These Sugared Cranberries are an easy to make and festive recipe. Perfect treat and sparkling garnish for the holiday season!
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Hello everyone – happy Monday!
Who is ready for holiday season? I definitely am. Indeed, I have developed and photographed already about 10 holiday ideas. And I am not going to stop now.
Sugared Cranberries
I would like to start with these easy to make but super festive Sugared Cranberries. They are such an elegant holiday garnish for cocktails and desserts. Also, they are a delicious sweet snack. You can also make them a part of edible holiday box.
As you probably already know, it’s so easy to make them. You will need only two ingredients: fresh cranberries and granulated sugar. Well, and water, too. First, you will need to make simple sugar syrup and stir in the cranberries to coat. Then the cranberries need to be dried for about one hour. They will turn slightly sticky. Last step will be coating them in the remaining sugar. That’s all!
This method makes the cranberries juicy and pulpy with a lightly crunchy exterior.
Perfect for Garnishing
Actually, I also tried a different approach. I dehydrated a part of the cranberries after coating in the syrup (for about an hour). I thought they would be drier and, thus, less sugar would need less sugar. That was not the case though! The berries turned utterly delicious, but softer and juicier. Perfect for enjoying as a dessert / snack, but not so suitable for garnishing.
You can easily double (triple, etc.) the batch. I would not recommend keeping them refrigerated as they could turn too sticky. The cranberries will be fine for 2 days without refrigerator. Either way, they can become a bit sticky (Depending the humidity in your kitchen). You can also always toss them with more sugar if they start getting sticky.
Other Christmas Recipes with Cranberries
Cranberry Pecan Shortbread Cookies
Gingerbread Cranberry Panettone Trifle
I hope you enjoy these Sugared Cranberries, and you will try them. If you make it, let me know in this post or send me an Instagram message or share you photos adding the hashtag #havocinthekitchen.
Cheers!
Sugared Cranberries
Course: Dessert6-8
servings10
minutes1
hourThese Sugared Cranberries are an easy to make and festive recipe. Perfect treat and sparkling garnish for the holiday season!
Ingredients
about 1 and 1/2 granulated sugar, divided
2 cups fresh cranberries
1/2 cup water
Directions
- Combine 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring, until sugar is dissolved. Do not boil. Off heat.
- Stir in cranberries and gently mix to coat. Leave them in the hot syrup for a minute. Use a slotted spoon and transfer cranberries to a baking tray or better wire rack. Let cranberries dry for 1 hour – they will become a bit sticky. After one hour, roll cranberries in remaining sugar until completely coated.
- Store in an airtight container for 2 days. If kept refrigerated, they will be fine for up to 4 days. You can also always toss them with more sugar if they start getting sticky. Enjoy!
Hi – I’m Ben, a blogger, recipe developer, and food photographer. I’m glad you’re here! I hope you will enjoy hundreds of delicious recipes and a pinch of havoc in the kitchen.
That looks so nice and you did such lovely festive setting for all the recent posts!
DEZMOND recently posted…LILY COLLINS’ EMILY IN PARIS SEASON 2 AND AIRING DATE ARE HERE! GERMANY’S JIM BUTTON AND THE WILD 13 EPIC FAMILY ADVENTURE SELLS AROUND THE WORLD
Loving the festive vibes here!
EASYFOODSMITH recently posted…MISSI ROTI – मिस्सी रोटी (Spicy Chickpea Flour Flatbread)
Thank you!
Cranberries are one of my favorites as we roll into the Christmas season! I always tend to make a few “extra” when I need sugared garnishes and I just end up snacking on them. So good!
Tasia ~ two sugar bugs recently posted…Cookie Butter Cheesecake {No Bake}
Thank you Tasia!
I’ve always loved the look of sugared cranberries. Beautiful and festive! ::-) ~Valentina
Thank you Valentina!
Ben these look so delicious. We don’t get fresh cranberries here in Queensland, however cherries might just do the trick. Bring on Christmas. By the way, I am signed up to receive your recipes by email, but they don’t seem to be arriving now. Perhaps I should try another way of doing it.
Oh thank you. Not sure about the cherries as they will be too sweet once rolled into sugar (Maybe add lemon juice into the syrup, to balance it out a bit.) Anyway, let me know if you try.
Yes, I’ve heard people are having the same issue. There’s two ways to sign up: a pop up window and an built-in form (On the right side) Not sure which one you’ve tried before, but try switching! I have a suspicion about a pop-up window being a culprit here :)
Dang! I wish we had fresh cranberries here, the closest one I can get is a juice but I bet I can use cherries using the same technique as yours, such a nice addition to a Christmas dinner spread
Raymund recently posted…TNC Fried Chicken (Massey, Auckland, New Zealand)
Thank you Raymund!
We consume Cranberries alot here in Turkey. Mostly we make its jam or marmalade, also its tea is really good. Also we consume sugared cranberries alot in winter times. Your Christmas recipes with Cranberries are very interesting. Especially i would like to try its soup.
Thank you!
I do love garnishing everything from cakes (sweet) to brie with cranberry sauce (savory) with sugared cranberries! Excellent holiday recipe, Ben!!
David @ Spiced recently posted…Cajun Cornbread Biscuit Dressing
Thank you David!
Sugared cranberries are a must for me during the holidays! They’re just so versatile and festive!! Yours look absolutely perfect!!!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary recently posted…Creamed Corn Casserole (make ahead option!)
Thank you Cheyanne!
Your cranberries look so pretty glimmering with sugar and I love the photos!
Thank you Kim!
What a pretty garnish Ben.
Thank you Tandy!
These are such a festive and tasty holiday snack, Ben! Not to mention a quick and easy recipe – which we can all use during the busy holiday season!
Thank you Marissa!
This screams HOLIDAYS :-) I haven’t made some in years…time to start a batch soon.
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Thank you!