Simple Sugared Cranberries
Simple Sugared Cranberries are a beloved treat during the holidays, for their sweet-and-tart flavor as well as their sparkling visual appearance. These cranberries make an excellent garnish for desserts and cocktails, or they can be enjoyed as a sweet-but-tart snack.
Sugared Cranberries
This recipe is oh-so-easy, y’all. You’re definitely going to want to keep a large stash of these in your freezer for all the holiday things. I’ve already got mine all ready to go!
These are a few of my favorite things!
Why This Recipe Works:
- SIMPLE – These homemade sugar-coated cranberries are super simple to make and only use three ingredients! You’ll need some time for the cranberries to dry but after that, it’s really quick.
- FLAVORFUL – If you like tart berries, you’ll like these crunchy little berries.
- SPARKLY – We love how these look in cocktails, holiday desserts, cheese boards, or just in a little snack bowl. Sparkling cranberries are perfect for your holiday table too.
Ingredients needed for Sugared Cranberries:
Just three simple ingredients are necessary – and one of them is water! 😀
- Cranberries – Use a bag of fresh cranberries that can be easily found in grocery stores over the holidays.
- Water – You’ll combine water and sugar.
- Regular Granulated Sugar – Some for the simple syrup and then extra to coat the cranberries.
Want to make a small batch recipe? Freeze the leftover cranberries for later.
How to make Easy Sugared Cranberries:
Step 1
Make simple syrup. Combine equal parts sugar and equal parts water (1/2 cup of each) in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook until sugar dissolves, stirring frequently.
Step 2
Add cranberries. Remove pan from heat and add cranberries. Stir for a minute or so and then let sit for a few more minutes.
Step 3
Drain cranberries. Use a small colander or a slotted spoon to remove cranberries from the pan. We like to pour the simple syrup into a mason jar for cocktails.
Step 4
Place a wire rack on a baking sheet (lined with parchment paper). Arrange cranberries on a wire rack and let them dry for at least an hour.
Step 5
Add sugar. Place one cup of sugar into a mixing bowl. When the cranberries are dry, roll about 1/2 cup of the cranberries in the sugar at a time until they are well coated. Remove to a separate bowl, shaking off the excess sugar, and then repeat with the remaining cranberries. Discard remaining sugar or use it for another delicious snack.
Step 6
Store sugared cranberries. Place the sugared cranberries in an airtight container in your refrigerator for several days. You can also place berries in a freezer bag, and store in the freezer for up to three months.
Step 7
Serve cranberries in the following ways:
- Add them as a beautiful garnish to holiday cocktails. These delicious recipes are some of our favorites.
2. These sugared cranberries are a perfect addition to charcuterie boards. Include some on your Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board for that extra pop of color.
3. Sprinkle some of these cranberries on your holiday tablescape. These add a festive touch to your holiday decor!
4. Snack on sugared cranberries. They’re a little tart, but yummy!
Love a simple cranberry sauce recipe? Ours uses pure maple syrup and orange zest for the tastiest cranberry recipe.
Recipe FAQs:
Sugared cranberries have a unique and delightful taste. The cranberries themselves are naturally tart, but when they are coated in sugar, they take on a sweet and slightly tangy flavor. The sugar adds a crunchy texture to the outside of the cranberries, contrasting with the soft and juicy interior of the fruit.
The combination of the sweet and tart flavors, along with the textural contrast, makes sugared cranberries a popular treat, often enjoyed during the holiday season. They can be used as a garnish for desserts, cocktails, or simply eaten on their own as a sweet and tangy snack. The sugar coating not only enhances the flavor but also gives the cranberries a beautiful, sparkling appearance, making them visually appealing as well.
Sugared cranberries can stay good for a reasonable amount of time, but their shelf life can vary depending on how they are stored. When stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, sugared cranberries can remain good for about 2 weeks. However, their texture may change slightly over time as the sugar coating can become less crunchy.
If you plan to keep them for an extended period, you can also freeze sugared cranberries. When properly stored in an airtight container in the freezer, they can last for several months. Freezing will help maintain their flavor and texture for a longer duration.
Kitchen Tools Used: (affiliate links)
xoxo ~Sue
Simple Sugared Cranberries
Ingredients
- 12 oz. cranberries
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup sugar – for simple syrup
- 1 cup sugar – for coating
Instructions
- Make simple syrup. Combine 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook until sugar is dissolved, stirring frequently.1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup water
- Add cranberries. Remove pan from heat and add cranberries. Stir for a minute or so and then let sit for a few more minutes.12 oz. cranberries
- Drain cranberries. Use a small colander or a slotted spoon to remove cranberries from the pan. We like to pour the simple syrup into a mason jar for cocktails.
- Place a wire rack on a baking sheet (lined with paper towels). Arrange cranberries on a wire rack and let them dry for at least an hour.
- Add sugar. Place one cup of sugar into a mixing bowl. When the cranberries are dry, roll about 1/2 cup of the cranberries in the sugar at a time until they are well coated. Remove to a separate bowl, shaking off the excess sugar, and then repeat with the remaining cranberries.1 cup sugar
- Store sugared cranberries. Place the sugared cranberries in an airtight container or a freezer bag, and store in the freezer for up to three months.
- Serve sugared cranberries in cocktails, desserts, charcuterie boards, to tablescapes, or as a snack.
We will be giving these a try this year – they look perfect for the margaritas. Cheers!
Great to hear, Tom! Merry Christmas!
I make this for the syrup and the sugared cranberries to use in sangria and margaritas.
Great idea, Shari! 🙂
Yep – That pro tip I was looking for! So cool when added to drinks at parties. ?
You do like my pro-tips! 🙂
I have made these and they are an excellent addition to holiday cocktails. So pretty!!!
Yay! They are so fun this time of year! Glad you enjoyed them, Shari. 🙂