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    Home » Snack Recipes » Sugar-Free Dried Cranberries

    Sugar-Free Dried Cranberries

    5 Ingredient RecipesGluten & Grain Free RecipesLow Carb & Keto RecipesSugar Free RecipesTrim Healthy Mama Recipes

    Published: Oct 19, 2020 by Taryn

    This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.
    Print Recipe Jump to Recipe
    pinterest image for sugar free dried cranberries
    pinterest image for sugar free dried cranberries

    Learn how to make incredible Sugar-Free Dried Cranberries in the comfort of your kitchen. They are easy, flavorful, and perfect to add to all your favorite recipes. You can make dried cranberries with just 2 ingredients and no special equipment! They are made right on your stovetop. They are keto-friendly, low-carb, gluten-free, grain-free, and a Trim Healthy Mama fuel pull. 

    close up of the cranberries

    collage of food
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    I love adding cranberries to many recipes, but so many store-bought cranberries are PACKED with tons of sugar. We don’t eat regular sugar and do everything we can to find alternatives. I was on a mission to make my own sugar-free dried cranberries, so I didn’t have to worry about the other junk that is processed with them. 

    Once you try to make your own homemade dried cranberries, I am certain that you are going to want to make this recipe time and time again. You don’t even have to have a food dehydrator like many recipes. 

    It’s not a huge secret that I enjoy making recipes that have my beloved cranberries in them. It’s just a yummy flavor that is irresistible to me. Think of my gluten free keto Cranberry Bliss Bars or my sugar free Sweet Cinnamon Cranberry Danish. They are heavenly, and I am sure you will want to devour them too. These also taste better in low carb keto recipes than just using unsweetened dried cranberries.

    bowl of sugar free dried cranberries

    What You Will Need To Make Dried Cranberries

    You guys! You only need two ingredients, and that is it. And you don't need any special equipment. And you don't need to leave the oven on for hours and hours.

    • Cranberries - You can use frozen or fresh cranberries, however, frozen cranberries seem to work better in this. If you have fresh just pop them in the freezer overnight before proceeding.
    • Sweetener - I use my sweetener blend of xylitol, erythritol, and stevia but any sweetener should work. See the notes section of the recipe card for conversions. This really can just be sweetened to taste.

    cranberries in a large skillet

    How To Make Sugar-Free Dried Cranberries

    These beautiful vibrant cranberries can be made with a few simple steps. They are incredible, and I am super excited for you to try them. 

    First Step: Begin by combining the cranberries and ½ cup of the sweetener in a large skillet. Cook them on low and stir occasionally.

    cranberries cooking in a skillet with sweetener

    You will need to cook them for 1 hour or so. They will begin to pop and start to dry out. You can cook longer than an hour if needed. They will start looking like craisins at this point. 

    the berries cooking down in skillet

    Second Step: After the cranberries look dried out, pour in the rest of the sweetener and give them a taste. You can add more sweetener if they aren’t sweet enough for your tastes. 

    sugar free dried cranberries on parchment paper

    Third Step: Sprinkle the cranberries onto a baking sheet that has been lined with parchment paper. Allow them to sit out for a few hours so they can finish drying out. Give them a stir on occasion. Add a little more sweetener, stir, and separate them. If they still feel a little sticky simply pop in the fridge. Once they chill you can transfer to a plastic container for storage.

    dried cranberries spread out on a wood surface

    Do I Need A Food Dehydrator?

    Nope! You can completely make these sugar-free dried cranberries with two ingredients, a saucepan, spoon, and a baking sheet. They are so simple, and you don’t even have to heat up the house with the oven. 

    Storage

    To store the sugar-free dried cranberries, put them inside of an airtight storage container. They should be kept in the refrigerator. 

    Additionally, you can store the cranberries in the freezer. It’s best to flash freeze them on a baking sheet for a couple of hours. Then add them to a freezer bag or another container. They will last 6-8 months in the freezer.plate of cranberry bliss bars

    Dried Cranberries Benefits

    Not only are sugar-free dried cranberries delicious and a wonderful addition to many dishes, they are also good for you too. 

    • Dried cranberries are loaded with antioxidants, which are amazing for your body and help fight free radicals. 
    • They don’t have a lot of calories, so they add some extra flavor without any guilt. 
    • The cranberries have a lot of dietary fiber, which aids in digestion and helps keep you full longer. 
    • They also have vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, and manganese. 

    overhead view of pile of lemon drizzle cranberry cookies on white plate

    What To Use Dried Cranberries For

    You can actually use the dried cranberries for all sorts of meals and recipes. Here are a few ideas that you can consider trying out:

    • Salads - Toss on a handful of cranberries to your baby spinach salad for a sweet and tangy flavor. Add as much or as little as you like. 
    • Smoothies - If you love to make veggie and berry smoothies, add in a few sugar-free dried cranberries. 
    • Baked Goods - Bread, muffins, cakes, or any other baked good will be even better with a few dried cranberries. Try out my Cranberry Orange Muffins, Cranberry Cake with Walnut Crumb Topping, or Cranberry Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Icing. 
    • Trail Mix - You can make your own homemade trail mix with seeds, nuts, sugar-free chocolate chips, and cranberries. It’s an incredible treat that is great on the go. Dried cranberry trail mix is a must bring whenever I am traveling.
    • Meatloaf - Really! One of our favorite meatloaves is made with dried cranberries and blue cheese.

    overhead shot of dried cranberries

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    close up of the cranberries

    Sugar-Free Dried Cranberries

    Sugar-Free Dried Cranberries made on your stovetop with just 2 ingredients & no special equipment! Keto-friendly, low-carb, gluten-free.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
    Prep Time: 1 minute
    Cook Time: 1 hour
    Total Time: 1 hour 1 minute
    Course: Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 20
    Author: Taryn

    Ingredients

    • 12 oz fresh or frozen cranberries (frozen work better in this)
    • 1 cup Joy Filled Eats Sweetener (or see alternatives in recipe notes)
    US Customary - Metric
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    Instructions

    • Put the cranberries and ½ cup sweetener in a large skillet. Cook on low, stirring occasionally, for about 1 hour until they have all popped and are starting to dry out. Cook longer if necessary. They should begin to look like craisins.
    • Once they look like dried cranberries add the rest of the sweetener and taste them. If you would like them sweeter just add more sweetener to taste.
    • Transfer onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Let them sit out for a few hours to finish drying. Just stir them occasionally. Store in an airtight container in the fridge.

    Notes

    Nutrition: this yields about 2 cups of loosely packed craisins. Each serving is ¼ cup and has 3 NET carbs.
    To Store: keep the sugar-free dried cranberries in a sealed container in the fridge. 
    To Freeze: lay the dried cranberries out on a baking sheet and flash freeze. Then place them in a freezer-safe container for up to 6-8 months. 
    Notes on Sweeteners: 
    I use my own blend of xylitol, erythritol, and stevia in my recipes. This is twice as sweet as sugar. It is comparable to Trim Healthy Mama Gentle Sweet and Truvia.
    To sub in Swerve or Lakanto Monk Fruit use 1.5 times the amount of sweetener called for. 
     
    To sub in Pyure or Trim Healthy Mama Super Sweet use half the amount of sweetener called for.
     
    Substitutions will work in most recipes. They may not work in candies, such as caramel.
     
     
     

    Nutrition

    Calories: 20 | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 36mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 26IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 1mg
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    Comments

    1. Courtney Schmidt says

      January 20, 2022 at 2:11 pm

      super easy! My favorite way to make sugar free dried cranberries (and I've tried quite a few others)! Now to make your cranberry bliss bars. the best!5 stars

      Reply
    2. Dianne says

      December 19, 2021 at 6:22 pm

      I made these December 2020. They turned out perfectly. I stored them in a jar in the refrigerator. Well, I needed some dried cranberries for a salad at Thanksgiving and remembered my jar! There was about 1/3 remaining and they were still delicious! These babies keep forever in the back of the fridge.5 stars

      Reply
    3. Diane Wright says

      February 02, 2021 at 7:10 pm

      Mine seemed to turn out more like a rlly the individual craisins...what did I do wrong?

      Reply
      • Taryn says

        February 03, 2021 at 4:24 pm

        More like a what? Sorry, it looks like there is a typo?

        Reply
    4. Glenda Shelton says

      December 28, 2020 at 1:06 am

      Love dried cranberries, keto style5 stars

      Reply
    5. Liz Cassin says

      December 07, 2020 at 11:00 am

      Hello Taryn,
      I thank you so very much for this recipe and so many more. I have a hard time finding dried cranberries where I live and I love adding cranberries, nuts and sugar free chocolate chips as a snack. I appreciate you very much. I pray you and yours will have a very Merry Christmas. God bless.

      Reply
    6. Katherine says

      December 04, 2020 at 4:57 pm

      Mine is looking like cranberry sauce. It’s very gloppy...very yummy, but not like craisins. I hope this is right. 😋

      Reply
      • Taryn says

        December 04, 2020 at 7:10 pm

        Spread them out and keep cooking. They firm up more after being chilled because the sweetener crystallizes.

        Reply
        • Amy says

          August 29, 2021 at 3:27 am

          I'll definitely be making these, I did manage to get unsweetened ones online once, but it was an expensive faff.

          Do you know if this method works for other berries too? Blueberries maybe?

          Thanks for the recipe!

        • Taryn says

          August 29, 2021 at 12:17 pm

          I think blueberries would work. The worst that would happen is you'd end up with jam 🙂

    7. Elizabeth King says

      November 26, 2020 at 5:35 pm

      Mine tasted good and definitely are a good sub for the store bought but were kind of soft. Is that how they should be or did I not leave them in the pan long enough? They smelled like they were going to burn and had been in the pan for about an hour so I was afraid to leave them on any longer.

      Reply
      • Taryn says

        November 27, 2020 at 10:44 am

        I think you should've left them in the pan a little longer. You can chill them and they will firm up more.

        Reply
    8. Julie says

      November 16, 2020 at 5:48 pm

      Do you use a cover on your skillet? I'm afraid the popping of the cranberries would make a huge mess! Hoping I am WRONG!!

      Reply
      • Taryn says

        November 16, 2020 at 8:36 pm

        I did not. They didn't make a mess at all because they are cooked low and slow.

        Reply
    9. julie Helo says

      November 15, 2020 at 2:11 am

      A million thank-you's. Sugar-free dried cranberries are so very expensive to purchase online. This is going to save so much money and add so much enjoyment to recipes.5 stars

      Reply
    10. Lisa says

      November 01, 2020 at 3:07 pm

      Anyone know the directions for a dehydrator?

      Reply
    11. Lucinda Oliver says

      October 19, 2020 at 6:35 pm

      How many cups is 12 oz of cranberries. I have frozen ones in a gallo. Bag.

      Reply
      • Taryn says

        October 19, 2020 at 8:32 pm

        3 cups

        Reply

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