Freeze Dried Cranberries

Product Training:  Thrive Freeze Dried Cranberries

At Summit Saturday last weekend Thrive Life launched freeze dried Cranberries as the newest product. 

Info on Freeze Dried Cranberries:

•  Non-GMO
• Natural:  No artificial colors or preservatives
• Unsweetened:  so they can be a little tart.
• Sliced:  The cranberries are sliced which makes them perfect for baked goods
• Certified Gluten Free

·         See the product page here: http://homeparties.thrivelife.com/cranberries-freeze-dried.html

My Experience with the Freeze Dried Cranberries: 

I like cranberries.  I like them in cookies.  I like cranberry sauce on my turkey.   I like to add frozen cranberries to my smoothies.   I just plain like them. 

When I first tried the new Freeze Dried Cranberries,

·         I was surprised that they were sliced.  I had never sliced a cranberry but it turns out I like them sliced.  Sliced makes them perfect for baked goods. 

·         I was pleased by how tart they are.  They are tart.  No sugar added cranberries tart.

·         I used them to make my favorite cranberry sauce, and it was delicious.  The sauce didn't get quite as thick as normal.

Freeze Dried Cranberry Recipes

Thrive Cranberry Sauce

2 c freeze dried cranberries
1 c orange juice
1⁄2 c water
1 t orange zest
1⁄4 c thrive white sugar
1⁄2 vanilla bean, scraped
1⁄8 t star anise extract
2 T butter
Instructions
Heat all ingredients except butter in a pan and reduce until syrupy (about 7 minutes). Finish with butter.

Thrive Cranberry Pucker Bars

4 c freeze dried cranberries
2 T cornstarch
1 c thrive white sugar
3⁄4 c orange juice
1 c water

Crust:
2 1⁄2 c thrive white flour
1 c thrive white sugar (for crust)
1⁄2 c pecan pieces, chopped fine
1⁄2 c almond slices, chopped fine
1⁄2 c coconut, shredded
1 t baking powder
8 oz cold butter (2 sticks)
1⁄4 t thrive iodized salt
1 t cinnamon
1 t vanilla extract
3 T thrive scrambled egg mix + 5 tbsp. water

Mix all filling ingredients together until well blended and allow to set for 10 minutes. Combine all crust ingredients except vanilla and eggs in a mixer. Mix well for 1–2 minutes. Stir eggs and vanilla together. Stir into dry ingredients and mix for 1–2 more minutes or until well blended and slightly wet.
Press 2 ½ cups of mixture into a greased 9x13 pan. Pour filling over crust and spread evenly. Sprinkle remaining crust mixture on top of filling. Bake at 375⁰F for 30 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly. Allow to fully cool before cutting. Serve with whipped cream or ice cream if desired.