Cape Cod Cranberry Harvest

Harvesting Cranberries on Cape Cod

Cape Cod's Colorful Feast

The Northeast Kingdom has blazing colors every fall to feast the eye on, and while Cape Cod's foliage falls short from the extravaganza of our northern vacation rivals, we do have a feast we take pride in, and it's one of both color and taste, the Cape Cod Cranberry Harvest.

A 'flooded' Cranberry Bog 

Cape Cod's Cranberry Harvest Season

Late September through October, Cape Cod's Cranberry Harvest is in full force.  If you take a drive through the back roads of the Cape you may be lucky enough to encounter the harvest in progress, or at least see a few flooded bogs teaming with ruby colored cranberry jewels.  And if you get to witness the beauty of the cranberry harvest, you'll be in for a thrill.

The Wet Harvest

Dry Harvest vs. Wet Harvest

There are two different methods for harvesting cranberries, the dry method and the wet method.  The wet harvest method involves flooding the formerly dry bog with water allowing the cranberries to rise and float toward the surface making it easier to machine harvest.  Wet harvested cranberries are used in making cranberry drinks.

Cranberries harvested using the dry method are packed in bags for consumers to use for making cranberry jelly, cranberry baked goods, and of course, stringing along the Christmas tree.

Cape Cod Cranberry Products

Cape Cod Cranberry Harvest Gift Set

After all that hard work, it's time to enjoy those little ruby fruits.  Early in October you can find 1 pound bags of freshly picked cranberries at LaBelle's General Store in Dennis Port, Cape Cod.  With our fresh cranberries you can make all kinds of delicious baked good like our favorite Cranberry Bread Recipe and Nantucket Cranberry Pie.  Make some homemade cranberry sauce or add cranberries to whatever your making in the slow cooker tonight.  Packed with flavor and good-for-you too, you don't have to wait until the holidays to enjoy cranberries and reap their health benefits.

Cranberry Links

Cranberry Harvest Gift Set

And for even more cranberry goodness, check out our Pinterest page devoted to everything Cranberry.

Cape Cod Cranberry Bread Recipe

Cape Cod Cranberry Bread Recipe

Ingredients:

1/2 Cup Butter

1 Tbs Grated Orange Peel

3 Large Eggs, beaten

2 1/2 Cup Flour

1 Tsp Baking Soda

2 Cups Fresh Cranberries, sliced in half

1 Cup Sugar

1 Tsp Vanilla

3/4 Cup Orange Juice

1/4 Tsp Salt

3/4 Cup Pecans, chopped (optional)

Instructions:

1.  Preheat oven to 350º F.

2.  Spray bottom only of a 9" x 5" loaf pan.

3.  Beat butter, sugar, orange peel, and vanilla in a large bowl until light and fluffy.

4.  Add eggs, mixing well.

5.  Combine flour, baking soda and salt.

6.  Add to creamed mixture alternately with orange juice, beating at a low speed until just blended.

7.  Fold sliced cranberries into batter.

8.  Turn into prepared pan, spreading evenly.

9.  Bake until cake tester inserted in center comes out clean, about 50-60 minutes.

10.  Cool slightly in pan.  Remove and cool completely on wire rack.

Enjoy!

Click here to PRINT this recipe.

Outrageously Good Cape Cod Cranberry Harvest Oatmeal Cookies

We've got Cranberries straight from the bog, so fresh and delicious, they're at their peak of perfection this month on Cape Cod.   We're sharing our new recipe for Cranberry Harvest Oatmeal Cookies (with white chocolate chips, of course) which will tantalize your taste buds with sweet-tart, oatey-crunchy delight.  I have to admit, these cookies are outrageously good!  Click the here to print out our recipe.     -Colleen

Cape Cod Cranberry Harvest Oatmeal Cookies

makes 2 dozen cookies



Ingredients:

¾ cup butter 
½ tsp salt
½ tsp nutmeg
1 cup brown sugar
1 large egg
3 cups old fashioned rolled oats
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups chopped cranberries
¾ cup flour
1 cup chopped pecans
½ tsp baking soda
1 cup white chocolate chips 



Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 350° F.

2.  Cream butter and sugars until fluffy.  Add eggs and vanilla and mix well. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, salt and nutmeg.  Add to butter mixture.  Stir in the oats.  Fold in nuts, cranberries, and white chocolate chips.  

3.  Line a baker’s sheet pan with parchment paper.  For large cookies, use a ¼ cup (2oz) scoop, and place about 2” apart.

4.  Bake 12-15 minutes until edges are slightly browned.  Cool on wire racks.

Enjoy!