Dried Cranberries
Dried cranberries are tart-sweet, usually sugar-infused dehydrated berries, a popular addition to salads, baked goods, and snack mixes for their chewy texture and bright tang.
How to buy
Most commercial dried cranberries are sweetened, since raw cranberries are intensely sour; check the label if you want an unsweetened or juice-sweetened version. Look for plump, slightly glossy pieces rather than overly stiff, dried-out ones or heavily clumped bags.
How to store
Store in a sealed bag or container in a cool pantry for several months; refrigerating or freezing extends shelf life further and helps keep them from drying out or attracting pantry pests.
Culinary profile
- Flavor
- Tart and sweet at the same time, with a bright, slightly floral berry tang that cuts through rich or fatty foods -- much more concentrated and sugary than fresh cranberries, which are far too sour to eat plain.
- Texture
- Chewy and slightly sticky, similar to raisins but with a firmer bite; soaking briefly in warm water or juice softens them further for baking.
- Aroma
- A mild, sweet-tart berry aroma, softer and less sharp than fresh cranberries.
How to prepare
- Plumped — Soaked briefly in warm water, juice, or liquor to soften before baking.
- Tossed raw — Added directly to salads and trail mixes for chewy bursts of tang.
- Baked in — Mixed into muffin, scone, and bread batters before baking.
- Simmered into relish — Cooked with sugar and spices into a chunky, tart-sweet relish.
Classic dishes
American
- Cranberry walnut salad — Greens tossed with dried cranberries, walnuts, and crumbled cheese.
- Oatmeal cranberry cookies — Chewy oat cookies studded with dried cranberries.
- Cranberry bread stuffing — A Thanksgiving stuffing brightened with dried cranberries and herbs.
- Wild rice salad with cranberries — A cold grain salad combining wild rice, dried cranberries, and toasted nuts.
- Cranberry granola — Baked oat granola with dried cranberries mixed in after baking.
- Trail mix — A classic snack blend of nuts, seeds, and dried cranberries.
- Cranberry orange scones — Scones studded with dried cranberries and citrus zest.
- Cranberry quick bread — A sweet loaf bread with dried cranberries folded throughout.
- Brie and cranberry puff pastry bites — A holiday appetizer wrapping melted brie and dried cranberries in pastry.
- Cranberry pecan cheese ball — A party appetizer rolled in chopped pecans and dried cranberries.
- Cranberry spinach salad — Spinach tossed with feta, pecans, and dried cranberries.
- Holiday cranberry rice pilaf — A rice side dish studded with dried cranberries and fresh herbs.
- No-bake cranberry energy bars — Oat and nut bars bound together with dried cranberries for chewy sweetness.
Mediterranean
- Cranberry couscous salad — Couscous tossed with dried cranberries, herbs, and almonds.
German
- Cranberry muesli — An oat muesli blend mixed with dried cranberries for chewy sweetness.
Substitutions
- Dried Dates — Works texturally in baking and snack mixes, though dates are sweet rather than tart, so dishes will lose cranberry's signature tang.