Gluten Free Cranberry Orange Muffins with Citrus Glaze

If you love that classic cranberry orange combo, these gluten free cranberry orange muffins are about to become a winter favorite in your kitchen. They're soft, fluffy, lightly sweet, and packed with fresh orange flavor and tart cranberries. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, dessert or an easy grab-and-go snack. Gluten Free and Dairy Free

Why You'll Love These Simple Gluten Free Cranberry Orange Muffins

One of my favorite things about these muffins is how bakery-style they feel while still being incredibly simple to make at home. No fancy equipment, no complicated steps, and definitely no dry or crumbly gluten free texture. Just tender muffins with golden tops and bright citrus flavor in every bite.

• Gluten free and dairy free (great for multiple dietary needs)
• Made with simple pantry ingredients
• Bursting with fresh orange zest and juice
• Soft and moist with a tender crumb
• Easy to freeze and meal prep friendly

These muffins are especially popular during fall and winter when cranberries are everywhere, making them perfect for the holiday season. They're a great addition to Christmas morning, holiday brunches, or even packaged up as a homemade gift for neighbors and friends. The bright cranberry flavor paired with fresh orange feels festive without being overly sweet, which makes these muffins ideal for everything from Thanksgiving through New Year's.

Ingredients You'll Need

• 2 cups gluten free 1:1 all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• Zest of 1 large orange
• ½ cup fresh orange juice
• ⅓ cup neutral oil (my favorite is avocado oil)
• 2 large eggs
• ¾ cup dairy free milk
• 1½ cups fresh cranberries
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Ingredients for the orange glaze:

• 1 cup Confectioner's Sugar
• 2 tablespoon Orange Juice

Whether you're baking for the holidays, meal prepping breakfasts, or just craving something cozy, these gluten free cranberry orange muffins check all the boxes. Bright, comforting, and easy enough to whip up anytime.

If you're looking for more holiday recipes, be sure to check out my delicious collection of Gluten Free Holiday recipes!

How to Make this Gluten and Dairy Free Cranberry Orange Muffins Recipe

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F. Grease your muffin pan or line with cupcake liners.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the gluten free flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and orange zest.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk the orange juice, oil, eggs, dairy free milk, and vanilla until smooth.
4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and gently stir until just combined.
5. Fold in the cranberries.
6. Divide the batter evenly between the muffin cups.
7. Bake for 22-25 minutes, or until the tops are lightly golden and a toothpick comes out clean.
8. Let cool for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.

Storage & Freezing

Store these cranberry orange muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or refrigerate for up to 5 days. They also freeze beautifully! Just store in an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months.

Have you tried this recipe? Be sure to leave a comment below and tag me on Instagram @thrivingglutenfree so I can see how it turned out!

Let's Bake!