Cranberry Facts

Learn fun cranberry facts, how cranberries grow, how to cook with them, and easy cranberry recipes kids can help make. This page includes cranberry coconut bars, a cranberry cheese appetizer, and more cranberry ideas.

Fun Cranberry Facts

Cranberries are harvested in September and October.
Cranberries grow on low vines.
The places they grow are called cranberry bogs.
Cranberries are very sour, so they are often cooked with sugar.
Dried cranberries can be added to breads, cereal, trail mixes, and granola.

How Cranberries Grow, Buying Tips, and Storage

When Cranberries Are Available

Cranberries are harvested in September and October.

How Cranberries Grow

Cranberries grow on vines that stay low to the ground. The places where they are grown are called cranberry bogs. The evergreen vines blossom with white flowers, and about 2 months later the cranberries are ready for harvesting.

What to Look for When Buying Cranberries

Cranberry varieties range from light red to dark red in color.

Cranberry Storage Tips

Store cranberries in the fridge or freeze them.

Kid Tip: Cranberries are fun to compare with sweeter berries because they look bright and beautiful but taste much more tart.

How to Cook Cranberries

Rinse the cranberries before using them.
Cook cranberries with sugar because they are very sour or bitter.
Use them in sauces, bars, breads, or other cranberry recipes.
Add dried cranberries to quick breads, cereal, granola, or trail mixes.

Cooking Tip: Cranberries often pop open while cooking, which helps make sauces and fillings thicker.

Mini Activity

Compare Fresh and Dried Cranberries

Look at a fresh cranberry and a dried cranberry.
Notice the difference in color, size, and texture.
Taste each one and describe the flavor.

This is a simple way to show how ingredients can change after drying.

Cranberry Nutrition Facts

Cranberries are high in calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamin A, and vitamin B.

Cranberries are high in calcium.
They contain magnesium and potassium.
They provide vitamin A.
They also contain vitamin B.

More Food Fact Resources

Recipes

Cranberry Cheese Appetizer

This cranberry cheese appetizer combines goat cheese, chopped dried cranberries, pecans, rosemary, and honey for a festive appetizer.

Ingredients

1/4 cup pecans, finely chopped
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary leaves, finely chopped
1/4 cup dried cranberries, chopped
1 4-ounce goat cheese log
3 tablespoons honey, divided
Crackers or bread slices

Instructions

Combine the chopped pecans, rosemary leaves, and cranberries in a medium bowl and stir to combine.
Place the goat cheese log in a rimmed bowl and drizzle 2 tablespoons honey on top. Turn the cheese log while spreading the honey evenly across the entire surface with clean fingers.
Sprinkle the chopped pecan mixture over the honey-covered cheese log and gently press it into the surface until evenly coated.
Drizzle the remaining honey on a small serving platter to hold the cheese log in place. Place the goat cheese in the center and sprinkle any remaining cranberry-pecan mixture around it.
Serve immediately with crackers or bread slices.

Kid Cooking Tip: Kids can help stir the coating mixture, drizzle the honey, and press the cranberry mixture onto the cheese log.

Recipe Notes:

This recipe works well for holidays or snack boards.
Serve with crackers, toast rounds, or bread slices.

Cranberry Coconut Bars

These cranberry coconut bars have a buttery oat crust, tart cranberry filling, and a crumbly topping with nuts and coconut.

Crust Ingredients

1 1/4 cups flour
3/4 cup oats
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup butter, melted or softened
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup toasted walnuts or pecans
1 cup shredded coconut

Filling Ingredients

2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
1 cup dried cranberries
2/3 cup white sugar
1/2 cup water

Instructions

To prepare the crust, stir together the flour, oats, baking soda, and salt in a mixing bowl.
In a separate bowl, cream together the butter and brown sugar until smooth. Add this to the flour mixture and blend together.
Mix in the pecans and coconut. Set aside 1 1/2 cups of the crust mixture.
Press the remaining crust mixture into the bottom of a greased 13x9-inch pan and bake at 400°F for 10 minutes.
For the filling, place the fresh or frozen cranberries, dried cranberries, sugar, and water in a saucepan.
Cook for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring often. The cranberries will pop open and can be mashed while stirring.
Cool slightly, then pour the filling over the crust.
Sprinkle the reserved crust mixture over the top.
Bake at 400°F for 15 to 20 minutes, until the crust is golden brown.

Kid Cooking Tip: Kids can help stir the crust ingredients, sprinkle the topping over the bars, and watch the cranberries pop while the filling cooks.

Recipe Notes:

Let the bars cool before cutting so the filling sets up better.
The mix of fresh and dried cranberries gives these bars extra texture and flavor.

More Cranberry Ideas

Cranberry Sauce

Cook cranberries with sugar and water for a simple homemade sauce.

Fruit Cocktail Ideas

Add cranberries or dried cranberries to fruit mixes and festive fruit salads.

Trail Mixes

Add dried cranberries to trail mix, cereal, granola, or snack mixes.

Cranberry Bread

Watch the cranberry bread video for another baking idea.

Cranberry Sauce

Use 4 cups fresh or frozen cranberries, 2 cups sugar, and 2 cups water. Heat the sugar and water in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Boil 5 minutes. Add in washed cranberries and boil another 5 minutes until the cranberries pop open. Chill before serving.

Trail Mixes and Snack Ideas

Dried cranberries make a great add-in for trail mixes, cereal, granola, and quick breads. They also work well in autumn snack mixes and lunchbox ideas. This comes directly from the original page’s cooking notes about using dried cranberries.