Are you a fan of cooking with cranberries? I wasn’t, until the last few years. Oh, I’d make cranberry sauce for the family with Thanksgiving and Christmas’s turkey dinner because they thought it should be on the table, but then I’d usually scrape most of in the trash.
We know that cranberries are superfoods, right? And that means they are super-good for us. I tried to like them. I did. But I never quite succeeded until after my heart attack three years ago when I made a lot of decisions about my health. If you’ve read my novels, you know me as a local foodist, someone who cooks from her garden, bakes bread from scratch, and incorporates lots of veggies. All true. But since cranberries aren’t locally grown (to me), it was easy to ignore them!
My hubby, by the way, likes cranberries just fine in baked goods. He’ll eat them any which way I fix them, which is more ways in recent years, but he still loves a cranberry muffin the way I occasionally made them in the past.
Recipe: Pumpkin Cranberry Muffins
(makes 12 muffins)
• 1 cup pumpkin puree (straight pumpkin, not pie filling)
• 2/3 cup melted butter
• 1 large egg
• 1 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 2/3 cup white sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (or pumpkin spice)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup fresh or frozen whole cranberries
Mix everything (above) together except the cranberries. It will be quite thick. When everything is well-mixed, add the cranberries and stir them in. Grease muffin tins or set liners in them. Dollop the batter into the 12 cavities.
Mix the topping (below) and sprinkle it evenly on top of the muffins.
• 2 teaspoons melted butter
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (or pumpkin spice)
Bake for 25-30 minutes at 350º or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Why are we talking about cranberries today? When I was thinking about titles and topics for my Urban Farm Fresh Romance Christmas release, I decided these little nuggets should have a starring role since they definitely feature prominently in this season. The title Cadence of Cranberries was born, and with it, the heroine’s upbringing on a cranberry farm along the Washington coast. My husband and I drove through that area once in midsummer and found it fascinating!
Which led me to exploring and gathering cranberry recipes. For Winnie, you know. However, I don’t consume sugar anymore, along with other things, so those muffins above? I made for my hubby.
That doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy plenty of sweets on my new way-of-eating, Trim Healthy Mama. I definitely do! I use monkfruit/erythritol sweetener blend (such as Lakanto) and a baking blend which is not a one-to-one with flour in recipes. Which means the “old” recipes are not easily converted into “new” recipes!
In case you’re curious about those recipes, here are two I particularly love and that my non-THM family cheerfully eat as well:
• Guilt Gone Cranberry Pie (which I make every couple of weeks this time of year)
• Cranberry Wassail (delicious hot or cold)
In Cadence of Cranberries, Winnie Santoro’s specialty is biscotti because, hello, she married into an Italian family, and doesn’t that demand biscotti? This is the recipe on which I based Winnie’s Cranberry Almond Biscotti, but she has a secret ingredient. Watch for it when you read Cadence of Cranberries!
About Cadence of Cranberries
Their kids are in love. Will they become in-laws… or more?
Winnie Santoro misses moments with her late husband, especially now that her older kids are dating. When her son asks her to invite his girlfriend’s dad for Thanksgiving dinner, she agrees, but is surprised to find the kind, handsome owner of her favorite coffee truck on her doorstep.
Charlie Jalonen retired early and bought a coffee roastery in Spokane. His marriage has been over for years, and he’s finally finding a place in his daughter’s life. But when her boyfriend proposes at a joint family Thanksgiving dinner, Charlie is thrust into a flurry of wedding bells, flowers, and music alongside a charming widow with vastly different ideas.
As Thanksgiving gives way to Christmas, Winnie and Charlie find they have more in common than their engaged kids. Could the cadence of cranberries be crooning a love song for them, too?
Cadence of Cranberries releases on December 8, 2020, and is available for pre-order on Amazon.
Interested in reading an Advanced Reader Copy of Cadence of Cranberries? I’m offering two readers an ARC copy (e-book only, worldwide). If you’d like to put your name in the hat, please comment before Tuesday, November 17. Winner will be announced in the next Sunday Edition, and the ARCs will be sent as soon as they are finalized later in November.
“Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.”
So, tell me: Do you enjoy cooking or baking with cranberries? Tell me your favorite recipe. If you’ve got a link, please pop it in comments! (Our spam filter will probably prevent you from adding more than one link, for the record…)
PSST! Just a quick heads-up. There’s a big collection of 99¢ and free Christian contemporary romance titles over on my website this weekend. The deals end late Monday, so pop on over. I’m sure you’ll find some new stories to read as we celebrate being Thankful for Romance!
Valerie Comer is a USA Today bestselling author and a two-time Word Award winner who writes where food meets faith and fiction. She injects experience laced with humor into her green clean romances. Her life on a small farm in western Canada provides the seed for stories of contemporary inspirational romance. Like many of her characters, Valerie and her family grow much of their own food and are active in the local foods movement as well as their church. She only hopes her creations enjoy their happily-ever-afters as much as she does hers, shared with her husband, adult kids, and adorable granddaughters.
Cranberries are not as big in Australia well not at Christmas. I know they have dried ones in the cooking isle.
Not sure if I have ever tasted them.
My grandma used to make cranberry orange relish but no one got the recipe so I haven’t had it in ages.
I love the tart little burst from fresh cranberries, though dried craisins are more popular here. My favourite recipe is https://www.bobsredmill.com/recipes/how-to-make/cranberry-orange-drop-scones/ though sometimes we substitute craisins when we can’t get frozen cranberries.
I have placed an order for https://alldayidreamaboutfood.com/keto-cranberry-bliss-bars/ for my Christmas present from a chef friend. Also debating on how to make the filling for this one dairy and wheat free https://swervesweet.com/recipes/cranberry-cheesecake-pie/
Congratulations on the new release, may it only be sweet :)
Ooh, who wouldn’t like an ARC of Cadence of Cranberries?? The story sounds delicious!!
As for cranberries, I have discovered I like the dried ones mixed in with my morning cereal. (Up until a few years ago I hadn’t even heard of cranberries, being an Aussie.)
I bet you could use dried ones in my Pumpkin Cranberry Muffins! (Nearly) everything is worth trying once.
Now that I haven’t tried, but I bet there’s something similar out there if you Google it!
I love cranberries! Thanks for the recipe!
I’ve made my own dried cranberries with a sweetener, so I do tend to use those in recipes year-round. I’ve pinned that Cranberry Bliss Bar recipe – I’ve made quite a few of the “keto” recipes from All Day I Dream About Food, and that one looks good! The Cranberry Cheesecake Pie from Swerve Sweet is naturally wheat free, but getting it dairy free sounds tricky with the cream cheese, whipping cream, and butter. I don’t have advice there!
Just to let you know, and anyone else, your comment went into moderation because it contained three links, so I had to manually approve it. But thank you for sharing!
Mmmm delicious story! Dried cran are great in cereal! I love ’em in granola.
Enjoy them! Jim sure does!
I’m not a big fan of cranberries either, though the cranberry muffin recipe you shared sounds good. I can eat them in things but on their own I’ll pass.
I’m not fond of cranberries on their own, either! They’re so tart…
I’m planning on trying some whipped tofu and coconut cream for the cheesecake filling and see how it goes. Enjoy the bliss bars :)
Oh, that sounds interesting! I haven’t done much fiddling with dairy-free since I do okay with dairy. I try to not eat gobs of it just because of the calorie load, but other than that, I don’t react badly to it.
I have seen lots of recipes for that online!
I’ve had cranberry orange scones from Publix, and they were excellent!! I’ve never actually tried cooking with them myself, though. I just may have to, though, since you gave us this recipe! I’d love an ARC of Cadence of Cranberries! It sounds like a great book! And, I’m looking forward to those waterfall pics tomorrow!!!
Oh wow, those pumpkin cranberry muffins look so good. Yummy! I don’t ever profess to be a baker. I cook; however, when ever available, I will add cranberries to my pancakes, biscuits and occasionally if I am energetic enough to make muffins. We do eat them dry in handfuls and in our cereal regularly. A great food!
Yum! Well, here’s one more way to try them :)
I hope you try the recipe! Thanks for your interest in Cadence of Cranberries… and in waterfalls :)
I have never baked with cranberries, but I do love cranberries in any baked item! I also love craisins (dried cranberry), either eat them as is or use them when I cook old fashioned oatmeal. It gives it a sweet flavor that I love! I’ve never attempted making cranberry sauce, but I bet it wouldn’t be hard to do!
Fun fact: Where I live, we have several local cranberry farms that you can visit. My husband and I did that a few years ago at cranberry harvesting time, plus it’s also a cranberry festival. There’s also the cranberry museum you can explore. It was fun to learn all about how they harvest them! You could buy all kinds of things with cranberries (baked goods, juice, etc), also the fresh berries themselves to cook with. We do have a local Ocean Spray factory as well.
Your book sounds good Valerie! I really enjoy a story when a widow or widower finds love again. It’s so sweet :-)
I had fun with the cranberry-growing research – hopefully I got those bits accurate in the story. And all the other bits LOL.
I love cranberries in cakes, muffins, scones, cookies, etc. Thank you for sharing this recipe.
I hope you enjoy these muffins!
I would love to be entered in the giveaway!
Thank you so much for sharing your delicious sounding recipe, we love cranberries, my husband sometimes adds them to the cakes that he bakes. Your book sounds like a Great read. Thank you for sharing about it and your recipe. Have a Great weekend and stay safe. God Bless you and your family.
Thanks so much, Alicia!
Hi Angeline! You’re entered :)
I love cranberries any way. I have a recipe for a frozen cranberry salad that is just like ice cream. But right off hand I can’t find it!🙁. It’s simple and quick and delicious.
I love cranberries. They are fun to cook, bake, and eat dried or fresh.
Denise, I agree!
Ah, if you find it later, drop the link in here, Kathy!
I’m not a cranberry fan. My mom and dad both love them, but my siblings and I never joined that club.
Interesting! Now I’m curious why!
My daughter loves all berries!! This recipe would be great for her.
its the word pumpkin that turns me off. I don’t like Pumpkin.
I hope your family loves these muffins!
Applesauce would be a good sub. But honestly, I love pumpkin in just about anything.
Looks so yummy!!! I haven’t baked with cranberries yet but we drink it :) yep, put it in food processor, add some sugar and add to tea!
Sounds good on drinking the pureed cranberries!
The new book sounds very interesting and different from most of the romance I read. I would like to receive an advanced reader copy.
Hi Nancy! I’m sorry, but the contest closed on Tuesday, and the winners have already been notified. :) There may be more available through my FB group. You can search for Valerie Comer Readers Group on Facebook and answer the questions for entry to the group if you like.
Yay! I found my recipe!
Frozen Cranberry Salad
1 can cranberry sauce (or whole berries)
1 8 Oz. Tub Cool Whip
1/3 cup frozen orange juice, thawed but not reconstituted
2 Tbsp. Miracle Whip or Mayonnaise
Mix well and freeze. Yummy!
Cool!