Sugared Cranberries

Sugared cranberries are so easy to make and are the perfect garnish for holiday cocktails and desserts! Read on to learn how easy it is to make them!

What are sugared cranberries?

Sugared cranberries are exactly what they sound like: cranberries rolled in sugar! You make a quick simple syrup to coat (and slightly cook) the cranberries in and then roll them in sugar.

Ingredients

You only need three ingredients to make these easy sugared cranberries:

• Fresh cranberries
• Granulated sugar
• Water

That's it!

How to make sugared cranberries

Step 1: Make a simple syrup melting the sugar and water in a large saucepan or skillet with high sides.

Step 2: Add the cranberries to the pan and cook for 1 minute. Use a spatula to gently move the cranberries around and make sure they're fully coated.

Step 3: Use a slotted spoon to transfer them to a wire rack placed over parchment paper. I like to line a baking sheet with parchment paper and then place the wire rack over both of them.

Step 4: Wait about 45 minutes for simple syrup coating to bind to the cranberries.

Step 5: Roll the cranberries in sugar!

Can I eat cranberries with sugar?

Yes! Raw cranberries can be pretty tart on their own and the sourness may not be for everyone, but once you add a little simple syrup and some sugar they're delicious!

How to serve and use

These make the perfect garnish for any dish or beverage! Use them as a:

• Dessert garnish: Use sugar cranberries to decorate your favorite holiday desserts! They're the perfect cake or cupcake topper, adding both festive color and an extra sweet and sour flavor burst!
• Drink garnish: they make a beautiful garnish to any drink and are an easy way to turn it into something special for the holiday season
• Garnish a sweet dish with sugared cranberries to offer a contrasting pop of sour like I did with these fluffy gingerbread pancakes!

Sugared Cranberries

Making sugared cranberries couldn't be easier using three simple ingredients: fresh cranberries, sugar and water!

5 from 14 votes

Print Pin Rate

Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cooling Time: 45 minutes minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes minutes

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 ½ cup granulated white sugar, divided
• ▢ ½ cup water
• ▢ 12 ounce package of fresh cranberries

Instructions

• Add ½ cup sugar and water to a large skillet with high sides and melt over medium heat until the the sugar is dissolved.
• Add the cranberries to the pan and cook for 1 minute. Gently move the cranberries around and make sure they're fully coated.
• Use a slotted spoon to scoop the cranberries out of the pan and transfer them to a wire rack placed over parchment paper. I like to line a baking sheet with parchment paper and then place the wire rack over both.
• Wait 30-45 minutes for the simple syrup coating to bind the the cranberries
• Roll the cranberries in the remaining sugar, making sure to coat the berries evenly.

Notes

You should use as fresh cranberries as possible for this recipe. However, I've found that cranberries that are starting to wrinkle work well for this recipe as well because they fill out again during the cooking process and any blemishes are covered by the sugar. 

Storage

These can be used immediately to garnish holiday drinks and desserts. Store any unused sugared cranberries at room temperature for three to four days. 

Please note, Holiday Sweets N Treats isn't a professional nutritionist. Any and all nutritional information shared is an estimate. If you're following a specific diet or counting calories, we suggest you use the nutrition calculator of your choice. Calories can vary depending on the brands and products used.

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