A plate of gluten-free dessert bars topped with icing and cranberries, next to orange slices, a cup of tea, flowers, and text that reads “Gluten-Free Recipe.” This easy Thanksgiving gluten-free dessert recipe is inspired by The St. James Tearoom.
October 27, 2021

Easy Thanksgiving Gluten-Free Dessert Recipe: Cranberry White Chocolate Orange Treats

The St. James Tearoom

Looking for an easy Thanksgiving gluten-free dessert recipe that will please every mouth at your holiday gatherings? Look no further!

This sweet dessert combines the tart of cranberry and orange zest and tempers it with white chocolate and the crunch of pecans. Perfect for the Turkey Day table and simple for you to make. Best of all, you can make a gluten-free version, so that no one at the dinner table has to miss out.

A cozy scene with a plate of cake slices—perhaps an easy Thanksgiving gluten-free dessert recipe from The St. James Tearoom—a cup of tea, sliced oranges, and blueberries on a table beside a lamp, patterned curtains, and a small bouquet of flowers.

Easy Thanksgiving Gluten-Free Dessert Recipe: Cranberry White Chocolate Orange Treats

Servings: 32 triangles
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Bake Time: 35 minutes
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Ingredients Instructions Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Cranberry White Chocolate Orange Treats:

  • 1 ½ cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup butter melted
  • 2 eggs room temperature (see Baking Tip #1)
  • 2 tsp. vanilla
  • 2 ¼ cup all-purpose flour OR Gluten-free flour mix (see below)
  • 1 tsp. baking powder
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1 cup chopped dried cranberries + 1/3 cup for garnish
  • 1 cup chopped pecans
  • 1 cup white baking chips
  • ½ cup orange zest + 4 tsp. for garnish
Gluten-free flour mix:
  • 1 ¼ cup almond flour
  • 1 cup potato starch
  • 1 cup white rice flour

For the Frosting:

  • 8 oz. cream cheese softened (See Baking Tip #2)
  • 1 ½ cup powdered sugar
  • ½ cup butter softened
  • 2 tsp. vanilla

Instructions
 

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. In a mixing bowl with whisk attachment, mix brown sugar, butter, eggs, and vanilla in order until well-blended.
  2. In a separate bowl, combine flour (or gluten-free flour mix), baking powder, and salt.
  3. Gradually add dry mixture to wet mixture in the mixer bowl, until combined.
  4. Switch to dough hook attachment and stir in 1 cup dried cranberries, pecans, white baking chips, and ½ cup orange zest. Mix well on slow speed. The dough will be thick when ready.
  5. Spread into a greased 10×10 or 10×12 baking pan about 1 inch thick.
  6. Bake until golden brown for 30 min. on middle rack plus 5 min. on low rack. Cool completely.
  7. For the frosting, beat the cream cheese, powdered sugar, butter, and vanilla together until smooth. Spread on completely cooled dessert. Garnish with 4 tsp. of orange zest and 1/3 cup chopped cranberries.
  8. Place in freezer for 10 min., then cut into squares or triangles.

Notes

Baking Tips:

  1. Place refrigerated eggs in a bowl of warm water to bring them to room temperature.
  2. To soften cream cheese quickly, place in a microwave-safe container and use “melt butter” setting for 10 – 30 seconds.
Print Recipe
Decorative horizontal divider with ornate, symmetrical swirls in the center and small round accents at each end—perfect for elegantly separating sections in your favorite Tea Sandwich Recipe.

Tea Recommendations:

We recommend you serve these sweets with the following loose leaf teas.

Margaret’s Hope Darjeeling

traditional black tea

the fragrance of muscat grapes

Order in Our Online Tea Shop

Pumpkin Pie

scented black tea

autumn spices

Order in Our Online Tea Shop

Winter Mint Rooibos

herbal tea

vanilla chocolate mint

Order in Our Online Tea Shop
A cozy scene with a plate of cake slices—perhaps an easy Thanksgiving gluten-free dessert recipe from The St. James Tearoom—a cup of tea, sliced oranges, and blueberries on a table beside a lamp, patterned curtains, and a small bouquet of flowers.

We hope you enjoy bringing this easy Thanksgiving gluten-free dessert recipe to all your holiday functions!