Nantucket Cranberry Pie, Gluten Free Desserts

This gluten free cranberry pie is almost more like a cake but the correct name for this recipe is a Nantucket Pie. My recipe uses almond flour making the pie gluten free and adds a delicious nutty flavor that complements our cranberries so well.

Why Is It Called Nantucket Pie?

This dessert could be considered more of a cobbler or cake but has the name Nantucket Pie. Why? It is said that this recipe was created first on the Island of Nantucket. Nantucket, as well as the surrounding New England area is knows for its abounded cranberry fields. The cranberry harvest time is from September-November making this a perfect recipe for the Thanksgiving and fall season. Some have even called this recipe “Cranberry Christmas Pie” due to its popularity during the fall and winter season.

Ingredients for Nantucket Cranberry Pie

Cranberries

You can use fresh or frozen cranberries for this recipe. I use frozen and it worked out perfect. Cranberries are a tart berry that are easily balance with just a bit of sugar for the perfect tart to sweet ratio. Cranberries are typically a seasonal ingredient in the grocery stores but I have been able to find them year round at AzureStandard.com. (click here to learn more about Azure Standard)

Sugar

To sweeten our pie we are going to use white sugar. You can substitute your sugar for monk fruit sweetener or even honey or maple syrup. I have not tested out these substitutes yet but plan on doing so this holiday season. I’ll let you know in the future if how they turn out. If you try them before me please let us know what you thought in the comments.

Pecans

A few chopped pecans go a long way in the recipe. They add a little needed texture to our soft cakey top and juicy cranberries by adding a little crunch every now and then. Just enough for maybe every other bite to have a little pecan. If you like more go ahead and add as many as you like.

You could also substitute the pecans for sliced almonds or walnuts if you prefer. Macadamia nuts would also be really good in the pie.

Eggs

Eggs keep the cakey part of our pie light yet holding together. We don’t want everything to fall apart but to hold together so every flavor is combined in each bite.

Melted Butter

Melted butter to create a yummy buttery cakey top to our pie. Melt your butter in the microwave or in a sauce pan on the stove.

Almond Flour

I love almond flour! The nutty flavor makes every dessert so much sweeter and brighter! Although I understand that not everyone loves it as much as myself or not everyone has it in their pantry ready to go. You can use all purpose flour for this recipe. Most recipes call for all purpose flour. Gluten free or regular all purpose flour still makes and excellent cake, but almond flour is the best.

Almond and Vanilla Extract

More almond flavor! and Vanilla. Again I love the almond flavor but if you don’t have almond extract you can skip it. The almond flour will still give you the almond flavor but it is nice to add a little more with the extract.

I like to use vanilla powder rather than extract. You can find the vanilla powder on amazon. This powder is a 1:1 ratio for vanilla extract so you don’t have to do any extra math when substituting. I like the flavor a lot and its been a great addition to my pantry.

Salt

Enhance the flavor with good salt like Redmond Real Salt. If you are looking for a unrefined natural salt with multiple minerals and electrolytes harvested in the United States of America, then look no further. Redmond Real Salt is full of flavor and nutrients and harvested out of the ancient seabed deep beneath Central Utah.

How To Make Nantucket Cranberry Pie

Step 1: Preheat Your Oven to 350 Degrees.

Step 2: Cranberries!

Mix together the cranberries, pecans and 1/2 cup sugar. Simple mix so that the sugar covers the cranberries and pour into you 9 inch pie pan.

Step 3: Make The Batter

In a separate bowl mix together the almond flour, salt, vanilla, eggs, melted butter, 1/2 cup sugar. The batter will be a little thick.

Step 4: Spread Batter on Cranberries

Spoon the batter on the top of the cranberries. Do not mix. Spread the batter to cover the top of the cranberries.

Step 5: Bake.

Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until the top is golden brown an a toothpick, when inserted, come out clean. Let cool and enjoy!

Shop This Recipe