Homemade Sugar-Free Dried Cranberries (Keto) (2024)

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Discover the joy of homemade Sugar-Free Dried Cranberries (Keto) "Craisins" with this simple recipe! Elevate your keto salads, muffins, cookies, low-carb granola, and yogurt by sprinkling these delightful fruits, or relish them as a scrumptious standalone snack or in combination with nuts.

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MORE KETO & LOW CARB RECIPES

Homemade Keto Country Breakfast Sausage | Homemade Sugar-Free Peanut Butter

ARE DRIED CRANBERRIES KETO?

When you think of the holidays it is hard not to think about cranberries right? I mean they are the official berry of Thanksgiving and Christmas!

From my childhood, I looked forward to cranberry everything. But going low carb meant that the traditional cranberry sauce and dried cranberries I so looked forward to were off the menu.

I immediately got to work and made my cranberry sauce sugar-free. But my favorite holiday treat of dried cranberries was off the menu, or so I thought.

Why it took me this long to make them myself is beyond me. I am a little slow at times.

Anywho, the question is are dried cranberries keto and, if you are talking about the store-bought kind, no they are not.

Regular store-bought dried cranberries are made using sugar, sugar syrup, concentrated juice, etc. All of these contain a lot of sugar which of course equals a LOT of carbs.

But making them yourself at home is so easy there is no reason that you have to deny yourself this holiday pleasure.

You can make this in the oven or use a dehydrator. I have used both but, since most people do not have a dehydrator, I am posting the oven method here. If you have a dehydrator follow the instructions until you put them in the oven and then use your manufacturer's instructions for the time to dry cranberries/berries. For mine, it is 125 degrees F for 8 to 12 hours.

I started out making sugar syrup for these but soon learned that using coconut oil results in a much better texture for the dried berries.

HINTS TO MAKING THE BEST SUGAR-FREE DRIED CRANBERRIES

• Cranberries: Choose the freshest cranberries you can. You want cranberries that aren’t damaged or old. Frozen cranberries can be used but they release a lot of juice as they dry, so it takes much longer to dry them out properly. The best results come from fresh.
• Oil: This is a MUST for chewy cranberries! They will get a little "crispy" as they dry, but the oil makes a HUGE difference. You can use coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil, avocado oil, or any other neutral oil.
• Sweetener: There are a lot of sweeteners to choose from when you make your choice for sweetening your berries, and a lot of that is up to your personal taste. But I do recommend using powdered sweeteners if possible.

So, to the question of are dried cranberries keto I give you this:

According to the USDA, a 1/4 cup serving of conventional dry cranberries contains 33 grams of total carbs

If you make these dried cranberries without sugar, though, the same serving size contains just 5 grams of total carbs and3 grams of net carbs.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED TO MAKE SUGAR-FREE DRIED CRANBERRIES

Detailed measurements and instructions can be found on the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page.

INGREDIENTS

• Cranberries
• Besti Monk Fruit Allulose Powdered Sweetener
• Coconut oil

HOW TO MAKE SUGAR-FREE DRIED CRANBERRIES

Please see the recipe card below for the complete recipe, including measurements and cooking time!

STEP 1

Preheat the oven to 225 degrees F.Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

STEP 2

Bring a pot of water to a boil. Remove the pot from the heat and add cranberries.Set aside for 10 minutes. The cranberries will soften and pop.

STEP 3
Drain the cranberries and transfer them to a large bowl.

STEP 4

Add the powdered sweetener and coconut oil to the cranberries.Gently toss to coat, being careful to avoid smashing the berries.

STEP 5

Spread the berries on the lined baking sheet.Using the tip of a knife or a toothpick, pop any unpopped cranberries.

STEP 6

Place the baking sheet into the oven for 3-4 hours, or until the cranberries are shriveled and mostly dry. Turn off the oven and prop the door open with a wooden spoon.

STEP 7

Let the cranberries sit undisturbed for several hours or overnight, until completely cool and dry.
Store in an airtight container (I use a mason jar) in a cool dry place for up to a month.

FAQS ABOUT SUGAR-FREE DRIED CRANBERRIES

Can I make dried cranberries without sweetener? Yes, but they are very tart so not very pleasant to just eat plain. You can use unsweetened dried cranberries in baking (cookies, muffins), and that works well.

How should I store my sugar-free dried cranberries? Store your dried cranberries in an airtight container. If they are well dried, you can keep them on the counter for about a month. If they still have a little moisture in them I recommend keeping them in the fridge. You can also freeze them for 12 to 18 months.

Last thoughts about Sugar-Free Dried Cranberries

These sugar-free dried cranberries are a huge hit and super popular with my friends and family (and myself) because:

They are juicy and soft and chewy.

They are full of flavor. They are tart and sweet all at once.

For me, they are so easy to make. With just 3 ingredients there is no reason NOT to make them!

You can use them in so many things! Cookies, muffins, salads, granola, etc.

Again, for me, they are healthy. They are packed with vitamin C, minerals, and antioxidants.

KETO AND LOW CARB RECIPE IDEAS TO USE SUGAR-FREE DRIED CRANBERRIES

• Keto White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies
• Herbed Beef Tenderloin Roast with Port Wine Cranberry Sauce
• White Chocolate Matcha with Cranberries
• Cranberry Bliss Bars
• Keto Broccoli Slaw
• Keto Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies