Paleo Cranberry orange bars (Paleo, gluten free)

These easy, gluten free, paleo Cranberry Orange Bars are made with chewy dried cranberries and a sweet orange glaze. They are super moist, but fluffy, made with wholesome ingredients, and bursting with flavor. They are a tradition to make each holiday season.

Why you’ll love this recipe

• Super easy, made in one bowl!
• Made with wholesome ingredients.
• They are gluten free!
• Bursting with cranberry orange flavor.
• Perfect for the holiday dessert tables!
• Super moist & fluffy!

Ingredients for paleo cranberry orange bars

For the bars:

• Almond flour: You can sub cashew flour, but other flours will not work. The almond flour gives a super light, fluffy texture to the recipe.
• Coconut flour: more absorbent than the other flours and is needed as a sort of binder.
• Tapioca flour: You can also sub arrowroot. This really adds to the texture of the recipe and cannot be subbed.
• Dried cranberries: I have not tried using fresh cranberries.
• Oranges
• Maple syrup: You can also use honey.
• Coconut sugar: You can sub any granulated sugar.
• Coconut oil: vegan butter or grass-fed butter, etc. can be subbed.
• Eggs: I left notes on how to use a flax egg, however the results are better using an egg and baking times may vary.
• Vanilla extract

For the frosting:

• Cashew butter: You can also sub almond butter. It’ll still be delicious, but will change the flavor a tad!
• Monk fruit powdered sugar: You can also use regular powdered sugar if not refined sugar-free.
• Orange juice & zest

How to make cranberry orange bars

1. Mix together the wet ingredients. In a separate bowl, mix together the dry. Then add the wet to the dry, until combined. Mix in the cranberries and zest.
2. Pour into your prepared baking dish and bake.
3. Mix together the frosting ingredients in a food processor. Frost the bars and you’re done!

How to store leftover bars

• To store: these paleo cranberry orange bars should be kept well-covered in plastic wrap or an air-tight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, then I recommend transferring to the fridge or freezer.
• To freeze: these healthy cranberry orange bars freeze well! I recommend freezing it without the glaze. Simply wrap the bars in plastic, then tightly in foil, then place in a reusable bag or a stasher bag for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature once you are ready to eat.

More recipes to try

• 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)

Paleo Cranberry Orange Bars

These easy, gluten free Cranberry Orange Bars are made with chewy dried cranberries and a sweet orange glaze. They are super moist, but fluffy, made with wholesome ingredients, and bursting with flavor. They are a tradition to make each holiday season.

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 37 minutes mins

Course Dessert, Snack

Cuisine American

Servings 12 bars

Ingredients

  

Dry ingredients

• 2 cups almond flour
• 1/2 cup tapioca flour
• 5 tbsp coconut flour
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• pinch of sea salt
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries

Wet ingredients

• 1/4 cup coconut oil melted
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1/2 cup coconut sugar or monk fruit
• 1/3 cup orange juice
• 3 tbsp orange zest
• 1 egg *can try subbing flax egg. See notes.
• 1/3 cup milk, of choice
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Frosting

• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar *I used Lakanto Monk Fruit powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 tbsp freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1/4 cup cashew butter
• 1-2 tbsp milk, as needed
• 1 1/2 tbsp orange zest

Instructions

 

Loaf

• Preheat the oven to 350f. Grease an 8×8 baking pan.
• In a large bowl, whisk together all of the dry ingredients.In a small bowl, whisk together the went ingredients. Then add them to the dry ingredients, mixing well.
• Pour the batter into the greased or parchment-lined pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes, until slightly golden around the edges and firm to touch in the center. A toothpick inserted should come out clean. Let cool completely.

Frosting

• To make the frosting, add all of the ingredients besides the milk in a food processor. Process until it starts to smooth out, adding a tbsp of milk at a time until it reaches your desired consistency. Then frost as desired!

Notes

*To use a flax egg, mix together 1 tbsp ground flax seeds with 2 1/2 tbsp water. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until thickened to an egg-like texture. Then add to the recipe. I haven’t tested it in this recipe but should work!

Keyword cranberry orange, cranberry orange bars, cranberry orange bliss bars, healthy baking, holiday baking, Holiday Dessert, paleo bars, paleo cake