I have a recipe for a cake that includes dried and fresh cranberries. I can't find any dried cranberries. Any suggestion on how to dry them without a dehydrator? Thanks in advance!
Try spreading them out on a sheet pan (I think they are called jelly roll pans but I always just call them cookie sheets. The kind that has edges so they won't roll off). Let your oven warm up to about 200 degrees F before putting the pan with the berries in it. Stir them around frequently while drying. I don't know how long it will take but should be very long since they are quite small, but don't do it overnight, you want to keep an eye on them so they don't burn I have dried orange slices this way and it took about 2 days.
I have a food dehydrator and I tried drying cranberries but with so many different sizes some were dried and some were still soft. The recipe book said it would take less time. I mean some of the berries were like powder when you crushed them. I think I should of cut them in pieces but that was way too much work. I was only doing it for the birds and I put them on the tray and no one tried them.
I owuld cut them in half and dry them upside down in a dehydrator. Even if they are semi soft they should work fine for the recipe. They give it some chewy texture with the crispy texture of the fresh berries.
I usually dry the cranberries that I use for my cake by dipping it in boiling water. I read somewhere that it helps to crack open the skin. It takes really long for the cranberries to dry otherwise with the skin on. They should be kept in room temperature till there is no sign of moisture. But it is really long lasting. I have mine in the freezer for the last 2 years But if you are short of time, then you could go for craisins brand of dried cranberries.
