Sugared Cranberries {Candied Cranberries}
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Posted: 11/14/19
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Sugared Cranberries are a pretty finishing touch to any holiday dish or cocktail. They only require a couple ingredients and are easy to make. They are frequently referred to as candied cranberries too! Whip up a batch for your holiday festivities.
Have you ever tried Sugared Cranberries? They’re tart and sweet little bites that are easy to make and perfect for the holiday season. I love making them for Thanksgiving and all the way through Christmas as a fun holiday treat to have on hand at home and also to give away as gifts!
I’m pretty sure we’ve all had cranberry sauce during the holidays – it’s pretty much a staple, right? Well, if you want to try something new with cranberries this is a fun recipe to try. The little red berries coated in sugar are so festive and cute. We love to make them every year!
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What are Sugared Cranberries?
Fresh cranberries are briefly cooked (or “candied”) in simple syrup and then coated in sugar. They’re also known as candied cranberries and sparkling cranberries. They’re tart and sweet with a crunchy sugar coating and look so pretty packaged in clear bags for gifts, served in a pretty bowl or used to garnish drinks and desserts. They’re almost too pretty and you might think you can’t eat them, but you can – they are edible!
Everyone loves these sweet treats and they just look like the holidays, don’t they? What I love about making sugared cranberries is that it’s not complicated and not fussy! I hate recipes that have a million steps and these candied cranberries are the total opposite. There’s hardly any prep work and you only need a few simple ingredients:
- Fresh cranberries – Make sure your cranberries are firm like an acorn or pearl. They should also be scarlet or fire-engine red in color.
- Water and sugar – We recommend using a granulated sugar to make your simple syrup.
- Sugar for coating – You have three different options for your sugar. You can use granulated sugar, decorative sugar or sugar in the raw. There is a photo below comparing the three.
How to Make Them in Four Easy Steps
- First, you will make a simple syrup which is, well, simple! Combine equal parts water and granulated sugar together in a saucepan. Once the sugar dissolves and the mixture is heated just below the boiling point, take the saucepan off the heat. Add fresh cranberries to the syrup and cook them for about five minutes.
- Transfer the cranberries to a rack and let them dry for about five minutes. Make sure your cranberries are space apart from each other so they dry completely and won’t stick together.
- Next you will place sugar in a shallow bowl. Roll the cranberries, a few at a time, in the sugar until they’re evenly coated.
- Place the sugared cranberries back on a clean rack (so they don’t stick to the rack) and let them dry at room temperature for an hour. To store, place them in an airtight container and keep them in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Best Sugar for Candied Cranberries
For the simple syrup (the water and sugar mixture used to candy the cranberries), you will want to use granulated sugar. It dissolves quickly!
For the sugar coating – this is where you can have fun! Depending on the kind of look you want your cranberries to have, you have a few choices. You can see the different types of sugar in the photo below!
- The first cranberry on the left side in the photo is coated in granulated sugar – you don’t have to buy anything special! The granulated sugar gives the cranberries a smoother coating and it works really well.
- Or, try coating your cranberries in decorative sugar, which is coarser than granulated sugar and will give the cranberries a different sugar coating texture. The second cranberry in the photo was rolled in decorative sugar.
- The last cranberry was coated in sugar-in-the-raw, which is also a coarse sugar that is light brown in color.
I like to do a combination of all three because I can’t ever choose just one type of sugar!
How to Add Different Flavors
I love the simple combination of the tart cranberry cooked in the simple syrup, but you can add flavors to the simple syrup (the mixture the cranberries cook in) to give your candied cranberries a special twist! Play around with the amounts and combinations to find your perfect flavor.
- Add a few orange and/or lemon peels to the syrup while it’s warming before you add the cranberries.
- Or, try adding a vanilla bean to make a vanilla simple syrup.
- Make a cinnamon-sugar syrup by adding a cinnamon stick.
- Add a few mint leaves to give it a minty twist!
Storage Tips
The most important thing when storing your sugared cranberries is keeping them dry. So, be sure they have dried thoroughly at room temperature for at least an hour before storing them.
Once dry, you can transfer them to an airtight container. It’s best to keep them chilled in the refrigerator where they will keep well for up to two to three days. If you are making them for gifts, I recommend making the day you plan to give them and let the recipient know to enjoy them within the recommended time frame.
If the cranberries start to weep you can always roll them in a bit of sugar to freshen them up before you use them!
Ways to Use Sugared Cranberries
Besides just popping them in your mouth while you’re making them, there are so many fun ways to use your sugared cranberries during the holidays!
- Serve them in a pretty bowl for holiday parties.
- Use them to garnish your holiday drinks! You can skewer them on a toothpick and serve them with champagne or sparkling cranberry cocktails.
- Candied cranberries are adorable decorations for holiday cakes.
- Add them to your cheeseboard, fruit tray or charcuterie board as an edible garnish.
- Place them in a clear bag tied with a pretty ribbon and give them as holiday gifts – just be sure to remind the recipient they should be enjoyed within a few days!
Whether you make these sugared cranberries to give away or keep them all to yourself, I think you’re going to love them! They’re such a great way to use cranberries during the holidays.
More recipes using cranberries!
- Cream Cheese Cranberry Bread – This sweet cream cheese bread compliments the tart cranberries it’s loaded with resulting in an amazing quick bread!
- Cranberry Sauce – This delicious cranberry sauce recipe is flavored with orange and cinnamon to make it the best!
Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!
Sugared Cranberries
These easy candied cranberries are easy to make with just two ingredients. Perfect for topping festive drinks and desserts during the holidays!
Ingredients
- ¼ c. granulated sugar
- ¼ c. water
- 12 oz fresh cranberries firm and fresh
- 1 ½ c. granulated sugar or in-the-raw sugar or coarse sparkling sugar for coating
Instructions
- In a medium size saucepan combine ¼ c. granulated sugar and ¼ c. water. Heat on medium, stirring continuously, until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture just starts to boil.
- Remove the saucepan from heat and add fresh cranberries. Stir mixture until cranberries are coated.
- Allow cranberries to sit in pan for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove cranberries from pan with a slotted spoon and place on a cooling rack making sure to separate them. Allow to dry for 5 minutes.
- Place remaining sugar in a small bowl. Gently toss a few cranberries in sugar at a time. Return sugar coated cranberries to a clean cooling rack to dry. Repeat until all cranberries have been dipped in sugar. Let cranberries dry at room temperature for at least 1 hour, then refrigerate until ready to use.
Tips
Best Sugar for Candied Cranberries
For the simple syrup (the water and sugar mixture used to candy the cranberries), you will want to use granulated sugar. It dissolves quickly!
For the sugar coating - this is where you can have fun! Depending on the kind of look you want your cranberries to have, you have a few choices.
- Granulated sugar gives the cranberries a smoother coating and it works really well.
- Or, try coating your cranberries in decorative sugar, which is coarser than granulated sugar and will give the cranberries a different sugar coating texture.
- Another option is sugar-in-the-raw, which is also a coarse sugar that is light brown in color.
- Add a few orange and/or lemon peels to the syrup while it's warming before you add the cranberries.
- Or, try adding a vanilla bean to make a vanilla simple syrup.
- Make a cinnamon-sugar syrup by adding a cinnamon stick.
- Add a few mint leaves to give it a minty twist!
Nutrition Information
Calories: 1510.99kcal (76%), Carbohydrates: 391.43g (130%), Protein: 1.33g (3%), Fat: 0.44g (1%), Saturated Fat: 0.04g, Sodium: 13.43mg (1%), Potassium: 289.16mg (8%), Fiber: 15.65g (65%), Sugar: 363.04g (403%), Vitamin A: 204.12IU (4%), Vitamin C: 45.25mg (55%), Calcium: 27.22mg (3%), Iron: 0.85mg (5%)
Danielle says
So simple and easy to make! Thanks for sharing!
Julie says
You’re welcome! Glad you enjoyed it!
Malinda says
These were the prettiest cranberries EVER! Made them to decorate my table with and they made it look so festive!
Julie says
They are the best! I’m glad you enjoyed them!
Alison LaFortune says
Super easy recipe & so festive! Used them as cocktail garnishes and everybody raved.
Julie says
The perfect way to use them!