Simple Ways to Use and Preserve Fresh Cranberries
There is something so festive and beautiful about bright red cranberries this time of year. Perhaps it’s the pops of red amidst the gray and gloom of winter or the cheerful pop of color amongst the evergreens, either way they are one of my favorite foods to incorporate in my kitchen this time of year.
Cranberries not only beautiful, but they are also packed full of vitamin C and antioxidants and are also anti-inflammatory making them an incredibly powerful immune support when you include them in your diet.
This time of year cranberries will often be prevalent in grocery stores and when they go on sale I love to stock up and freeze them for use all winter long. In this blog post, I would love to share some of my favorite things to do with fresh cranberries, as well as a simple way to preserve them to use all winter long.
Cranberry Immunity Tea
Cranberry immunity tea is one of my very favorite things to make with cranberries. The flavor combination of cranberry and orange is classic and delicious. Both cranberries and oranges are full of vitamin C and antioxidants, making this tea an easy way to boost your immune system this time of year. We sip on it all winter long, but it tastes especially good when we are sick. You can find the cranberry immunity tea recipe in this blog post.
Cranberry French Toast Bake
Another thing I like to do with fresh cranberries to make a cranberry French toast bake. It’s a classic French toast turned into a casserole that comes together quickly and easily for a weekday breakfast, but also feels special enough for a weekend brunch or holiday breakfast. The addition of cranberries adds a delightful pop of color and it’s truly delicious. You can find the cranberry French toast recipe here.
Cranberry Orange Scones
Cranberry and orange scones are another festive and delicious breakfast. They pair well with eggs and sausage for a delicious brunch that feels special, while being simple and put together. Find my cranberry orange scone recipe in this blog post.
Cranberry Sauce
What is Thanksgiving without cranberry sauce? If you grew up on the iconic canned cranberry sauce like I did may be ruined forever after trying homemade cranberry sauce. It is actually so easy to whip up and is great on its own, on top of rolls or bread, on a turkey sandwich, or as filling in your favorite crêpes or turnovers. It’s made with simple ingredients and it’s just delicious. This recipe is similar to how I make mine.
Cranberry Simmer Pot
A simple cranberry simmer pot is an easy way to create that cozy, holiday smell in your home. You can easily customize it with spices that you love or have on hand and you can simmer the ingredients over and over, making it a truly cost-effective way to make your home smell wonderful. This is how I do my cranberry simmer pot and here is a really beautiful way to gift it.
Sugared Cranberries
Sugared cranberries are another festive edition to your Christmas dishes, whether it be as garnish on a charcuterie board or even as a standalone side. The glistening sugar crystals gives them that frosted appearance which is just so beautiful. Learn how to make them here.
Cranberry Strings
Of course, another iconic tradition would be to string cranberries either alone, with orange slices, or even with popcorn. This is especially fun if you have children. You can string them and add them to your Christmas tree, string a garland around windows, or even string them in a tree for the birds to eat. This blog post details how I make a dried orange garland and you could simply add cranberries to it.
How to Preserve Fresh Cranberries
Preserving fresh cranberries is very simple and a great way to enjoy the benefits and flavor of fresh cranberries all winter long. When I purchase bulk cranberries, the first thing I do is to wash them. Sometimes I’ll just rinse thoroughly, but because we are often eating the whole berry, I prefer to make sure they’re good and clean. To do this, I’ll cover them completely and then add a teaspoon of baking soda and a splash of apple cider vinegar. After about five minutes, drain the water and rinse thoroughly.
Prepare a large baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper. Spread the washed cranberries into an even layer and pat dry with paper towel. Place the whole sheet in the freezer for at least one hour or up to 24 hours. Once they are frozen remove from the freezer and place the cranberries into a freezer safe gallon size zip loc bag. They may need to warm up slightly to pop off the tray.
Store in the freezer for up to one year. To use in recipes, I simply pull out what I need and use them from frozen or let them thaw at room temperature if necessary.
In Conclusion
Fresh cranberries are delightful any time of year, but especially during the cold and dark of winter. I hope this blog post has been inspiring for you. I would love to know, what are your favorite ways to use fresh cranberries?
