The chill in the air means baking with cranberries, and there’s nothing more delicious than these gluten free cranberry muffins (or bread)!
Bake as muffins or bread, slicing up gorgeous pieces of this colorful cranberry bread to serve at special gatherings or for breakfast.
I keep fresh cranberries in my freezer for recipes like this, so that I can pulse the whole cranberries into smaller bits without causing a juicy mess. I recommend taking this step, if time allows.
If you would rather use dried cranberries, boil them for one minute in water then drain, for juiciest results!
I also use fruit (bananas or applesauce) and sour cream (dairy or non-dairy) in place of oil in this cranberry muffin recipe to keep the crumb light. I hope you enjoy!
For an even easier muffin-making experience, just grab one of my easy, yummy gfJules Muffin Mixes! No measuring the dry ingredients: they’re all in the bag!
Gluten Free Cranberry Muffins Recipe
Gluten Free Cranberry Muffins or Bread
Bake as cranberry muffins or bread, these colorful gluten free cranberry muffins are perfect for sharing at special gatherings or for breakfast.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter or non-dairy substitute (e.g. Earth Balance® Buttery Sticks)
- 1/2 cup granulated cane sugar
- 2 large eggs (or substitute of choice)
- 1/2 cup sour cream, dairy or non-dairy
- 1 mashed ripe banana or 1/2 cup natural applesauce (no sugar added)
- 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
PLUS
- 1 gfJules™ Gluten Free Muffin Mix
- 2 cups chopped fresh or dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
OR from scratch dry ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups gfJules™ Gluten Free All-Purpose Flour
- 2 Tbs. flaxseed meal (optional, or use same amount gfJules™ Flour)
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 2 tsp. cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º F (static) or 325º F (convection). Oil or line with muffin papers 21-23 muffin tins and set aside.
- Cream the butter and sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat well. Mix in the sour cream and banana until well blended.
- If making from scratch, in a separate bowl, whisk together all dry ingredients then gradually incorporate into the wet batter, otherwise, just stir in the gfJules Gluten Free Muffin Mix. Lastly, stir the chopped cranberries and walnuts into the batter gently.
- Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin tins and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the tops are lightly browned and they spring back to the touch. Cool before removing from the muffin tins.
- Or bake as bread by oiling a 9×5 bread pan and spreading the batter smoothly with a rubber spatula. Bake in preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, testing with a toothpick to see if it has baked all the way through. The toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf should come out clean when done. Add more time in 5 minute increments if the bread isn't cooked in the center at the end of 40 minutes of bake time.
- Remove to cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes before removing from the bread pan to finish cooling on the rack.
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My bread is taking forever to bake. I followed the directions carefully, too. I used the muffin mix and applesauce, and the rest of the ingredients. Could the applesauce have made it too liquid?
Some applesauce is very watery — was yours like that?
~jules
Is there any way to incorporate orange into these muffins? I love the orange cranberry combination. Thanks for helping gluten free holiday baking taste traditional!
Hi Elaine, try this cranberry-orange bread recipe instead. Yummy!
~jules
These muffins were amazing! Slowly I am incorporating some of my old favorite recipes by using what you’ve created for them. Do you think instead of cranberries I can swap blueberries?
Hi Jenn, so glad to hear you loved the recipe!!! You could absolutely use blueberries in this recipe, or just use my blueberry muffins recipe. The difference is not chopping the blueberries first (unless you use frozen, which could be fun!). I’m so happy you found another recipe to add to your collection of new favorites!!
~jules
The Cranberry muffins were great, going to use this recipe on a regular basis.
Is there a substitute for the mashed banana? or is it possible to just leave it out? one of my kids also has a problem with banana.
In recipes calling for mashed banana, a great substitute is an equal amount of applesauce (unsweetened). One mashed banana is approximately 1/2 cup by volume.
THESE ARE AMAZING!!! After baking GF for 3 years, these have got to be the best muffins I have ever tasted. I ordered your sample pack of flour & made these. Definitely will be ordering more from you. THANK YOU for making GF taste good!
Thrilled to be able to help! : )