Gluten Free Cranberry Buckle

Gluten Free Cranberry Buckle (or coffee cake) makes the perfect holiday breakfast, simple holiday dessert, or brunch addition. It has a tender crumb and light texture, spiced with warm winter spices, loaded with fresh cranberries, and topped with a buttery brown streusel topping.

This recipe for Gluten Free Cranberry Buckle is the perfect way to use up any cranberries you have hiding in the back of your fridge or freezer. It comes together in no time with simple ingredients you most likely have in your pantry. This recipe is for an 8x8 pan but can easily be doubled for a 9x13 pan.

If you aren't a fan of Cranberries or they aren't in season right now, please make sure to also check out my Gluten Free Blueberry Cream Cheese Buckle.

Jump to:

• Recipe Ingredient Notes
• What's the difference between a Buckle and Coffee Cake?
• How to make Streusel Topping
• How to make a Cranberry Buckle
• How to assemble and bake a Gluten Free Cranberry Coffee Cake
• Frequently Asked Questions for Gluten Free Cranberry Buckle
• Join my Gluten Free Community!
• Note about Salt in my Recipes
• Baking in grams
• Note about Ovens and Oven Temperatures
• Substitutions and Modifications
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Comments

Recipe Ingredient Notes

Gluten Free Flour: I have made this recipe with King Arthur Measure for Measure and my own Gluten Free Flour Blend. Both flour blends work great. They do already contain xanthan gum. This recipe should work with every multi-purpose gluten-free flour blend on the market. Please be aware that the batter made with Cup4Cup may be on the gummy side.

Cranberries: To make gluten-free cranberry buckle, you can use fresh or frozen cranberries. Just make sure they are not spoiled (or canned cranberry sauce)

Orange Zest: For the orange zest, I recommend using, if possible, an organic orange. Con Regardless of what orange you choose to use, please make sure to give it a good wash. If you don't have an orange on hand, you could use the zest of a lemon, lime, or even grapefruit. I recommend a microplane for this task. If you do not like oranges or citrus, feel free to leave out the orange zest.

Milk: I have tested this recipe for Gluten Free Cranberry Coffee Cake with whole milk as well as dairy-free milk. Both cranberry buckles came out delicious.

What's the difference between a Buckle and Coffee Cake?

A Buckle is a simple cake with fruit mixed into it and topped with a streusel topping. It gets its name from the way the topping "buckles" during baking. They belong to the family of dough topped fruit desserts which include cobblers, grunts, crisps, betties, boy bait, slumps, and pandowdies. Yes, there is a dessert called boy bait - it’s like a buckle but no streusel.

The difference between a buckle and a coffee cake is the fact that a buckle does contain fruit. A traditional coffee cake on the other hand is a simple cake (often made with sour cream and a cinnamon layer in the middle) topped with a streusel topping.

Both cakes are often served along with coffee - but a coffee cake does not contain coffee or caffeine.

And yes, it's okay to call this cranberry buckle a coffee cake.

How to make Streusel Topping

A basic streusel topping is made of brown sugar, flour, and butter. Sometimes you see streusel toppings with added oats and nuts. I like to stick with a simple brown sugar streusel for this recipe spiced with ground ginger and ground cinnamon.

Combine the dry ingredients (sugar, gluten-free flour, salt, ground ginger, and cinnamon) and with a fork or your hands work in the room temperature butter until it resembles crumbles. The butter should be around 65F - cold but workable. Store the crumble in the fridge until you are ready to use it. You can also make a bigger batch and freeze it. It's a great addition to quick breads or muffins like my Gluten Free Blueberry Muffins.

How to make a Cranberry Buckle

This recipe for Gluten-Free Cranberry Buckle can be made with a Stand Mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, or a hand mixer.

• Preheat your oven to 350 F and arrange your oven rack in the middle. It's important to bake this cranberry buckle in the middle of the oven. This way it will not overcook on the bottom before the center is fully baked.
• Line an 8x8 or 9x9 pan with parchment paper and set it aside. Make sure to leave some overhang so you can remove your cake easily.
• In the bowl of your stand mixer combine the sugars, orange zest and butter and mix at a medium speed until light and fluffy for 2-3 minutes.
• Scrape down the sides of your bowl and your paddle attachment and add the egg and vanilla extract and mix for 2 minutes until well combined. Your batter may look broken - this happens when the eggs and the butter are at different temperatures. Don't worry, once you add the dry ingredients this will smooth out.
• Alternating milk and dry ingredients, add them to your bowl and mix to combine after each addition. Start with ⅓ of the flour mix, add ½ of the milk, add another ⅓ of the flour, add the rest of the milk, and end with the rest of the flour.
• Make sure to scrape down the sides of your bowl.

How to assemble and bake a Gluten Free Cranberry Coffee Cake

To assemble the gluten-free cranberry buckle for baking, start out by transferring ⅓ (one-third) of the cake batter to the bottom of your prepared cake pan. With an offset knife or a spoon, evenly spread out the cake batter.

Since cranberries are heavy and will sink to the bottom, this plain layer will help to avoid any cranberries burning on the bottom of your buckle.

Fold in 100=130 grams of fresh or frozen cranberries in the remaining cake batter and spread out evenly on top of the plain buckle batter.

Top the gluten-free coffee cake batter with the remaining cranberries (and evenly top with the streusel.

Bake your cranberry buckle in the 350F preheated oven for 38-44 minutes. The streusel will be golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean. To check the doneness of a cake with a toothpick, insert it into the center of your cake.  If it comes out clean, or with only a few moist crumbs attached to it, your cake is done. If the toothpick comes out with wet batter stuck to it, the cake will need additional baking time.

Allow the gluten-free buckle to cool on a wire rack in its pan for 30 minutes before removing it. You may enjoy the cake warmly or allow for it to cool completely before serving. Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. The cake will actually be moister on the second day (from the cranberry juices)

Frequently Asked Questions for Gluten Free Cranberry Buckle

What’s the best way to store my buckle?
I recommend storing it uncut in an air-tight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

Can I make this with a Cream Cheese layer?
Absolutely! If you love my Blueberry Cream Cheesebuckle, you will love this Gluten-Free Cranberry Buckle with the cream cheese layer. You find the recipe for the cream cheese layer and how to assemble it here: Gluten Free Blueberry Cream Cheese Buckle.

Can I make this with “regular” all-purpose flour?
Yes. Please use 70 grams of All-Purpose Flour for the Streusel Topping and 250 grams of All-Purpose Flour for the cranberry buckle.

I don’t like cranberries. What other fruits could I use?
I love using cut-up peaches, blackberries, and rhubarb or raspberries and a few white chocolate chips sprinkled in it.

Can I freeze the leftover Cranberry Buckle?
The best way to freeze the coffee cake is to place the cut pieces in an airtight container and freeze it that way. When you are ready to enjoy a piece, thaw it at room temperature (or microwave it 10-15 seconds or until it’s thawed)

Can I double this recipe?
Yes! This recipe for Gluten Free Cranberry Coffee Cake can easily be doubled and baked in a 9x13 pan. Make sure to adjust baking times accordingly.