Dried cranberries

[MYellowRose]

Hope this isn't a repeat but I need some help. I've got dried cranberries that were given to me that I'd like to make use of someway. I'm not good at yeast breads so I was wondering if anyone has a recipe for either a quick bread or muffins that use dried cranberries. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

[Shamrock1121]

The simple answer is to use them almost anywhere you would use raisins. Instead of Oatmeal Raisin Cookies, use dried cranberries - in equal amounts. Toss some in trail mix or granola and they make good snackin' food - they are packed with vitamin C and fiber. Put some on your morning oatmeal. If you have a favorite basic muffin or scone recipe, you can add all kinds of things, including dried cranberries.

You don't say if they are sweet or not, but it really doesn't matter all that much, they both work the same in recipes. The unsweetened ones are just a lot more tart.

I make my own in the dehydrator this time of the year when I can get bags of them "buy one get one free". I don't like the ingredients they put in the pre-sweetened ones.

Here's a recipe I like to whip together. I like using whole foods, and this makes a nice, simple, dessert. I serve it in fancy parfait ice cream dishes and sprinkle some sprouted-grain cereal over the top (it's kinda' like grape nuts) for some added crunch. I sometimes put chopped toasted pecans on the top. It's also a good fruit sauce to serve with pork. My husband calls it Fake Apple/Cranberry Pie.

3 T. brown sugar (I use agave nectar or honey)
1 T. cornstarch
1/4 - 1 t. nutmeg (or cinnamon, or apple pie spice mixture) - to taste
3/4 c. orange juice
2 apples, thinly sliced (I like Jonathans or Granny Smith)
1/2 c. dried cranberries (sweetened or unsweetened)

In a pan, combine sugar, cornstarch, nutmeg and orange juice; blend well. Stir in fruit. Over medium-high heat, bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat. Cover; simmer 5-10 minutes or until apples are tender and sauce is thickened, stirring occasionally. Serve warm.

(Note: you can easily make half the recipe. I also use dried cherries, dried blueberries, currants, dark or light raisins in the recipe instead of dried cranberries. Raisins gives it a "buttery" taste, similar to French Apple Pie. You can also make it using apples only.

-Karen

[Penny_Plinker]

Raw cranberries are low in sugar and so they are a low carb food. But when they dry them, they add a LOT of sugar, even more than raisins. So, if you have any diabetic or blood sugar concerns, just beware they're not a healthy snack.

Otherwise, you could use them in trail mix same as you would raisins. Substitute in muffin recipes that call for raisins.

Penny