The Best Gluten-Free Paleo Cranberry Orange Bars for a Flavorful Holiday Season

These easy, gluten-free, and paleo Cranberry Orange Bars are a true holiday delight, featuring chewy dried cranberries complemented by a luscious sweet orange glaze. They are incredibly moist yet wonderfully fluffy, crafted with wholesome ingredients, and bursting with vibrant flavor. Making these delicious bars has become a cherished tradition in countless homes each holiday season, bringing joy and a festive spirit to every bite.

Why You’ll Fall in Love with This Cranberry Orange Bar Recipe

Prepare to add these incredible Paleo Cranberry Orange Bars to your list of favorite holiday recipes. They are not just a dessert; they’re an experience, offering a perfect blend of convenience, healthy ingredients, and unforgettable flavor. Here’s why these bars will quickly become a staple in your kitchen:

• Effortlessly Easy, One-Bowl Wonder: Say goodbye to excessive cleanup! This recipe simplifies baking by allowing you to mix most ingredients in just one bowl, making it ideal for busy holiday schedules or spontaneous baking sessions.
• Made with Wholesome, Nutritious Ingredients: Unlike many conventional desserts, these bars are crafted using ingredients that nourish your body. From nutrient-dense almond flour to natural sweeteners, you can indulge without guilt.
• Completely Gluten-Free: Perfect for those with gluten sensitivities or dietary preferences, these bars ensure everyone can enjoy a delicious treat without compromise.
• Bursting with Authentic Cranberry Orange Flavor: The combination of tart dried cranberries and bright, zesty orange creates a harmonious flavor profile that is both refreshing and comforting. Each bite is a celebration of holiday flavors.
• Perfect for Any Holiday Dessert Table: Their festive colors and delightful taste make them an ideal addition to any holiday gathering, potluck, or family meal. They’re visually appealing and guaranteed to impress your guests.
• Super Moist & Fluffy Texture: Despite being gluten-free and paleo, these bars achieve a wonderfully moist and airy texture that melts in your mouth, a testament to the careful balance of ingredients.

Key Ingredients for Crafting These Paleo Cranberry Orange Bars

Creating these delightful cranberry orange bars begins with selecting high-quality, wholesome ingredients. Here’s a detailed look at what you’ll need, along with some helpful notes on substitutions to ensure your baking success:

For the Bars:

• Almond Flour: This is the foundation of our gluten-free and paleo bars, lending a super light, airy, and fluffy texture. It’s crucial for the overall consistency. While cashew flour can be substituted, other flours (like coconut or tapioca in larger quantities) will significantly alter the final result and are not recommended as direct replacements for almond flour.
• Coconut Flour: Known for its high absorbency, coconut flour acts as a vital binder in this recipe. It helps absorb excess moisture and gives structure, making it indispensable for achieving the perfect bar texture.
• Tapioca Flour (or Arrowroot): This starch is key to the recipe’s unique texture, contributing to its delightful chewiness and slight crispness. It cannot be substituted with other flours without compromising the outcome. Ensure you have either tapioca or arrowroot on hand.
• Dried Cranberries: These provide bursts of tartness and a chewy texture that perfectly complements the sweet orange. For the best results, use good quality dried cranberries. While not tested, fresh cranberries might introduce too much moisture and alter the baking time and texture significantly.
• Oranges: Both the zest and juice of fresh oranges are essential for infusing that bright, citrusy flavor throughout the bars and the glaze. Always opt for fresh oranges for maximum flavor.
• Maple Syrup: A natural sweetener that adds depth and moisture. You can also use honey as a direct substitute for a similar flavor profile and consistency.
• Coconut Sugar: Another paleo-friendly granulated sweetener. Feel free to substitute with any other granulated sugar if you’re not strictly adhering to a refined sugar-free diet.
• Coconut Oil: Provides richness and helps achieve that moist texture. Vegan butter or grass-fed butter can be easily substituted at a 1:1 ratio. Ensure it’s melted before incorporating.
• Eggs: Act as a binder and add to the structure and moisture of the bars. We’ve included notes on how to use a flax egg for a vegan option, but be aware that the results using a chicken egg are generally superior in terms of texture and fluffiness, and baking times may vary with a flax egg.
• Vanilla Extract: A classic flavor enhancer that brings warmth and depth to the overall taste of the bars.

For the Luscious Orange Glaze (Frosting):

The sweet and tangy orange glaze is the crowning glory of these bars, adding an extra layer of flavor and a beautiful finish.

• Cashew Butter: Forms the creamy base of the glaze, contributing to its smooth texture. Almond butter is a good alternative, though it will subtly change the flavor. Both are delicious options!
• Monk Fruit Powdered Sugar: A refined sugar-free alternative for a healthier glaze. If you’re not strictly avoiding refined sugars, regular powdered sugar works perfectly well.
• Orange Juice & Zest: Freshly squeezed orange juice and finely grated zest are crucial for imparting that bright, tangy orange flavor and vibrant aroma to the glaze.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Bake Delicious Cranberry Orange Bars

Making these paleo cranberry orange bars is surprisingly simple, even for novice bakers. Follow these clear steps to achieve perfectly moist and flavorful bars every time.

1. Prepare Your Baking Environment: Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease an 8×8 inch baking pan, or line it with parchment paper for easy removal. This preparation ensures your bars don’t stick and lift out cleanly.
2. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together all the dry ingredients: almond flour, coconut flour, tapioca flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and a pinch of sea salt. Whisking ensures they are well combined and evenly distributed, preventing pockets of unmixed ingredients. Gently fold in the dried cranberries and orange zest at this stage; this helps to coat them lightly in flour, preventing them from sinking to the bottom during baking.
3. Mix Wet Ingredients: In a separate, smaller bowl, whisk together the melted coconut oil, maple syrup, coconut sugar (or monk fruit), orange juice, egg (or flax egg), milk of choice, and vanilla extract. Ensure all these wet ingredients are thoroughly combined.
4. Combine Wet and Dry: Pour the wet ingredient mixture into the large bowl containing the dry ingredients. Mix gently with a spatula or wooden spoon until just combined. Be careful not to overmix; overmixing can develop gluten in regular flour recipes (though less of an issue here) and can lead to a tougher texture. A few lumps are perfectly fine.
5. Bake to Perfection: Pour the batter evenly into your prepared baking dish. Transfer to the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes. You’ll know they’re done when the edges are lightly golden, the center is firm to the touch, and a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. Baking times can vary depending on your oven, so keep an eye on them.
6. Cool Completely: This step is critical! Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before attempting to frost them. Frosting warm bars will cause the glaze to melt and slide off, resulting in a less appealing finish.
7. Prepare the Frosting: While the bars are cooling, prepare your decadent orange glaze. In a food processor, combine the powdered sugar (monk fruit or regular), vanilla extract, fresh orange juice, cashew butter, and orange zest. Process until the mixture begins to smooth out. Add milk, one tablespoon at a time, continuing to process until you achieve your desired creamy, spreadable consistency.
8. Frost and Enjoy: Once the bars are completely cool, evenly spread the prepared orange glaze over the top. You can cut them into squares or bars and serve immediately.

Pro Tips for Perfect Paleo Cranberry Orange Bars

Achieving bakery-quality results with your paleo baking can be simple with a few expert tips:

• Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure your egg and milk are at room temperature. This helps them combine more smoothly with other ingredients, leading to a more consistent batter and a better final texture.
• Don’t Overmix: As with most baking, especially with delicate gluten-free flours, overmixing can lead to dense bars. Mix until just combined.
• Zest First, Then Juice: When working with oranges, always zest the peel before cutting and juicing. It’s much easier to get the vibrant zest from a whole orange.
• Quality Dried Cranberries: Look for dried cranberries that are not overly sugared to keep the recipe healthier and prevent it from being too sweet. Organic options are often best.
• Adjust Glaze Consistency: The amount of milk needed for the glaze can vary. Start with less and add slowly until you reach a consistency that is thick enough to spread but still pourable.

Storing Your Leftover Cranberry Orange Bars

These healthy cranberry orange bars are so delicious, you might not have many leftovers! But if you do, here’s how to store them properly to maintain their freshness and flavor:

• To Store at Room Temperature: For up to 3 days, these paleo cranberry orange bars can be kept well-covered in plastic wrap or an air-tight container at room temperature. After that, to extend their shelf life, I recommend transferring them to the fridge or freezer.
• To Refrigerate: Store bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. The glaze might firm up a bit, but the bars will still be delightfully moist.
• To Freeze: These healthy cranberry orange bars freeze exceptionally well! For best results, I recommend freezing them without the glaze. Simply wrap the cooled bars tightly in plastic wrap, then snugly in aluminum foil, and place them in a reusable freezer bag (like a Stasher bag) or an airtight freezer-safe container. They can be frozen for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy, thaw them at room temperature, then prepare and add the fresh glaze before serving. This method helps maintain their texture and flavor integrity.

Explore More Wholesome Recipes to Try

If you loved these paleo cranberry orange bars, you’re sure to enjoy these other healthy and delicious treats from our collection. Expand your repertoire of wholesome baking with these fantastic recipes:

• Healthy Glazed Lemon Bread
• Snickerdoodle Creme Pies
• Healthy Pecan Twix Bars
• Vegan Caramel Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecake
• Healthy Pumpkin S’mores Bars
• Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins (Healthy, Paleo)