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    Home » Other Desserts » How to Dry Cranberries – Sugar Free Recipe

    Published: Nov 11, 2018 · Modified: Oct 30, 2022 by Carolyn

    How to Dry Cranberries – Sugar Free Recipe

    This post may contain Amazon or other affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    13.3K shares
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    It’s easy to make your own dried cranberries with no added sugar! Make them in the oven or a dehydrator, and use them in your favorite keto treats.

    A jar of sugar free dried cranberries with fresh cranberries around it.

    This tutorial on how to dry cranberries has been on my blog since a gazillion years. Or, to be more precise, since November of 2012, which really amounts to the same thing.

    I’ve been making these sugar free dried cranberries almost every year since. It’s not easy to find this popular snack without huge amounts of added sugar.

    So I started making my own dried cranberries with alternative sweeteners. Turns out that it’s remarkably easy! I make several batches every fall and use them in all sorts of delicious recipes, like Keto Christmas Cookies.

    Close up shot of a pile of sugar free dried cranberries.

    You’ve got to try this!

    Cranberries are extremely tart on their own. I’d almost go as far to say that they are unpalatable, which is why you rarely see unsweetened dried cranberries.

    But you can use almost any sweetener to make them keto friendly. I like to use a combination of Swerve Confectioners and allulose, as I find this gives the best flavor while reducing any grittiness.

    I discovered that the berries turn out much better if you also use a little oil. Otherwise, they tend to become crisp as they dry out, rather than soft and chewy.

    You can dry cranberries in the oven or in a dehydrator, and it works well both ways. The oven method is quite a bit faster, as a dehydrator needs to run for at least 8 hours. But using an oven also uses more energy, so it’s up to you!

    Ingredients you need

    Top down image of ingredients needed to make dried cranberries with no added sugar.
    • Fresh cranberries: Choose cranberries that aren’t damaged or old as this affects the quality of your dried cranberries. Frozen cranberries tend to release a lot more juice as they dry, so it takes longer to dry them out properly.
    • Sweetener: You have a lot of choice for sweetening the berries, but I do recommend using powdered sweeteners where possible. I found that a combination of erythritol and allulose works really well. Some of my readers also use BochaSweet. See more information in the Expert Tips section.
    • Avocado oil: Don’t skip the oil or your dried cranberries will be tough and crispy! They get a little crispy as it is, but the oil makes a huge difference. You can also use extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, or any other neutral tasting oil.

    Step-by-step directions

    A collage of 4 images showing how to dry cranberries at home.

    1. Cut the cranberries in half and toss in a bowl with sweeteners and oil.

    2. Spread on a parchment-lined baking pan and separate each individual berry as best you can.

    3. Place the baking sheet in a 200ºF oven and let dry, 3 hours or longer. Let them cool completely on the pan. Then transfer to an airtight container.

    4. Store in the refrigerator for several months.

    Dehydrator method: Prepare the berries as directed and spread out in a dehydrator. Set the dehydrator to 125ºF and 8 to 12 hours, or until the berries are dry to your liking.

    A jar of homemade dried cranberries with no added sugar.

    Expert tips and FAQ

    Sweetener Options: You can use almost any sweetener to make dried cranberries, but I recommend half Swerve Confectioners and half allulose for a few reasons. Erythritol sweeteners tend to crystallize during baking, and using some allulose helps offset this.
    But allulose alone tends to make the berries brown too quickly. I tried this last year and ended up with something more like raisins than cranberries! Use powdered allulose for this recipe.

    Cutting the berries: Whole cranberries have a firm exterior that doesn’t break down easily during baking. So cutting the berries in half allows them to dry out more quickly. This does take a little time but while save you time in the long run.

    Keep your eyes on them! Every oven and every dehydrator is different so check them frequently.

    A hand holding up a homemade dried cranberry above the jar.
    How many carbs are in dried cranberries?

    This sugar free dried cranberry recipe has 5.2g of carbs and 2g of fiber per serving. That comes to 3.2g net carbs for a 3 tablespoon serving.

    How should you store cranberries you dried at home?

    Store the dried cranberries in an airtight container. If they are well dried out, you can keep them on the counter for a few weeks. If they still have some moisture to them, they are best kept in the fridge. You can also freeze them for up one year.

    A stack of keto macaroons in front of a bowl of sugar-free dried cranberries.

    How to use them

    Now that you made a big batch of sugar free dried cranberries, you need keto recipes to use them. Not to worry, I have plenty of ideas for you!

    • Keto Oatmeal Cookies
    • Morning Glory Muffins
    • Easy Keto Cauliflower Pilaf
    • Keto Biscotti with Pecans and Cranberries
    • Cranberry Almond Keto Macaroons
    • Keto Mincemeat
    • Keto Cranberry Bliss Bars
    A jar of sugar free dried cranberries with fresh cranberries around it.

    How to Dry Cranberries

    Learn how to dry cranberries at home! Perfect for holiday baking or anytime you want a healthy low carb sweet treat.
    4.93 from 56 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Snack
    Cuisine: Appetizer
    Keyword: dried cranberries, sugar free dried cranberries
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 3 hours
    Total Time: 3 hours 15 minutes
    Servings: 8 servings
    Calories: 38kcal

    Ingredients

    • 12 ounces fresh cranberries
    • ⅓ cup Swerve Confectioners
    • ⅓ cup allulose powdered version
    • 2 tablespoon avocado oil or any neutral tasting oi.
    US Customary – Metric

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 200ºF and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
    • Cut the cranberries in half and toss in a bowl with the sweeteners and oil. Spread on the prepared baking pan and separate each individual berry as best you can.
    • Place in the oven and let dry 3 hours or longer. Let cool on the pan.
    • Transfer to an airtight container. Store in refrigerator.

    Notes

    Dehydrator Method: Prepare the berries as directed and spread out in a dehydrator. Set the dehydrator to 125ºF and 8 to 12 hours, or until the berries are dry to your liking.
    Storage Information: Store the dried cranberries in an airtight container. If they are well dried out, you can keep them on the counter for a few weeks. If they still have some moisture to them, they are best kept in the fridge. You can also freeze them for up one year.
    Nutrition Facts
    How to Dry Cranberries
    Amount Per Serving (3 tbsp)
    Calories 38 Calories from Fat 32
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 3.5g5%
    Carbohydrates 5.2g2%
    Fiber 2g8%
    Protein 0.2g0%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    13.3K shares

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    Nutritional Disclaimer

    Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional. I am simply recounting and sharing my own experiences on this blog. Nothing I express here should be taken as medical advice and you should consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. I provide nutritional information for my recipes simply as a courtesy to my readers. It is calculated using MacGourmet software and I remove erythritol from the final carb count and net carb count, as it does not affect my own blood glucose levels. I do my best to be as accurate as possible but you should independently calculate nutritional information on your own before relying on them. I expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website.

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Paula says

      March 17, 2023 at 3:52 pm

      5 stars
      can I use frozen cranberries? there are no fresh now and how do I adjust the recipe

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        March 17, 2023 at 5:13 pm

        They do give off more liquid, just be aware of that. It does work but they can take longer to dry out properly.

        Reply
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