Did you run out of lingonberries but you need them for a recipe? I’ve been there and I will let you know the best lingonberry substitutes you can use to make any dish. Whether you need fresh lingonberries or lingonberry jam, one of these substitutions will work perfectly in your recipe.
So what are the top lingonberry substitutes?
The top substitutes for lingonberries are pomegranate molasses, cowberry, cranberries, cloudberry, and red currants.
If you are looking to replace lingonberry jam then any jam of the above berries works beautifully.
Lingonberry Alternatives
For all of the top replacements for lingonberries I use a 1:1 ratio. You can adjust according to flavor though.
When subbing for lingonberries the key is to choose an alternative that best compliments the other flavors in your dish. So depending on which of these alternatives you have on hand, think about how their flavor will pair with your particular recipe. But most of them are likely to work well!
Pomegranate Molasses
This ingredient is great when subbing for lingonberries. It has a flavor that is very similar to lingonberries, and it adds an earthy flavor to your dish.
You can use this as a base for sauces and for baking. Since it is naturally sweet, you will really have to add other sweeteners in order to bring out the lingonberry flavor alternative without overdoing it.
Cowberry
Cowberry is a great substitute for lingonberries. It provides a nice tartness to your dish that lingonberries do not, so be sure to adjust the amount of sweetener you use if you decide to use cowberry. Also, you can add it to most baking recipes.
Cranberries
Cranberries are another very good lingonberry alternative and they come with a tart and sweet flavor that is dreamy in any sweet recipe. Where I live cranberries are the easiest to come by so I use them the most frequently.
Cloudberry
This is another great substitute for lingonberries. It is similar to lingonberries in terms of its earthy flavor, but it can add a slight sweetness to your dishes that you may not get with lingonberries. Some people even say it is better than lingonberry.
Red Currants
Red Currants are amazing when subbing for lingonberries. They have a sweet but tangy flavor that lingonberries do not have and they work well with many savory dishes.
What are lingonberries?
Lingonberries are a type of berry native to Scandinavia. Throughout the 17th century, they were brought to Sweden by the then King, Gustav II Adolph. Lingonberry jam is a popular Swedish delicacy and lingonberry syrup is common as well. Lingonberry plants grow well in Sweden, Finland, and Russia that is why they are often referred to as “Russian berries”.
Bottom Line
As you can see, you can use other berries when a recipe calls for lingonberries. The top alternatives are pomegranate molasses, cowberry, cranberries, cloudberry, and red currants. If you need lingonberry jam then any jam of these berries works as substitutes. These berries have a very similar flavor but they each have slightly different characteristics in terms of color and texture so be sure to think about how they will work in your recipe before choosing an alternative.