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Looking for a delightful way to enjoy cranberries all year long? Discover the magic of fermentation with these three mouthwatering recipes that transform tart cranberries into irresistible treats!
Cranberries are not just for the holidays!
In this post, we’re diving into three delectable fermented cranberry recipes that you can enjoy year-round.
First up, we have the Cranberry-Orange Relish, a perfect blend of fresh cranberries, toasted pecans, and candied ginger, making it an eye-catching addition to any appetizer spread.
It’s a sweet and tart delight that pairs wonderfully with soft cheese and crackers, or as a topping for yogurt with a sprinkle of toasted coconut and a drizzle of maple syrup.
Next, the Raw Cranberry-Apple Chutney brings together the goodness of raw cranberries, apples, onions, and spices, all enhanced with the live cultures created during fermentation.
It’s a flavorful snack that’s perfect for any time of day.
Lastly, the Pickled Cranberries offer a fun and fizzy burst of flavor, making them a unique and exciting treat for your taste buds.
Whether you’re snacking, hosting a party, or looking for a new way to enjoy cranberries, these fermented recipes are sure to impress!
When you hear the words “Cranberry Sauce”?
Or, “Cranberries”?
What first comes to mind for you?
Perhaps, the image of a sugary, sweet relish that you pop out of a can twice a year around Thanksgiving and Christmas???
If it’s loved by Bart, it will definitely make it’s way to your heart! #USCranberriesIN #CranberryRed pic.twitter.com/QidCW9K5zA
— US Cranberries India (@USCranberriesIN) October 23, 2017
I aim to change those images with the help of trillions of microscopic friends transforming sour cranberries into flavorful ferments that you can make now and then enjoy all year long. And, these fermented cranberry recipes don’t even come close to that canned stuff.
Since fermentation has entered my life, I’ve learned so many flavorful and healthy ways to ferment more than just sauerkraut: carrots, beets, coconut water, pickles, and even garlic!
The list continues and now includes fermented cranberries!
Who Knew?
Here on Vancouver Island, we’re lucky to have local cranberries. Yellow Point Cranberries, a family-owned and operated cranberry farm marks the seasons for me by their appearance each fall at my local farmer’s market.
Their stand displays a cornucopia of fresh cranberries for just a few short weeks. I grab a few bags and stash them in my freezer to put to good use in the ensuing months.
Americans eat 400 million pounds of cranberries per year. Consumption of cranberries is greatest during Thanksgiving week. Around 80 million tons of cranberries are consumed during that period.
All About Cranberries
Cranberries are often a part of a Thanksgiving celebration in the form of cranberry sauce served alongside turkey. But, there is much more to cranberries than a jellied mixture sold in a can.
Fun Facts About Cranberries
- Just a few fruits farmed in the United States are native. Cranberries are one of those fruits.
- Native Americans used a cranberry poultice on their arrow wounds because of its anti-inflammatory properties.
- One-fifth of America’s total harvest of cranberries is consumed around one day: Thanksgiving.
- Only five percent of cranberry crops are sold as fresh cranberries.
- New Jersey is one of the top three states in the United States that grows cranberries.
- The Lee Brothers, a 7th generation cranberry farm, has been growing cranberries since the mid-1800’s.
Cranberry juice was used as a source of vitamin C for the prevention of scurvy (disorder induced by vitamin C deficiency) on American ships in the past, as was sauerkraut.
How Do Cranberries Grow?
Under water? No.
But why do we always see them floating on water as in this picture that I just can’t pull my eyes away from?
Cranberries grow on low trailing vines in sunken beds called bogs. The plants are perennial meaning they survive year after year, some being 65 years old. They love sandy soil and take a long time to grow. 16 months!!!
Iconic northerness, wild cranberries growing on a bed of caribou lichen. #spectacularnwt pic.twitter.com/fzuUV6aOe3
— Laurie Sarkadi (@LaurieSarkadi) 16 September 2016
Water is an important and precious commodity for cranberry growers. Though the cranberries grow on dry land, water is used to flood them twice a year.
In December, farmers plug the bogs and flood them for the duration of winter. This is when the plants go dormant and this blanket of water insulates the vines from harsh winter frost.
In the spring, the bogs are drained and the cranberries bloom with fruit beginning to grow by mid-June shifting their colors from green until fall when they turn red. Now, cranberry bogs are flooded a second time for the October harvest.
Ever notice those air pockets inside a cranberry? That’s what makes them float once they are gently knocked off the vines to ready them for harvest. This floating ability will challenge you in the Pickled Cranberries recipe.
Did you know cranberries have four air pockets which allows them to float during harvest? #cranberry pic.twitter.com/pvlbBb9xF3
— Cranberry Fruit News (@TilbergBenjamin) 5 January 2016
More in the following How Does It Grow? Cranberries video.
Health Benefits
A quick look here at the benefits of cranberries. And guess what? Fermenting them will increase benefits and add nutrients making them just a tad more healthy. Though to reap the noted health benefits, you’ll need to eat quite a few cranberries or consume them in their more concentrated form as juice.
Cranberries are packed with Vitamin C, potassium and disease-fighting antioxidants. Cranberries have been shown to:
- Prevent the development of kidney stones.
Quinic acid, abundant in cranberries, may help prevent the development of kidney stones. - Protect against urinary tract infections.
Proanthocyanidins – antioxidants – found in cranberries appear to block the adhesive strands of the E. coli bacteria from sticking to a surface thus inhibiting their ability to stick to the walls of the uterus and bladder. - Reduce dental plaque.
It is believed that cranberry juice can control the overgrowth of bacteria that cause dental plaque.
Cranberries are a good source of dietary fibers, vitamin C and manganese.
How to Buy, Store and Prepare Cranberries
Cranberries are in season from mid-September until around mid-November in North America.
- Organic vs. Conventional?
What a rabbit hole this question has unearthed…According to the Organic Center’s “Dietary Risk Index,” which quantifies relative pesticide risks from specific foods by analyzing the U.S. Department of Agriculture pesticide residue data, domestically grown cranberries pose almost the greatest pesticide risk per serving of all conventionally grown fruits and vegetables. Only green beans pose a greater risk.Buyer beware.Buy organic whenever possible. Organic cranberry farmers rely on particularly timed flooding, hand-weeding or other labor-intensive techniques, and natural amendments to maintain their cranberries. And, to reduce pesticide load…Ferment your cranberries!
New science is finding that bacteria not only make fermentation happen but that they can also significantly reduce pesticide residues in food. One study looked at the role of microorganisms in the degradation of insecticides during the fermentation of kimchi. Another study looked at a breakdown of pesticide residue in wheat. - Choosing fresh berries.
A fresh cranberry will be shiny and plump and have a deep red color; the deeper the color the more highly concentrated the beneficial compounds are.According to The Spruce, “Truly fresh cranberries are quite firm to the touch and will bounce if you drop them. (Cranberry harvesters will actually bounce the berries against boards to sort the high quality from the low quality.)” Avoid shriveled berries or those with brown spots. Before buying, give the bag of cranberries a careful inspection to make sure there aren’t any soft or mushy berries or liquid hasn’t collected inside the bag. - Stock up seasonally and freeze.
Cranberries are sold fresh only from October through December. Cranberries tightly sealed in a plastic bag will keep for a month or two in your refrigerator or a year in your freezer.To improve the quality of your frozen berries, first slid your bag cranberries into a Ziplock freezer bag. Many stores have frozen cranberries available year-round. Fresh or frozen cranberries can be used in my recipes. - Discard any soft or shriveled berries.
To prepare your cranberries for fermentation, sort through them, discarding soft or shriveled berries. Depending on when they were picked, not all berries will be dark red, which is fine. I don’t rinse my berries, since the bacteria I want to make fermentation happen lives on the surface of the berries. - Cups vs. Ounces?
A 12-ounce bag of cranberries will yield about 3 cups of whole cranberries.
The fruit of a cranberry is the berry. Immature berries are white in color. Mature berries are red-colored.
The Five Tools I Grab Every Time I Ferment Something
Recipes for Fermented Cranberries
Clockwise from bottom left: Raw Cranberry-Apple Chutney. Cranberry-Orange Relish with goat cheese and crackers. Pickled Cranberries.
Cranberry-Orange Relish? Raw Cranberry-Apple Chutney? Pickled Cranberries?
Read through the recipes and choose one.
We’re all familiar with cranberry sauce, cranberry juice, and dried and sweetened cranberries but those sour red morsels can also be fermented.
When fermenting cranberries, it is fine to use them frozen. In fact, since I buy mine seasonally, it is the only way I use them. Watch for them to go on sale around Thanksgiving and Christmas and buy a few extra bags to have available when you want to try fermenting them.
In some of the recipes, I have you smash up the cranberries a bit to burst their skins. This can be done with a few quick pulses in a food processor or simply by mashing them with a potato masher. The skins don’t break easily, but as long as you get some of them cracked or popped, the fermentation process will proceed.
1. Cranberry-Orange Relish
Cranberry-Orange Relish is hands-down my favorite fermented cranberries recipe. I enjoy it year-round.
Cranberry-Orange Relish is fermented in its own juices, though you will not see as much brine rise to the surface as you do with sauerkraut.
The ingredients are chopped with salt, sugar, and seasonings and then mixed well. Using orange juice keeps the brine acidic to prevent spoilage until the lactic-acid bacteria establish a safe fermentation environment. Fermentation enhances the flavors and reduces the sugars.
I love to eat Cranberry-Orange Relish with a creamy cheese – goat cheese is a nice one – and crackers for a tantalizing and eye-catching appetizer.
I recently came up with a new favorite: A flavorful yogurt topping. Top a bowl of yogurt with a dollop of Cranberry-Orange Relish, a sprinkle of toasted coconut and a splash of maple syrup (if you want a bit more sweetness). It makes me hungry just talking about it.
A small spoonful of Cranberry-Orange Relish is also a great way to not only add depth to any meal but to also satisfy a craving for something sweet.
And of course, it’s always colorful and delicious alongside turkey.
Clockwise from bottom left: Processing the candied ginger first to make sure it is cut small enough. Ingredients for Cranberry-Orange Relish. Pouring orange juice into the food processor.
I first chop the candied ginger because it can take a bit of work to get it cut into small bits. All the rest of the ingredients – cranberries, pecans, dried cranberries, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, sugar, orange (juice & zest) and salt – are then added.
Clockwise from left: Adding orange zest to the rest of the Cranberry-Orange Relish ingredients in the food processor. Ready to pulse all ingredients. Coarsely pulsed relish.
Don’t forget the orange zest! Pulse to desired consistency. Here I’ve coarsely chopped the ingredients. You can chop a bit more if you’re wanting a smoother consistency.
Clockwise from bottom left: Packed jar of relish with a Canning Buddies fermentation weight inserted into the neck of the jar to keep the ferment below the brine. Packed jar of relish without a fermentation weight. Lid screwed onto the packed jar of Cranberry-Orange Relish.
The relish then gets packed into a pint jar. I often have some leftover that just gets put into whatever jar I can find.
I don’t find it necessary to use a device to hold everything below the brine. I’ve noticed with many of my relishes and pastes that have higher levels of acidity and ferment for such a short period of time, that no mold grows on the surface. So if you don’t have a “weight” of some sort to hold everything below the brine, don’t worry.
In these images, though, I show the use of the ViscoDisc Canning Buddies which I reviewed here. If I’m going to use a “weight” for my paste ferments, I find myself grabbing either the PickleHelix or the Kraut Source Fermentation Lid as reviewed here. Its spring-loaded plate does a stellar jar of applying enough force to paste and relish ferments that brine is forced out and the ferment is held beneath this brine throughout fermentation.
With the PickleHelix you’ll need to place a piece of folded parchment paper on top of the packed ferment before inserting the coiled helix. This will prevent the relish from oozing up through the spring during fermentation.
Left to right: A jar of freshly prepared Cranberry-Orange Relish. Relish after 5 days of fermentation; original bright colors have dulled.
Cranberry-Orange Relish Recipe
Cranberry-Orange Relish
EQUIPMENT
- 1 pint (500 ml) wide-mouth canning jar or similar sized jar & lid
- Optional weight and airlock device
- Food processor
INGREDIENTS
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) candied ginger
- 2 cups (480 ml) fresh or frozen cranberries, measured out; or 8 ounces (230) grams, if weighed
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) pecans, lightly toasted
- 1 orange, zest and juice of
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) dried cranberries
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon (2 ml) ground cloves
- 3 tablespoons (45 ml) sugar
- 2 teaspoons (10 ml) iodine-free salt (fine-grain)
INSTRUCTIONS
- CHOP.Use a food processor to first coarsely chop the candied ginger.
- ADD remaining ingredients and pulse until medium consistency. Taste and adjust seasonings, adding a bit more sugar if desired.
- PACK the cranberry mixture into a wide-mouth pint (500 ml) jar, pressing relish mixture down tightly with a large spoon or tapping the jar on the counter to jostle mixture down. Don't worry if there is no brine to cover the mixture.Leave 1 inch of headspace between the top of the cranberry relish and the top of the jar.Pack any excess relish into another jar.
- SUBMERGE.If using an optional weight, add it now. I have fermented this relish successfully both with and without weight and airlock. It's a thick paste and you may not see much of any brine.Firmly screw on lid with or without an airlock. Write the date and recipe name on the lid. Since this ferment does not produce excessive CO2, you're fine with just a regular lid.
- FERMENT.Place in a shallow bowl on your kitchen counter, out of direct sunlight to ferment for 5-7 days.As it ferments the color deepens to a dark red. You may see air pockets develop as CO2 gasses are created. No need to worry. Either leave it be or press down on the mixture with a fork to eliminate the air pockets.
- SAMPLE. Taste around the 5-day mark, looking for a sour tang with a bit of sweetness in the background. Ferment for a few more days, if necessary.
- STORE. When fermented to your liking, add the fermentation length to your label and place it in your refrigerator where it can last 6 months to one year.
- ENJOY. Cranberry-Orange Relish may be eaten alongside poultry. I especially love it with soft cheese (goat or brie) and crackers. It also works great as a topping for yogurt.
Notes and Tips
- Cranberries seem to be sold in 12-ounce (340 g) bags. A 12-ounce (340 g) bag of cranberries will yield about 3 cups of whole cranberries.
- Fresh or frozen cranberries work equally well in this recipe.
The name “cranberry” is a shorter version of the original name of the plant: “crane berry”. Dutch and German settlers coined this name because of the light pink flowers whose petals twist backward and together with the stem create the impression of the head, neck, and bill of a crane.
2. Raw Cranberry-Apple Chutney
This Raw Cranberry-Apple Chutney recipe does not call for a lot of cranberries, but it still makes a festive, probiotic-rich apple salad.
This recipe comes from KrautSource, the company that makes a pretty cool water-sealed fermentation lid for wide-mouth mason jars that I reviewed here.
Since the ingredients in this recipe don’t create their own brine, a brine is instead mixed and then poured over the mixture and left to ferment much like is done when fermenting carrots, beets or cucumbers for pickles.
Clockwise from bottom left: Prepared ingredients for chutney. Apple, red onion, ginger, cranberries, and spices. Cranberry Apple Chutney ingredients are mixed and ready to pack into a jar.
I first gather and chop ingredients – apple, red onion, cranberries, ginger, cinnamon, star anise – and then place them in a small bowl for mixing.
Clockwise from bottom left: Bowl of mixed ingredients. Packing Cranberry Apple Chutney mixture into a jar. Pouring brine over packed chutney mixture.
Ingredients are well mixed and packed into a pint (500 ml) jar. A brine is mixed and poured in to cover the mixture.
Using the Kraut Source fermentation lid to seal the jar of chutney. Placing the fermentation lid onto the jar. Putting the sealing cap into the Kraut Source fermentation lid water-sealed moat.
Then everything is held below the brine with your choice of fermentation weight and lid. Here I use my Kraut Source Fermentation Lid which I was gifted by Kraut Source for review.
Day one of fermentation for Cranberry Apple Chutney. Day five showing color change and compression of fermentation.
On the left is my jar of freshly prepared Raw Cranberry-Apple Chutney and on the right, what the jar looks like after 5 days of fermentation.
Raw Cranberry-Apple Chutney Recipe
Raw Cranberry-Apple Chutney
EQUIPMENT
- 1 pint (500 ml) wide-mouth canning jar or similar sized jar & lid
- Optional weight and airlock device
INGREDIENTS
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) fresh or frozen cranberries, measure out
- 2 small green apples,, cut into small cubes
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) red onion, finely diced
- 1 star anise pod, (or 1/4 teaspoon anise seeds)
- 1/4 teaspoon (1 ml) cinnamon powder
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 2 inch (5 cm) piece of fresh ginger root, finely grated
Brine (2%)
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) salt dissolved in 2 cups (480 ml) water
INSTRUCTIONS
- CHOP apples and dice onion.
- MIX. Place all ingredients (except brine) in a bowl and mix well.
- PACK the mixed ingredients into a wide-mouth pint (500 ml) jar, to about 1/2 inch below the threads.Gently press the mixture down to compress it.
- BRINE. Pour the brine over the mixture covering the mixture by one inch.
- SUBMERGE. Insert your weight and screw optional airlock lid on. Using tape, label your jar with the date and recipe name.
- FERMENT. Place in a shallow bowl on your kitchen counter, out of direct sunlight to ferment for 5-7 days. Don't let it ferment for too long, or your ferment will shift towards the alcohol side. As it ferments the color dulls. You'll see bubbles rising to the surface during the first few days.
- STORE. When taste is to your liking, add the fermentation length to your label and place in your refrigerator where it can last for up to 6 months.
- ENJOY. Cranberry-Apple Chutney makes for a great winter salad. It may also be served alongside poultry.
Cranberries were originally used to cure meat, heal wounds and dye fabric.
3. Pickled Cranberries
Pickled Cranberries truly are a fun snack food and a great conversation starter at any party.
[su_testimonial name=”Bruce” photo=”https://www.makesauerkraut.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/avatar-M1.png”]OMG! I made the pickled cranberries for our thanksgiving bash and they were a raging success! I had only put out a small dish with the cheese plate appetizers thinking it would be too adventurous for most people but I had to keep refilling it over and over as people kept finding me and asking for more. Then I had to put out a large dish with the main meal, too! Delicious![/su_testimonial]
Clockwise from bottom left: Cranberries placed in bowl and mashed to break skins. Rest of ingredients read to add to the crushed cranberries. Cranberries, candied ginger, orange juice, sugar, and spices mixed together.
You’ll want to first pop open some of your cranberries to help along the fermentation process. Place them in a large bowl and gently smash with a potato masher or kraut pounder. Add remaining ingredients and mix well.
Packing prepared cranberries into a jar. Pouring the last of the berries and juice into the jar. Pressing the cranberries with a spoon to compress them into the jar.
Pack the cranberries into a quart jar pouring in any leftover juice. Gently press the cranberries down to compact them.
Inserting the Pickle Pusher fermentation weight into the jar. Pouring prepared brine into the jar.
Cranberries are especially floaty – remember those air pockets – so you’ll want some way to hold them below the brine. A cabbage leaf or piece of folded parchment paper can be used to first trap the cranberries and then a small jar, shot glass or clean rock put on top of that. In these pictures, I am using the PicklePusher as reviewed here. More ideas here.
An overactive ferment – and a jar packed too full, perhaps – causes the brine to overflow through the airlock and out of the jar. Moving the jar to the sink to clean up the mess. Removing and rinsing out the airlock.
The cranberries were rather quiet for the first two days, then when I came downstairs on the morning of day 3, I was greeted by the mess shown. Thank goodness I had my jar sitting in a shallow bowl. Everything went into the sink where I popped off the airlock and cleaned things up a bit before repacking the jar so I could continue to let it ferment.
Day one of fermentation for Pickled Cranberries. Day five showing color change and expansion of fermentation.
On the left is my jar of freshly prepared Pickled Cranberries and on the right, what the jar looks like after 5 days of fermentation. As you can see the fermented cranberries are a darker color. You can also see the airlock full of the beautiful rose-colored brine.
Pickled Cranberries Recipe
Pickled Cranberries
EQUIPMENT
- 1-quart (L) wide-mouth canning jar or similar sized jar (liter) jar & lid
- Weight and airlock device
INGREDIENTS
- 3 cups fresh or frozen cranberries, measured out; or 12 ounces (340) grams, if weighed
- 1 orange zest of; then juiced
- 4 tablespoons maple syrup
- 3-5 slices of candied ginger,, slivered
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 teaspoon whole cloves
Brine (2%)
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) salt dissolved in 2 cups (480 ml) water
INSTRUCTIONS
- POP BERRIES.Place cranberries in mixing bowl and use a potato masher or kraut pounder to smash the cranberries a bit to break their skins.
- MIX.Add remaining ingredients (except brine) to your bowl and mix well.
- PACK the mixed ingredients into a wide-mouth quart (liter) jar, to about 1/2 inch below the threads. Do not overpack your jar. Once fermentation starts, those little microbes like plenty of space. Gently press the mixture down to compress them.
- BRINE.Pour the brine over the mixture covering the mixture by one inch.
- SUBMERGE.Place your weight and airlock lid on.
- FERMENT.Place in a shallow bowl on your kitchen counter, out of direct sunlight to ferment for 7-21 days.As it ferments the color dulls. You see bubbles rising to the surface during the first few days.
- STORE.When taste is to your liking – they will be a bit sour, add the fermentation length to your label and place in your refrigerator where it can last for up to 6 months. The tart flavor will have mellowed and they will be pleasantly fizzy.
- ENJOY.Serving these at a get together are a fun way to Wow! your guests. For a gorgeous presentation, place in a decorative bowl, then drizzle with a bit of maple syrup or honey. Include some toothpicks for guests to piece one with and then pop into their mouth.
Cranberry plants age well! It’s possible to find 100-year-old vines that are still producing cranberries.
Three ways to fall in love with fermented cranberries: Cranberry-Orange Relish, Raw Cranberry-Apple Chutney, and Pickled Cranberries. Which fermented cranberries recipe will you try?
Last update on 2025-07-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Did the cranberries all have overflow or only with the Pickle*Pusher???
I had packed the jar too full with the Pickled Cranberries. When they expanded and got humming along fermentation wise, the only place for the brine action to go was out the airlock. The Pickle Pusher worked fine to hold all the cranberries below the brine. Next time, I would pack less into the jar.
Yes maam, softer bodied veggies and fruits are very hard to control the overflow unlike kraut in a tightly packed jar. CO2 bullys the brine and refuses to migrate to the top. This makes the level rise in a ferment like this and in kraut, the tuffer cabbage will not “give” and the CO2 gives up trying to displace the cabbage and goes to the top instead of staying in the jar and causing volume increase. I sure love your posts! The pics are first quality and sooooo…… sexy 😉
Good points. Always so much to learn. Thank YOU!
I would like to make the crandberry-orange relish for gifts and thought of canning for the ease of gift giving, versus having to keep jars refrigerated (I realize canning will kill some of the beneficial bacteria, please don’t slap my hand!). My thoughts are to can after fermentation. How long would you recommend for a water bath?
Hello Jeannette, I wish I could advise you on how long to do a water bath but I have no experience to base a recommendation on. You would have to look at times for similar products. Best of luck and so good to hear you are sharing the goodness.
OMG! I made the pickled cranberries for our thanksgiving bash and they were a raging success! I had only put out a small dish with the cheese plate appetizers thinking it would be too adventurous for most people but I had to keep refilling it over and over as people kept finding me and asking for more. Then I had to put out a large dish with the main meal, too! Delicious!
The relish went over ok, too. Many found the pecan to be a bit strong and it’s just a little less fun to eat as compared to popping, fizzy berries. 🙂
Your comment has Made My Day! You motivated me to pull my jar out and enjoy the pop and fizz as I was making dinner. Are you OK with me putting your comment at the beginning of the Pickled Cranberries recipe?
Of course! Glad I could help! BTW, I just made another jar of these…this is going to be a long 3 weeks! 😉
Thank you. Patience! But, no one would know if your snitched some out early. 🙂
The cranberry orange relish recipe looks so delicious! I love cranberries in any form. But I’m so disappointed to find sugar in the recipe. I know cranberries are quite sour and need some for or sweetener. Is there anything else that can be used that would be healthy? I am committed to a sugar free way of eating. Help!
BTW – since trying your recipe for the sweet garlic sauerkreut I have been making all kinds of kreut! We love the fermented beet recipe and I am currently making the dill kreut recipe. I could season every meal I eat with this stuff! Thanks so much for making it so easy to do.
Not only does it look delicious, it is delicious. Omit the sugar, taste and fiddle with it. Try other sweeteners? No honey, either? You could try upping the dried cranberries – but oops they tend to be sweetened.
How about adding in some raisins, to taste. I make a Raisin Chutney recipe (http://www.foodrenegade.com/raisin-chutney-recipe/ – no whey) that is delicious that only uses raisins as a sweetener.
Good to hear you’re enjoying the sauerkraut recipes. And, yes they do make seasoning a meal easy-peasy!
Thanks so much. We’re working on no sugar and lower carbs. So honey isn’t really an option, although I would use it before sugar. Can’t believe I can’t find dehydrated cranberries with no sugar!
Also I was wondering if u would consider doing a post on exactly what we are supposed to be looking for when “checking” our ferments? Am I supposed to open the jar in 3 days or a week? Am I supposed to tasted it then? I’m not even sure what I’m supposed to be tasting for! I read somewhere that if you leave it to ferment longer, the saltiness will go away. Will opening the jar introduce bacteria or disturb the ferment?
Thanks so much for all your help and advice! I LOVE fermented foods!!
Thank you for the post request. I likewise see the need for one on “What to watch for as fermentation unfolds” or what not. Will put it in the pipeline. Until then,
Ideally, one would not disturb the ferment until “done,” but if you’re new to fermentation you would not know when “done” is. So… wait for 3 days (best not to disturb during the first stage) at least, then open and taste for a tangy, sour shift in flavor. If you like the flavor, call it done, if not repack and let ferment for another week. You’ll start to notice flavor shifts and find a length that you like. Saltiness won’t go away. Ideally, ferment sauerkrauts for 3-4 weeks.
Another question- can you eat too much fermented food? I not only just discovered fermented food but also kombucha- which i haven’t tried making yet. I put several blg blobs of one of my flavored kraut on almost every meal and during Kombucha. I don’t feel sick, just not sure if there is a point where it becomes unhealthy.
A good question and the answer varies on how ready your gut is for an influx of beneficial bacteria. Some have to go real slow, others can dive right in, which sounds like your case. But… look at fermented foods as condiments – not the main meal – and go for variety and with every meal is ideal. You’re right on target. And… balance that recommendation with the consumption of Kimchi in Korea; easily one quart per week per person. Listen to your body.
I have been making Kombucha for three years now, I was like many people and never had a healing crises from detoxing too quick. Now I drink 2 gallons of homemade Kombucha every 6 to 8 days. and have successfully replaced soda with kombucha. I flavor mine with different organic fruit juices,blackberry and blubbery are my favorites, sometimes I make what I call blue cranberry,blueberry/cranberry.
Thanks for chiming in, Lewis. We have much to learn from one another. I always am reminded of the Koreans and how much Kimchi and other ferments they consume with all their meals.
I made all 3 cranberry recipes last Saturday and for first time I’m using the Pickle Pipes and the glass weights. I don’t know what to expect since I’ve only made sauerkraut before. None of the jars seem to be “active.” When making the kraut I had bubbling overflow by second day. Now it’s been 5 days and nothing seems to be happening. We leave for vacation in 4 days and had planned on having these in my fridge or taking some with us!
Hello Carol, The relish won’t look active. You might see a bit of bubbling with the apple one and the fermented cranberries take a bit of time to get active and then you might have brine overflow. They ferment a bit different than the sauerkraut. Enjoy your “Cranberry” vacation. I think I’ll pull out my pickled cranberries for an upcoming getaway. They’re so fun to eat.
All three of these recipes turned out delicious. The pickled cranberries are sour and take a little getting used to. Everyone’s favorite is the orange/cranberry relish. It is super yummy. I could eat it every day! I was concerned that maybe I did something wrong though, since there was no brine or liquid at the top. Once I put it through the food processor it all turned to more of a thick paste. I ended up just using a glass weight and adding some brine to the top. It worked I guess.
Hello Carol, Thanks for letting me know. Do hesitate to drizzle a little bit of honey over a small dish of the pickled cranberries. Makes for a delicious sweet-sour burst. Oops, I think you’re trying to stay away from honey… What did you sweeten the relish with, if anything. How’s that on the “sour” scale? There won’t be much brine with the relish, but your trick worked.
I can’t believe I didn’t write it down and have already forgotten what I used to sweeten them! I THINK I used half honey and half real maple syrup. The relish didn’t seem sour at all. Should it have been? It has a very strong orange cranberry taste. Only takes a small amount to get a mouthful of flavor. When you say there won’t be “much brine” with he relish–how about- there was NO brine! Once I ran it through the food processor it had consistency like a lumpy paste. I’m sure we’ll never eat jellied cranberry sauce out of a can again!
I was thinking you weren’t going to add sweetener so that is why I asked how sour it was. The orange does come through strong. Happy to know of one less person eating jellied cranberry sauce. 🙂
I didn’t want to add any sugar and really wanted to keep the carbs as low as possible. I’m thinking sugar substitutes such as stevia, Splenda and sugar alcohols wouldn’t work well in fermented products? Does anyone have any experience with this? My family and friends already want me to make more of the orange cranberry rellish!
I think you should run an experiment! 🙂 You could try dried/fresh stevia leaves. I would think they would work just fine.
Hi Holly,
I love the cranberry orange relish! My question is can I sub raw honey for the maple syrup in the pickled cranberries? I really don’t care for the flavor of maple syrup. I really want to try that one as well.
Thanks
Yes, you can definitely substitute honey for the maple syrup. Ideally, use raw and it will add some additional bacteria. Happy fermenting! It’s a fun one.
Thanks!
I can’t find frozen cranberries or fresh this time of year, can I use the dried cranberries instead,I looked on line they say use 1/4 cup less.instead of 1 cup use 3/4 for example,was wanting to make the cranberry relish.thanks
Sadly, I don’t think dried cranberries would work… but, as I think maybe so. I do ferment raisins. Look at this recipe and adjust seasoning.
https://www.culturesforhealth.com/learn/recipe/lacto-fermentation-recipes/lacto-fermented-crazy-raisin-chutney/
I didn’t use whey when I did the raisins, but I assumed they had bacteria on them. I don’t think sweetened cranberries would still have bacteria on them. Let me know how it works for you.
Well as it turns out I found some frozen cranberries at my supermarket,went home and put it all together and gave my wife some to taste she said it was good just like it was,can’t wait for the 7 days to try again.thanks
Excellent! If you find that you like this ferment, just remember to stock up when they go on sale over Thanksgiving/Christmas.
Thanks Holly,and thanks for this site very informative.
I made the Cranberry relish last week and we’re trying it this week. It is the first of my many fermentation experiments that my husband likes! Sauerkraut, pickled carrot sticks, kombucha… nope, nope, and nope. Water Kefir is acceptable but this relish? It got two thumbs up, especially when I served it to him as you suggested, on a cracker with goat cheese. Very, very nice! Thanks Holly!
Now, that’s a BIG win! What a flavorful place to start. Reluctant taste buds do develop over time and will soon crave the acid of the ferments. You’re welcome. 🙂
Hi Holly! Last November (2017) I honey fermented a jar of cranberries. My question is are they still safe to eat now (July 2018)? They’ve been at the back of my basement fridge since about January. They look good in the jar and smell good. No mold or anything. Your input would be much appreciated. Thanks.
YES! They just won’t have the nice POP to them as when fresh. I still have some that old that are in my stash of things to “finish off” to make room for more ferments.
Thanks! I also just opened a jar of giardinera I made about 4 weeks ago. I may never eat store bought again! I used a similar mix of veggies like in the commercial brands. My first attempt. I’m kinda proud of myself.
YAY! Another soul hooked on fermentation. The lactic acid created during natural fermentation delivers complex flavors that is no match to vinegar, sugars and preservatives. You deserve to BE PROUD!
What is the best room temperature for fermenting Cranberries? I live in a hot climate. Thanks for all your information.
Same as for sauerkraut. Somewhere between 65-72F. If it’s much warmer than that, either try to cool things down or shorten the fermentation length. Here are some tips: https://www.makesauerkraut.com/fermentation-tips-hot-weather/
I’ve noticed a few comments on sugar substitutes but I’m curious…..is it necessary for the fermentation to happen properly? Or just to the taste? Can we ferment without a sweetener and perhaps add it in when we go to eat it (referring to the relish of course) or will Stevia/erythritol negatively affect the fermentation process?
You’re very astute and I continue to learn the finer points of fermentation. Yes, the bacteria need sugar and with cranberries there is most likely not enough sugar, hence the added maple syrup & sugar. ]
I have not played around with alternative sweeteners and would only try the “natural” ones. Don’t know if the bacteria are selective on which sugar they can consume.
Hello.
I’ve just started a batch of Pickled Cranberries, and I noticed that while the recipe calls for a 1 quart jar, the pictures are showing a 1 pint jar.
I’ve used a quart one, but I’ve had to put quite a lot of brine to top off the jar.
Could it be that you intended to put 1 pint instead of 1 quart in the recipe?
If so, do you think it will negatively impact my batch?
Should I start a new one in a pint instead?
Or can it be “just” transferred in the smaller jar even though the fermentation process has begun?
So many questions… :-/
You’re right. The recipe is for a pint jar. Sorry about that mistake. You can either just leave it be, or transfer it to a new jar. Questions are good. 🙂 If you can just pour off most of the brine before transferring that will probably be best. You don’t want to end up with too watery of a finished ferment.
Ok so… I transferred the content to a smaller jar last night, but of course, I had to leave behind a full pint of deliciously aromatic brine… This means I left behind flavors and sugar. :-/
I think I’ll have to start another batch. I’m really worry this will not live up to the expectations.
Oh my, I’m really mixed up. I was thinking you were doing the relish recipe. THIS recipe is for a quart jar though it really doesn’t really matter. You just want to cover the berries in brine and leave some head room for expansion. Make some more and use that brine – if you still have it – to top off the new batch. Your ferment will be just fine. The berries just need to be in the salty brine. Adjust sweetness when serving with a bit of honey or maple syrup. Big apologies for the mix up. (I went to edit the recipe and then figured it out.)
Oh. 🙁
Thanks for clearing that up! 🙂
However, it’s kinda confusing since the pictures appear to show a 1 pint pot. Either that, or my 340g or cranberries were really compact since they did not take more than half the 1L volume.
Believe it or not, that is a 1-quart jar. I guess, better directions would be to fill the jar 3/4s full. Enjoy them!
Hello, just wanted to say I made the pickled cranberries last night! I am excited to see what happens 🙂
I did notice a typo in the recipe – the brine calls for 2c water which you listed as (240ml) water. I was a little worried I was doing it wrong by going with cups instead of the ml measurement but then I saw somewhere else where you have it listed correctly. Just thought you should know!
Thanks so much for alerting me. I just recently started adding the metric to all my recipes and messed that one up. It should be 480 ml. It’s been corrected.
Hi Holly, absolutely addicted to anything cranberry as long as it is not too sweet! Lol. Have you used fresh ginger vs candied ginger in the pickled cranberries? I would think the maple syrup would provide sufficient sugar for fermentation would it not? Am on a keto diet to minimize inflammation. Am always looking for lower carbs more fibre but tasty recipes for when I do cycle off … love variety! 🙂
Yes, I would think that the maple syrup and dried cranberries would provide enough sugar for the bacteria. Feel free to try the recipe without the candied sugar. Do realize, however, that a decent percentage of the sugar is eaten by the bacteria during fermentation and turned into lactic acid. Enjoy! This is a VERY tasty recipe. 🙂
Will have a bash with fresh cranberries and let you know… Pam
Sent from my iPad
Hi Holly, I bought my ingredients to make the cran orange relish about 3 weeks ago. Since then, I’ve had a “little” mishap and fractured my wrist and so my ingredients have been “waiting” for my surgery and splint to come off this weekend. The cranberries have been kept in the fridge along with my roasted pecans. The oranges have been on the counter and while edible, they are kinda soft and I wonder if I should get new ones before I make the recipe.
I think you’ll be OK. We’re not relying upon the oranges for bacteria, but for the juice. Go ahead and make a batch with what you have.
Hi Holly,
Thanks for all your guidance. I was so excited to make the pickled cranberries. They have been on my counter for about a week and they do not seem to be very active. A few bubbles but not a lot. What should I do?
Can I use the tiny glass jar as a weight, like I do for sauerkraut? Thanks so much.
For the paste, you really don’t need a weight. It’s hard to push down on a paste without it going everywhere. For the apple chutney and the pickled cranberries, it will probably drop down into the brine.
Howdy, I notice the recipe calls for a 2% brine but the salt:water ratio, given in volume, would be around 3%. Does it matter much either way of it’s in that ballpark? Thanks!
You are quite astute, and… correct. That’s just the brine recipe I started with, and an easy one to share. The bit extra isn’t a deal breaker. But, as I’ve slowly progressed to weighing my salt, it you want you can weigh your water and add 2% salt, or not, and keep life simple. 🙂
I religiously weigh my salt when I ferment because of your recipes lol.
That being said, I figured, if you were ok with using this recipe by volume, I’ll be too!
But I’ll keep weighing in mind after the current batch.
Side note, this is the second time I’ve done this (everyone loved it for Thanksgiving!). I remember wanting to ask here about the salt but didn’t, and then forgot what I ended up doing with the salt lol.
All is good in the bacterial world. 🙂
These looked so good that that I couldn’t choose which one to make. So….I made all three. The cranberry-apple chutney was ready first, so when I ate it I decided I probably wouldn’t like the other two as much as this one, because it was really good! The next to be ready was the cranberry relish. Well. This stuff is so good I couldn’t quit sneaking spoonfuls at a time. It is just AMAZING. It was a good thing I made 3 jars, that’s all I’m saying. It was another 13 days before I decided the pickled cranberries were ready and these things are absolutely addictive. I mean, I can (and do) eat them like popcorn. They are my new movie-time favorite.
I just have to thank you for the lovely recipes and also mention that your tips were especially helpful. For instance, when I saw air pockets in my relish I thought I must have messed it up and it would probably be no good. It wasn’t until I went back and re-read your instructions that I realized it was ok, so thanks for the detailed instructions. Anyway,I just had to leave this note to let you know how much your work is appreciated.
Love, love, love your comments! They gave me a good chuckle. Enjoy that “popcorn” and all the rest. You are most welcome.
So I tried this. I have been “fermenting”for well over three weeks. I literally saw one bubble going up. I have no idea if it’s safe to eat, or if it should be tossed into the garbage. If I had seen more bubbles, like the sauerkraut I regularly make, I would have not hesitations. The airlock in the lid hasn’t raised one iota.
Wanted to make this even though I didn’t have all the ingredients on hand. Omitted the pecans and dried cranberries. Subbed fresh ginger. Even so, this came out amazing! Will make again (hopefully with all the right ingredients this time).