How To Dry Cranberries (Oil-Free + Sugar-Free)

Published: Nov 18, 2020 · Modified: Jan 20, 2024 by Shane Martin · This post may contain affiliate links.

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Learn how to dry cranberries at home that are oil-free and sugar-free. Perfect for holiday baking, salads, and using in place of raisins.

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Cranberries are a favorite during the holiday season. And, dried cranberries are even more popular. They’re used in salads, baked goods, stuffing recipes, and even tossed in with roasted veggies. Sadly, almost all store-bought brands are loaded with oil and tons of sugar. So, any health benefit they would otherwise provide is pretty much negated.

But, making your own dried cranberries is simple and much healthier. The most obvious way is using a food dehydrator. But, it’s safe to say many of us don’t own one. So, I’m going to show you how to make these little beauties in your oven.

FYI, these dried cranberries are not as sweet as the ones you would buy at the store. Those are saturated in sugar. This recipe still packs a bit of a sour punch even with the maple syrup. But, you won’t notice the tartness near as much once you add them to other recipes. And, they pair perfectly with Maple Roasted Pecans!

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Table of Contents

How To Make Dried Cranberries

All you need are 2 simple ingredients – fresh cranberries and maple syrup. And, a little bit of patience. The beauty of this recipe is the “set it and forget it” element.

You simply slice the cranberries in half, toss them into a mixing bowl, and cover them with a little maple syrup. Then, just spread everything out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and let them dry in the oven for a few hours.

You may notice other recipes use boiling as a method to soften the cranberries before drying them. But, that’s completely unnecessary. I’ve found they get all mushy and make it hard to separate the individual berries. And, DON’T TRY AND DRY WHOLE CRANBERRIES. The skins are too tough.

And, that’s how to dehydrate cranberries at home.

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How To Use Dried Cranberries

There are lots of great ways to incorporate dried cranberries. Simply toss them into sweet and savory recipes for added texture and flavor. Check out these suggestions…

Vegan Blueberry Muffins: add a handful of cranberries to these muffins or replace the blueberries altogether.
Vegan French Toast Casserole: perfect for topping sweet treats.
Holiday Roasted Vegetables: toss them in for added flavor and texture.
Vegan Wild Rice Stuffing
Roasted Brussels Sprouts: the pecans are great in this dish too.

How Do I Store Dried Cranberries?

Dried cranberries can be kept in the pantry for up to 4 weeks.Be sure and store them in a clean mason jar with a lid.

You can store dried cranberries in the fridge for up to 6 months. All you need to do is place them in a sealable plastic container or mason jar with a lid. Place the cranberries in a freezer-safe container and you can store them for up to a year in the freezer.

Can I Use A Food Dehydrator?

Yes! This step-by-step tutorial from from The Spruce Eats is excellent.

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More Vegan Holiday Recipes

The Best Vegan Pumpkin Pie
Vegan Holiday Roast
Classic Cranberry Sauce
Vegan Creamed Corn
Ultimate Vegan Mashed Potatoes
Easy Vegan Gravy