Dried Cranberries and a Cranberry and Orange Garland (UK)

Ruby-red dried cranberries for threading, gifting or baking, from fresh supermarket berries.

Why make it

Fresh cranberries appear in UK supermarkets from October to Christmas and freeze well, so they're easy to stock up on. Dried at home, they make long-lasting garland beads, a festive simmer pot ingredient and, with a little sweetening, a tangy addition to mincemeat and flapjacks.

Shop-bought dried cranberries are usually heavily sweetened and oiled. Drying your own means you choose how sweet they are, or leave them plain.

Ingredients

• 2 × 300 g bags fresh (or frozen and defrosted) cranberries
• For eating (optional): 2 tbsp caster sugar or honey dissolved in 100 ml warm water, or 100 ml apple juice
• For the garland: 2–3 large oranges dried as slices (see our orange slice method), strong thread or fishing line, cinnamon sticks

Equipment

• Ezidri Ultra FD1000 with 2–4 trays
• Mesh sheets (cranberries shrink and can roll through tray gaps)
• Saucepan and slotted spoon
• Darning needle

Method (summary)

1. Pick over the berries and discard any soft ones.
2. Crack the skins: either halve each berry, or pour just-boiled water over whole berries and leave for 1–2 minutes until a few skins split. Drain well.
3. For eating, toss in the sweetened water or apple juice and drain again.
4. Spread in a single layer on mesh sheets and dry at 55°C: 10–16 hours halved, 16–24 hours whole.
5. Cool, then store airtight or thread onto your garland.

How to tell it's dry, storage and rehydrating

Dry when: shrunken and leathery to hard, with no juice when squeezed (cool a few first).

Storage: airtight jar in a cool, dark cupboard. Eating cranberries are best within 6 months. Garlands last a season if kept dry.

Rehydrating: cover with hot water or orange juice for 10–15 minutes before adding to bakes.

FAQ

Can you dehydrate cranberries without sugar?

Yes. They'll be very tart, which is perfect for garlands and simmer pots. For snacking, a light sugar or apple juice dip helps.

Can I dry frozen cranberries?

Yes. Freezing actually splits the skins for you. Defrost, drain and pat dry before loading the trays.

How long do cranberry garlands last?

One season indoors is typical. Keep them away from damp, steamy kitchens and from heat sources.

Related recipes and guides

• Dried orange slices for decorations
• Homemade mincemeat with home-dried fruit
• Christmas simmer pot gift mix

Some food images are illustrative.