
Bottom Line
Verily, my dear readers, I have presented unto thee a gluten-free cranberry fruit nut bread recipe that shall captivate thy senses and leave thee craving for more. The combination of fresh cranberries and walnuts with a hint of orange zest, makes for a delectable treat that shall leave thee yearning for another bite!
I highly recommend this recipe to all who suffer from gluten intolerance or those who prefer to consume organic, healthy and tasty food. I urge you to give this recipe a try and let it elevate your taste buds to new heights.
In conclusion, let us remember that there is no compromise when it comes to good food – our bodies deserve the best! The key is to choose nutritious options that do not compromise on flavor. So go ahead, give this gluten-free cranberry fruit nut bread recipe a try and savor every moment of it!
Gluten Free Cranberry Fruit Nut Bread Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh cranberries, cut in half
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- 1 tablespoon grated orange peel
- 2 cups all purpose gluten-free flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 tablespoons shortening or 2 tablespoons butter
- 3/4 cup juice (one orange and one meyers lemon and add water to equal 3/4 cup)
- 1 egg, well beaten
Instructions
- preheat oven to 350.
- Prepare cranberries, nuts and orange peel and set aside.
- Mix together dry ingredients in a large bowl.
- Cut in shortening.
- Add juice, egg and peel and mix until moist.
- Fold in cranberries and nuts.
- Loaf Pan: grease and flour. Baker 60 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cupcakes: makes 16. Bake 15 minutes or until golden brown.
- I do not wrap due to the gluten free flour, best if kept at room temperature.