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    Home > 5 Ingredients or Less

    Published: Dec 7, 2021 · Modified: Dec 28, 2021 by Denise Browning · "This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission." · 3 Comments

    Sugared Cranberries


    Jump to Recipe ↓
    sugared cranberries close up in a bowl of sugar

    Sugared Cranberries (a.k.a. Candied Cranberries) make a stunning garnish for baked goodies, desserts, and cocktails, and are also a great appetizer to serve on a meat and cheese platter for your Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations. Ours require just 3 ingredients!

    bowl of sugared cranberries with rosemary sprigs on the side

    Some also call them frosted cranberries or sparkling cranberries.

    But no matter what name you may call them, they are beautiful, have a sweet and sour taste, and are super easy to prepare.

    You only need 3 simple ingredients (water, sugar, and fresh cranberries) to prepare this treat! Awesome, right?

    And just look at that color… you'll devour them with your eyes too! 

    How to Use Sugared Cranberries

    I know… they look like little gems! But you may be asking yourself how to use them. Well, they are versatile holiday treats with many uses, such as:

    • Pop em’ in your mouth! It is almost like eating sweet and sour candy. 
    • Garnish your holiday cocktails (simply slip a few onto stainless steel cocktail picks and set on the rim of a cocktail glass). Make sure to save the sugar syrup to sweeten your holiday drinks, such as our sparkling cranberry passion fruit cocktail.

    Cocktail garnish with candied cranberries

    • Top baked goods and desserts such as this sweet potato pie, cheesecakes (Basque Burnt Cheesecake), sweet bread loaves (Pumpkin Bread), cupcakes, cakes (Sweet Potato Pound Cake), and sweet bars (Gingerbread Cookie Bars)
    • They make the perfect garnish for roasted turkey!
    • Serve them as a party snack, or on charcuterie boards, or on a cheese board along with our cranberry hummus dip.

    holiday cheese board

    • Use leftovers to make a sweet cranberry sauce.

    They are sure to make your holiday season sweeter and brighter!

    cheesecake topped with sugared cranberries and Christmas gingerbread cookies

    How to Make Sugared Cranberries

    This sugared cranberry recipe is quick to prepare but requires planning ahead since they will need about 1 hour to dry before coating them in sugar.

    recipe steps showing how to make sugared cranberries

    1. To start, make a simple syrup (or sugar syrup) by whisking together ½ cup of cold water with ½ cup of sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat until sugar dissolves, about 3-5 minutes. SEE PIC. 1 TIP: Do not let the mixture come to a boil!
    2. Then, remove the pan from the heat and gently stir in the fresh cranberries until well coated with the syrup. SEE PIC. 2 Cover and let them steep for 5-10 minutes. SEE PIC. 3
    3. Using a large slotted spoon, transfer the cranberries to a wire rack placed on top of a large rimmed baking sheet (or onto a large sheet of parchment paper). Make sure to place the cranberries on the rack spaced out, in a single layer.
    4. Let them dry at room temp for about 1 hour. They will be sticky and dry! SEE PIC. 4
    5. Toss them in the remaining 1 ½ cups of sugar for even coating. Allow them to dry again!

    tossing berries in sugar

    NOTE: Let the remaining hot syrup cool and use it to prepare drinks and cocktails!

     

    FAQs

    What Do Candied Cranberries Taste Like?

    They are sweet and sour… and one of my favorite ways to balance the taste of tart cranberries.

    How Do I Store Sugared Cranberries?

    You’re probably wondering how long do sugared cranberries last? If you store them in an airtight container in a dry, cool place, they can last up to 3-4 days at room temperature. The fresher the cranberries, the longer they’ll last.

    After a few days, you’ll notice the sugar ‘weeping.’ At this point, if the sugared cranberries are still firm, you can simply toss them in sugar again!

    Pro Tip: A small bowl of rice stored in the airtight container with the candied cranberries absorbs excess moisture in the air, keeping them fresher for longer. 

    Do Frosted Cranberries Refrigerate well?

    These sparkling cranberries are best kept at room temp. If you refrigerate them, the sugar will absorb moisture and may come off, making it difficult to stick on again after tossing them in sugar.

    Can Sparkling Cranberries be Frozen?

    I don’t recommend freezing them. Once thawed, the sugar will melt and the leftover cranberries will turn to mush.

    What Kind of Sugar Should I Use?

    You can use white granulated sugar, superfine sugar, or coarse decorating sugar that has a larger grain and will add a little sparkle to the cranberries.

    I used the first type (most common) and these easy sugared cranberries are still quite beautiful!

    Variations

    • Sugared Cranberries and Rosemary: Simply place a sprig of fresh rosemary as soon as the simple syrup is ready and let it steep with the cranberries.
    • With Vanilla: Place a scraped vanilla bean in with the simple syrup and allow it to steep with the cranberries.
    • With Orange: Add orange peel to the simple syrup with a squeeze of fresh orange juice and steep the cranberries with the peel.
    • Bourbon sugared cranberries: Add bourbon to the syrup mixture of sugar and water before cooking it.

    Expert's Tips

    • Plan ahead: While this sugared cranberries recipe requires almost no work, they do need one hour to dry out. 
    • Keep the sugar syrup! Yep, do NOT throw it away because you can use it to make lemonade, cocktails, or to brush on top of layered cakes.
    • Easily scale your batch up or down: Make a full batch, double, or triple batch, depending upon your needs.
    • Store sugared cranberries properly at room temp.
    • Take advantage of the cranberry season (mid-September to early November) to buy them fresh and for a better price. 

    Sugared Cranberries in a mason jar

    Other recipes to use sugared cranberries on or with:

    • Buttermilk Pie
    • No Bake Chocolate Pie with Meringue
    • Easy Chocolate Mousse

     

    PIN & ENJOY!

    close up of sugared cranberries in a bowl

     

    cheesecake topped with sugared cranberries and Christmas gingerbread cookies
    Print SAVE Saved Recipe! Pin
    5 from 1 vote

    Sugared Cranberries

    Sugared Cranberries (a.k.a. Candied Cranberries) make a stunning garnish on baked goods, desserts, and cocktails, and are also a great treat to serve on a meat and cheese platter for your Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations. Ours require just 3 ingredients!
    Course:Appetizer
    Cuisine:American
    Keywords:sugared cranberries
    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Cook Time 5 minutes
    Steeping + Resting time 1 hour 10 minutes
    Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
    Servings 6 people
    Calories91 kcal
    Author Denise Browning
    Cost $ 0.33 per person

    Equipment

    • baking sheet
    • Wire rack
    • saucepan
    • whisk
    • slotted spoon
    • plate

    Ingredients

    • ½ cup water
    • ½ cup white granulated sugar PLUS 1 ½ cups for tossing
    • 12 oz cranberries FRESH
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • To start, make a simple syrup (or sugar syrup) by whisking together ½ cup of cold water with ½ cup of sugar in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until sugar dissolves, about 3-5 minutes. TIP: Do not let the mixture come to a boil!
    • Then, remove the pan from the heat and gently stir in the fresh cranberries until well coated with the syrup. Cover and let them steep for 5-10 minutes.
    • Using a large slotted spoon, transfer the cranberries to a wire rack placed on top of a large rimmed baking sheet (or onto a large sheet of parchment paper).  Make sure to place the cranberries on the rack spaced out, in a single layer.
    • Let them dry at room temp for about 1 hour. They will be sticky and dry!
    • Toss them in the remaining 1 ½ cups of sugar for even coating. Allow them to dry again!

    Recipe Notes

    I did NOT test this recipe with FROZEN cranberries. They may become mushy!
    Pro Tip: A small bowl of rice stored in the airtight container with the candied cranberries absorbs excess moisture in the air, keeping them fresher for longer. After a few days, you’ll notice the sugar ‘weeping.’ At this point, if the sugared cranberries are still firm, you can simply toss them in sugar again!
    Variations
    • Sugared Cranberries and Rosemary: Simply place a sprig of fresh rosemary as soon as the simple syrup is ready and let it steep with the cranberries.  
    • With Vanilla: Place a scraped vanilla bean in with the simple syrup and allow it to steep with the cranberries.
    • With Orange: Add orange peel to the simple syrup with a squeeze of fresh orange juice and steep the cranberries with the peel.
    • Bourbon sugared cranberries: Add bourbon to the syrup mixture of sugar and water before cooking it.
    Storage
    Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temp for up to 2-4 days. Do not refrigerate or freeze them! 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 91kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 49mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 34IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 5mg

    ** Nutrition labels on easyanddelish.com are for educational purposes only. This info is provided as a courtesy and is only an estimate, since the nutrition content of recipes can vary based on ingredient brand or source, portion sizes, recipe changes/variations, and other factors. We suggest making your own calculations using your preferred calculator, based on which ingredients you use, or consulting with a registered dietitian to determine nutritional values more precisely.

    Please note that health-focused and diet information provided on easyanddelish.com is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Consult with your doctor or other qualified health professional prior to initiating any significant change in your diet or exercise regimen, or for any other issue necessitating medical advice.

    DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Comment and rate the recipe. Also follow us on Pinterest at @easyanddelish for more delish recipes.

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    Filed Under: 5 Ingredients or Less, American Recipes, Christmas, Easy Appetizer Recipes

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. John / Kitchen Riffs says

      December 08, 2021 at 9:33 am

      These look delish! And SO holiday-appropriate. Thanks!

      Reply
    2. Valgome says

      December 10, 2021 at 12:24 am

      5 stars
      Thanks for the amazing ideas 🙂 Wishes from Lithuania!

      Reply
      • Denise Browning says

        December 11, 2021 at 9:51 pm

        So glad you enjoyed our sugared cranberries recipe.

        Reply

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