How to Freeze Cranberries

Freezing cranberries is an easy way to preserve their freshness and enjoy them year-round. With just a few simple steps, you’ll have a stash ready for cozy weekend baking sessions, quick weeknight sauces, and those moments when only cranberry muffins will do. Plus storage tips and recommended recipes!

Using fresh cranberries is one of my favorite ways to celebrate the flavors of fall and winter. The truth is, cranberries only hit market shelves for a short period of time. You spend the early autumn months waiting for them, then they seem to disappear within a couple of months once the holiday season is over.

Before you know it, they are gone, and you are left wondering how you are going to survive until next year without some tart juicy cranberries to flavor your smoothies, sauces, and other recipes.

why freeze cranberries?

When fresh cranberries hit the stores, grab extra bags! These tart berries only show up for a few short months, but they’re too good to miss out on the rest of the year. Frozen cranberries keep their shape and flavor like champs, making them ideal for everything from morning smoothies to weekend baking projects throughout the year.

We love using them in a variety of recipes (which we’re sharing at the bottom of this post, just above the recipe card)! They last a whole year so you can enjoy them when the cranberry craving hits, before the fresh berries hit the shelves in stores.

step 1: choose fresh cranberries

Select firm, bright red berries with glossy skins. The best way to test this is to give the bag a quick bounce test – fresh cranberries bounce! Skip any berries that are soft, wrinkled, or discolored. One soft berry can spoil the entire bunch, so take a minute to pick through them when you get them home to remove any soft berries.

step 2: rinse and dry the cranberries

Rinse the berries quickly under cold water in a colander. While this is technically an optional step, it’s best practice, especially if you are using the for snacking or garnishing recipes. Drain them and pat them dry with paper towels or a clean kitchen towel. You want to remove any excess moisture because it will turn into ice crystals when they freeze. Then you can safely avoid freezer burn! You can also let them air dry.

step 3: spread out on a baking sheet

Use a rimmed baking sheet to freeze them. You don’t need to line it with parchment paper, but you can if you want to. Make sure that the berries are in a single layer so there is no overcrowding. The berries will freeze individually instead of turning into a clump of cranberries.

step 4: flash freeze

Place the tray in the freezer for about 2 hours. Use this flash freeze method keeps the berries separate so you can grab only what you need, as you need it. Then you don’t have to worry about thawing the whole batch for one recipe.

step 5: transfer to a freezer safe bag or container

When they are frozen solid, transfer cranberries to freezer- safe bags or freezer-safe containers. If you are using bags, make sure to press out as much air as possible. Don’t forget to label the container or bag with the date! Cranberries keep for up to 12 months, but let’s be real, you might forget exactly when you put them in the freezer in the first place.

step 7: store in the freezer

Find a flat spot in your freezer to stack the bags or containers. Keeping them flat helps prevent the berries from getting crushed. It also happens to save space! Pro tip: store smaller portions in separate bags for quick grab-and-go use (this is particularly helpful if you like to use them in smoothies!).

tips for using frozen cranberries

These frozen berries are our favorite frozen fruit, because most of the time you don’t even need to thaw them before using them! Add them straight to your favorite recipes:

• Toss into muffin, quick bread, or cake batter while still frozen
• Blend into smoothies for a tart kick
• Simmer into sauces (especially with pork or chicken!)
• Mix into baked oatmeal before baking
• Add to pancake batter
• Garnish cocktails with them (bonus: they keep drinks cold without diluting)

thawing frozen cranberries

If your recipe calls for thawed berries, here’s how to thaw them:

• Remove what you need from the freezer bag or container
• Place in a bowl in the refrigerator
• Let them thaw for about 30 minutes
• Pat dry, if needed

cranberry recipes to try

Here are our favorites recipes that bring bright, tart-sweet flavor to your table – from cozy weekend brunch treats to quick weeknight dinner heroes.

For a quick way to use up those cranberries, make a tart and sweet cranberry jam. Perfect for spreading on biscuits, scones, waffles, and more.

When it comes to breakfast, nothing beats this pork belly breakfast sandwich topped with a fresh cranberry orange relish.

Want to whip up some memorable cocktails? Try this Christmas sangria, red Christmas single serve sangria, or Christmas punch. You can also use them to garnish cocktails like this cranberry orange moscow mule, cranberry margarita, or christmas margarita.

Bring savory dishes to the next level with some tartness! Roasted cranberry goat cheese crostini is my favorite appetizer. For dinner, whip up this cranberry walnut stuffed pork tenderloin or air fryer bacon wrapped pork loin.

Of course, we can’t forget something sweet! Cranberry cobbler is hands down our favorite cranberry dessert. Cranberry cheesecake mousse and vanilla orange candied cranberries are also delish!

Finally, if you find this guide to freezing cranberries helpful, please be sure to give this recipe a star recipe rating on the recipe card and/or leave a comment! I love to hear when you all make recipes, and I do take the time to respond to every single comment.

Feel free to drop questions below too, if you have them!

Oh and be sure to tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest if you make the recipe! I love being able to see these recipes come to life in your homes – it’s my favorite thing to look through those photos. It really means the world to me!

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