Craisins are an extremely versatile dried fruit that can be used in multiple ways. Whether you decide to use them as a tasty snack, a salad topping, or mixed in with yogurt, they’re an easy grab for a tart punch. Craisins are cranberries, best known for their tart and slightly sour taste, that have been dried and look like a raisin. Craisins are chock full of vitamins and minerals that make them a great addition to your daily intake. However, craisins have a lot of sugar, which is extremely common when it comes to dried fruits.
Plain craisins are vegan, but any flavored or “juiced” kinds are not. This is due to the presence of chocolate, yogurt, and the presence of bovine gelatin in their juices. Plain craisins go the extra mile by using cane sugar instead of refined sugar. The best vegan alternative to coated craisins is Hu Hunks Vegan Chocolate Covered Sour Goldenberries.
In this article, we’ll discuss the nutritional value of craisins, as well as other gluten-free alternatives. Let’s dig in!
Contents
Vegan Craisins Nutritional Information
Plain Craisins
Plain craisins are often used for an on-the-go snack or a topping to a dessert or a salad. These are tart and sweet little additions to your diet that are high in vitamins such as vitamin C and A. Adding these to your daily intake is easy, as they can be used as a topping for so much, but beware of the sugar content if you’re looking to keep track of your intake.
Nutrition Facts:
For 1/4 cups of dried cranberries, it contains:
- 130 Calories
- 0g Total Fat
- 0mg Cholesterol
- 0mg Sodium
- 33g Total Carbohydrate
- 3g Dietary Fiber
- 29g Sugars
- 0g Protein
Ingredients:
- Cranberries
- Sugar
- Sunflower Oil
Craisins Nutritional Information: Not Vegan Friendly
Greek Yogurt Cranberry Bites
Yogurt Covered Craisins can provide you with a dose of healthy fat while providing the same vitamins as their plain counterparts. While it is unfortunately not vegan, there are ways to make this version of craisins at home using vegan alternatives.
Nutrition Facts:
With about 2 tablespoons per serving, and 4.5 servings per container:
- 140 Calories
- 5g Total Fat
- 4.5g Saturated Fat
- 10mg Sodium
- 22g Total Carbohydrate
- 1g Dietary Fiber
- 20g Total Sugars
- 11g Added Sugars
- 1g Protein
Ingredients:
- Greek Yogurt Coating
- Dried Cranberries
- Coating
- Confectioners Glaze
Chocolate Covered Craisins
The chocolate that ocean spray uses unfortunately isn’t plant-based, but there are many vegan chocolate brands that you can use to make homemade chocolate craisins at home. While it has a higher sugar content than its plain and chocolate covered counterpart,
Nutrition Facts:
With about 2 tablespoons per serving, and about 4.5 servings per container, these cranberries contain:
- 140 Calories
- 5g Total Fat
- 3g Saturated Fat
- 5mg Cholesterol
- 15mg Sodium
- 21g Total Carbohydrate
- 1g Dietary Fiber
- 18g Total Sugar
- 16g Added Sugar
- 1g Protein
- 30mg Calcium
Ingredients:
- Milk Chocolate
- Dried Cranberries
- Coating
- Confectioners Glaze
Granola Craisins
Granola Craisins are packed full of whole wheat and other nutrients for a high-energy midday snack or pre-workout. However, they also aren’t plant-based due to their use of bovine gelatin and refined sugar.
Nutrition Facts:
With the size of a serving being 1oz, with about 5 servings per container, these contain:
- 110 Calories
- 10 Calories from Fat
- 0g Trans Fat
- 0g Saturated Fats
- 0mg Cholesterol
- 25mg Sodium
- 24g Carbohydrates
- 2g Dietary Fiber
- 9g Sugars
Ingredients:
- Dried Cranberries
- Whole Grain Rolled Oats
- Rice Flour
- Brown Rice Syrup
- Oat Syrup Solids
- Sugar
- Molasses
- Canola Oil
- Salt
- Barley Malt Syrup
- Honey
- Natural Flavor
Pomegranate Infused Craisins
Pomegranate Infused Craisins are surprisingly not safe for vegan consumption. This is because the infusion method used to do this is processed using bovine gelatin, which is an animal product. These craisins contain a high amount of refined sugar but balance it with the benefits of pomegranate, cranberries, and raisins into one.
Nutrition Facts:
With 1/4 of a cup per servings, these contain:
- 130 Calories
- 0g Total Fat
- 0g Saturated Fat
- 33g Carbohydrates
- 29g Sugars
- 3g Fiber
- 0g Protein
- 0mg Sodium
Ingredients:
- Cranberries
- Sugar
- Pomegranate Juice Concentrate
- Malic Acid
- Flavoring
- Sunflower Oil
- Elderberry Juice Concentrate
What is Bovine Gelatin?
Bovine relating is commonly used in foods such as fruit snacks and other chewy foods. It is a protein product that is extracted from animal skin and bone. This is a food and pharmaceutical-grade product and is used to lessen the fatty content of foods, as a way to solidify foods such as jello, or to make the gel capsules that you may see on supplemental pills.
What are Some Vegan Aletantives to Bovine Gelatin?
One of the best alternatives to bovine gelatin is agar-agar, a gelatin-like substance made of cooked and pressed algae. It has the same solidifying process that bovine gelatin gives, and works as a binding agent in the same way while being completely plant-based.
Why is Refined Sugar Not Vegan?
Refined sugar is not vegan due to the presence of bone char in the powdery substance. Raw cane sugar differs in its texture and color from refined sugar, as it is slightly stickier, brown, and less powdery than its counterpart.
What is Bone Char?
Bone char is a substance made from the bones of cows, often gathered in places such as Argentina and made by major sugar exporters such as Scotland, Egypt, and England. This bone char assists in the softer texture as well as the pure white color, generally making it more appetizing than its cane counterpart.
What are Some Vegan Alternatives to Flavored Craisins?
Chocolate Covered Craisin Replacements
Chocolate-covered craisins by ocean spray unfortunately do not provide vegan accommodation due to the presence of milk and refined sugar in their product. However, vegan chocolate is a readily accessible source that you can pair with your craisins. It’s becoming increasingly easier to find, and coating your berries with this will make for an excellent replacement.
Hu Hunks Vegan Chocolate Sour Goldenberries
Finding the perfect not-so-guilty snack has never been easier with Hus brand of Chocolate Sour Goldenberries. With the tartness of the goldenberries and the sweetness of the chocolate, you won’t be missing your cranberries anytime soon.
Nutritional Facts:
As 1 servings size of these goldenberries is 1 oz, these contain:
- 130 Calories
- 6g Total Fat
- 3g Saturated Fat
- omg Sodium
- 17g Carbohydrate
- 4g Dietary Fiber
- 10g Sugars
- 2g Protein
Ingredients:
- Organic Goldenberries
- Organic Cacao
- Unrefined Organic Coconut Sugar
- Organic Fair-trade Cocoa Butter
Endangered Species – Dark Chocolate Bars
Endangered species is a sustainable and vegan alternative to traditional chocolates while adding texture through the presence of rice crisps, and emulating the creaminess of non-vegan chocolate by not choosing to forgo milk altogether, replacing it with oat milk.
Nutrition Facts:
- 160 Calories
- 11g Total Fat
- 6g Saturated Fat
- 0g Trans Fat
- 0mg Cholesterol
- 0mg Sodium
- 14g Total Carbohydrates
- 2g Dietary Fiber
- 8g Total Sugars
- 8g Added Sugars
- 2g Protein
Ingredients:
- Chocolate Liquor
- Cane Sugar
- Cocoa Butter
- Whole Grain Oats
- Soy
- Brown Rice
- Oat Milk
Hu Simple Dark Chocolate
Hu’s motto is “get back to human” which goes perfectly with their ultra sustainable message of refusing the politics of palm oil, which has contributed to a massive amount of deforestation in the southern hemisphere. Being both vegan and paleo is a major accomplishment, and Hu has earned its place on multiple sustainability lists.
Nutrition Facts:
- 180 Calories
- 13g Total Fat
- 8g Saturated Fat
- 15mg Sodium
- 13g Total Carbohydrates
- 3g Dietary Fiber
- 9g Total Sugars
- 8g Added Sugars
- 2g Protein
Ingredients:
- Organic Cacao
- Organic Unrefined Coconut Sugar
- Organic Fair-Trade Cocoa Butter
Make Your Own Yogurt Covered Craisins!
Yogurt-covered craisins can be made in a few easy steps, giving you the freedom to control the ingredients that you put in it, as well as its nutritional value. To make your own yogurt-covered craisins gather these ingredients:
Ingredients
- Coconut Milk or Other Plant-Based Milk
- Vegan Gelatin
- Vegan Confectioners Sugar
- Vegan Granulated Sugar
Steps
- Put a saucepan on medium heat and add your plant-based yogurt to the bottom of the pan.
- After heating it for about 3 minutes, put the yogurt into a bowl and add a bit of sugar and salt so that it starts to thicken.
- Take your plain craisins and mix them in with powdered sugar until the craisins are evenly coated.
- Pour half of your yogurt mixture into your craisins and mix.
- Place your craisins on a piece of parchment paper to dry for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
- Put your dried product into a bowl, mix in the other half of your yogurt, and place it back on the parchment paper.
- Let dry overnight for vegan yogurt.
So Delicious Greek Style Coconut Milk Yogurt
This plant-based yogurt is a perfect choice to offset the tart flavors of the cranberry underneath it and is a perfect vegan substitute for Ocean Sprays’ brand. Mixing this in with plain cranberries creates a fruity punch of flavor that will satisfy your sweet tooth for the day.
Nutrition Facts:
For 1 container of this yogurt, it contains:
- 110 Calories
- 5g Total Fat
- 0g Trans Fat
- 0mg Cholesterol
- 30mg Sodium
- 17g Total Carbohydrates
- 2g Dietary Fiber
- 9g Total Sugars
- 9g Added Sugars
- 1g Protein
Ingredients:
- Organic Coconutmilk
- Organic Cane Sugar
- Rice Starch
- Vitamin D2
- Vitamin B12
- Calcium Citrate
- Pectin
- Active Cultures
Ripple Yogurt Alternative
Ripple yogurt alternative is a perfect alternative to the yogurt coating that covers the cranberries in Ocean Sprays’ brand. Available at most grocery stores, this yogurt is a perfect example of how vegan alternatives should be. As close to the non-vegan flavor as possible, while still being sustainable and with strong flavors and creaminess.
Nutrition Facts:
With a serving size of 1 container, this yogurt has:
- 180 Calories
- 5g Total Fat
- 0g Saturated Fat
- 0f Trans Fat
- 40mg Sodium
- 18g Total Carbohydrate
- 0g Dietary Fiber
- 14g Sugars
- 12g Protein
Ingredients:
- Water
- Ripptein (also known as pea protein)
- Cane Sugar
- Sunflower Oil
- Tapioca Flour
- Pectin
- Natural Flavors
- Vanilla Extract
- Locust Bean Gum
- Dipotassium Phosphate
- Yeast Extract
- Citric Acid
- Vanilla Bean
- Cultures
Related Questions
What Flavors Does Ocean Spray Craisins Carry?
Ocean spray craisins carry a myriad of flavors, such as original, orange, strawberry, chocolate, cranberry and chocolate, cranberry almond, cranberry granola, fruit and nut trail mix, and many more! Unfortunately, none of these except for plain are vegan due to the presence of bovine gelatin.
Is Ocean Spray an Ethical Brand?
Ocean Spray is a surprisingly sustainable brand. While it is still a company, they want to keep expanding to about 700 farmers and have distanced themselves from eh cruelty of institutes such as NIH. Ultimately, Ocean Spray isn’t a brand that you should feel bad buying from, instead, appreciating the support for small agricultural producers that they provide.