Sugared cranberries are a wonderful holiday treat and add an extra festive touch to baked goods and cocktails (or mocktails). They are easy to make and once you make a batch you’ll be hooked. Fun gift idea too!
I can’t think of anything more festive for the holiday season than cranberries. They segue from Thanksgiving cranberry sauce to all sorts of fun home decorations and edible treats. Has anyone strung them as a garland for your Christmas tree? How about floated them in a beautiful bowl of water with some floating candles for a centerpiece (they float just like the candles)? Just having a bowl of them sitting out feels like Christmas to me.
Outside of being a key ingredient in so many sweet and savory recipes, there are fun, easy recipes to prepare them as a treat or a small gift. I shared a recipe for Brandied Cranberries some time ago that I found in a vintage recipe collection. Today I’m sharing another holiday favorite: How to make Sugared Cranberries.
I’m sure you’ve seen the white sparkly orbs with some red showing through in photos or on fancy desserts. They are wonderful on cakes and cupcakes, in drinks (though they lose their sugar coating) or anywhere you are feeling it (like my Instant Pot Gingerbread Steel Cut Oats).
The process of sugaring the cranberries is easy and transforms their texture as well as flavor. The cranberries soak in a homemade simple syrup recipe overnight and then are rolled in fine baking sugar (it coats the best). The simple syrup both infuses some sweetness but also creates a coating on the cranberries allowing the extra fine sugar to stick. After sitting to fully dry for about an hour, the outer coating becomes dry and crisp creating a wonderful ‘pop’ in your mouth when eating them.
The infusion of the simple syrup coupled with the sugar coating diminishes the usual tartness for a sweeter cranberry bite. Not all cranberries are created equal, so there may be a tart one in the bunch! Once dried, their coating becomes hard so the sugar stays in place too.
The easy trick about this recipe is that all you need to rememember is to use the same amount of water, sugar and cranberries. Simple syrup is made with equal parts of water and sugar, and this tutorial for how to make sugared cranberries uses the same amount also of cranberries. This makes it simple to create batches of whatever size you need without having to remember measurements.
Giving a little jar of them as an unexpected gift for a friend or neighbor, especially one who loves to bake, is always appreciated. Of course if you want to keep them all for yourself, I’ll never tell.
How to Make Sugared Cranberries:
Sugared Cranberries
Sugared cranberries are easy to make and a wonderful holiday treat or holiday garnish. The recipe may be made for any amount of cranberries. Just adjust to the amount of water, sugar and cranberries are the same and proceed with the recipe. The volume of 1 cup has been used as an example in this recipe.
Ingredients
- 1 cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 cup Water
- 1 cup fresh Cranberries
- 1/2 cup Extra Fine Sugar (also known as Baker's Sugar) sifted to remove any lumps if needed
Instructions
Combine the granulated sugar and water in medium sauce pan and bring to a low simmer (aproximately 3 minutes), stirring often, just until the sugar is dissolved; remove from heat. Add the cranberries. Add the liquid (now a simple syrup) and cranberries to a sealable container and refridgerate for 8 hours.
After chilling: Pour the extra fine sugar onto a plate. Remove the cranberries from the liquid with a slotted spoon to drain and deposit a few at a time into the fine sugar. NOTE: the simple syrup may be reserved for use in cocktails. Using a light touch, roll cranberries one by one in the sugar to coat. Gently place on a rimmed baking sheet for 1-2 hours until fully dry.
robin rue says
Sugared cranberries? I need to try these like STAT. OMG they sound so delicious.
Stacie says
Oh wow! Those look like little bites of cranberry sauce in your mouth. I must have these in my life!
Colleen says
I have to make these for our Christmas get together. I think they’re a great little snack that perfectly capture the holidays.
ashley says
So simple and beautiful!
Jeni Hawkins says
YES YES YES! I just got a bunch of cranberries to use with holiday baking – but didn’t have a plan for them. I’m so excited to make these now!
Jeanette says
I still have a whole bunch of cranberries left over from Thanksgiving that are in my freezer. These look delicious and easy to make. I cannot wait to try them.
Toni Dash says
Do it! They are fun to make and so pretty!
Pam says
I still have some cranberries left over from Thanksgiving too. This would be a perfect way to use them up.
Sinisa says
Cranberries are my favorite. Best part of holiday foods
Connie says
I love, love cranberries. I will be giving these a try.
Liz Mays says
Ooh, I’ve never done this! I can definitely see these being great snacks to bring out around the holidays.
Christie says
I bet these are so delicious! I’ve never heard of sugared cranberries before, and this would be easy to make.
Dawn Lopez says
These Sugared Cranberries look like the ultimate Christmas treat! I’ve never tried cranberries like this before but I bet they are going to taste amazing.
Autumn Reo says
I love this idea! They are like festive holiday candy! The kids would love to eat them but also to help make them!
AnnMarie John says
That’s really interesting! I love the idea and it’s also a great way to enjoy a cranberry. It’s not difficult at all to make!
Pam says
I need to make these! I love cranberries and they would make a great garnish for holiday drinks.
Kathy says
These look so good. I can’t wait to try them. I have been wanting to try these for a while now. I bet they taste great.
Claudia Krusch says
These Sugared cranberries look so delicious. I have never tried one before. I will definitely add these to my holiday menu. I am sure they will be a big hit.
Amy Desrosiers says
These are super pretty! I have always wanted to make some for my baked goods. Maybe I will!
Toni Dash says
They really are so easy you should! It’s jmakes such a nice finishing touch.
travel blogger says
I have to admit that I have never even heard of sugared cranberries, but they sound amazing! I will have to try out this recipe over the weekend.
Toni Dash says
I’m so glad you now have heard of them! They are delicious and so pretty. They can be made more sparkly with regular granulated sugar too but it does not cover as well.
TColeman says
These would be so great to have at a party set out for guests. I am going to have to make some of these!
Ra'Nesha says
I love sugared cranberries especially after I refreeze them their so amazing my goodness I want some now.
Toni Dash says
I’m surprised they do well after freezing them Ra’Nesha. In my research I read they don’t work well with frozen cranberries and I would think they might get mushy if frozen. Do they not? Also I found if I sealed them and placed them in the refrigerator overnight the moisture made the sugar begin to come off. Would love to hear more about your experience with freezing them.
Brianne says
These look so yummy. I love doing them with cinnamon and sugar!
Denise C says
I just picked up a bag of cranberries the other day, and I’ve been trying to figure out what to do with them. You saved me from having to spend more time researching.
kristin says
These sound so lovely!! I bet they are too! So easy to make too
Angela Milnes says
This is a really great recipe. We all know cranberries can use a little sweetness.
Sara Welch says
Cranberries make for a very tasty snack. They are really good for me too.
Marissa Zurfluh says
That is really good to know. I might sugar up some other things too!
Dee Skinner says
Please post the recipe for the brandied cranberries! You have my attention!!!!! Thank you….I love your recipes!!!!! Just passed your site to my two Broomfield daughters!!! They are missing too many goodies!!!!!!
Toni Dash says
Hi Dee! Thanks for passing BoulderLocavore.com along! If you click on the link in the blog post (where it says Brandied Cranberries) you’ll land on the recipe! Alternatively you can use the search function too.
Jessica T says
Wow these look really, really cool! I am going to have to try this.
Toni Dash says
Please do! I think you’ll see how many ways you can use them!
Stacie says
I love how easy these are to make. These will be a wonderful addition to my Christmas table.
Toni Dash says
Yes! Whether for decor or eating, they are a perfect fit!
Alicia Gonzalez says
I would definitely try to make these! I’ve never tried any but I love cranberries. Give me a recipe I will not likely mess up, and I’m all over it! I really like the idea of giving them as treats.
Kiwi says
Wow these are pretty elegant. I never had sugar cranberries super festive.
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) says
Sugared cranberries…what a novel idea!!!
Megan @ MegUnprocessed says
Cranberries are the best!
Carolyn says
These are so perfect for the holidays!
Leia says
I love sugared cranberries! I think they are too tart without the sugar 😬😂
Richa Gupta says
I love anything that involves Cranberries and this looks amazing!