Sugared Cranberries make pies, cocktails, cakes, and sides feel extra special and sparkly. A 3-ingredient garnish to dress up desserts and drinks during the holiday season.
Sugar Coated Cranberries
Our easy Sugared Cranberries recipe requires only 3 ingredients: sugar, water, and fresh cranberries. A few simple steps are all it takes to make this fresh fruit feel festive and perfectly pretty for decorating pies, cocktails, or holiday fare.
This candied cranberries recipe couldn’t be simpler – sugar and water combine to form a simple syrup that coats the cranberries, then rolled in sugar until they sparkle and taste sweet like candy.
Frosted cranberries can make Thanksgiving and Christmas festivities feel special; you’ll love sugared cranberries for garnishing libations and cocktail glasses, topping holiday treats and dessert tables, or simply for snacking on something delicious!
Why We Love Sugared Cranberry Recipes
- Quick and easy to make in minutes.
- Made using only 3 ingredients.
- Sparkling cranberries are sweet and tangy when tossed in syrup and coated in sugar.
- A fun and festive way to add sparkle to sides and sauces.
- Turns a Thanksgiving staple into a candied cranberry garnish for drinks, desserts, and main dishes.
Sugared Cranberries Ingredients
- Granulated sugar
- Purified water
- Fresh cranberries
Substitutions and Additions
- Swap The Sugar: You can use cane sugar for this frosted cranberry recipe instead of granulated white sugar. Cane sugar is a larger grain of sugar and a bit more sparkly, but granulated sugar will give your sugar-covered cranberries a snowy coating.
- Save The Sugar Syrup: Reserve the extra sugar syrup to sweeten cocktails, iced tea, iced coffee, lemonade, and blend into your favorite cold beverages. Or use it to brush on cakes, drizzle on ice cream, or mix into your morning brew.
How to Make Sugared Cranberries
- Simmer The Simple Syrup: Bring the purified water and sugar to a low boil, immediately lower the heat, and simmer for 3 to 5 minutes.
- Coat The Cranberries: Remove the mixture from the heat, cool, then toss the cranberries in the syrup until coated. Strain the cranberries and reserve the syrup.
- Cover The Cranberries: Allow the cranberries to dry for at least one hour, then roll them in the sugar until completely covered.
- Serve: Decorate holiday desserts, garnish cocktail glasses, or start snacking and enjoy!
Tips For Making Sugared Cranberries
- You can use frozen cranberries, but you must be sure they are thawed and completely dried out before using them in this recipe.
- Fresh cranberries can be found in the produce section of your favorite supermarket.
What To Do With Leftover Sugared Cranberries
Save your leftover sugared cranberries because there are so many ways to serve them!
- Garnish a cocktail glass.
- Scatter them over cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, or holiday sides and main dishes.
- Top pies, cakes, and other treats.
- Add them to a charcuterie board alongside some hummus, crackers, and veggies.
- Toss them on an appetizer table or even in a salad.
- Package them for on-the-go snacks and edible gifts.
How to Store Sugared Cranberries
- To Store: Store your sugared cranberries covered in an airtight container at room temperature in a cool, dry environment for up to 2 days.
- To Freeze: I do not recommend freezing sugared cranberries. As they thaw, the sugar melts and the cranberries turn to mush.
More Easy Holiday Recipes
Other Easy Cranberry Recipes
- Cranberry Brie Bites
- Cranberry Cake
- Easy Cranberry Meatballs
- White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies
- Cranberry Pretzel Salad
Sugared Cranberries
Serves — 3
Sugared Cranberries add sparkle, fun, and a festive flair to holiday drinks, desserts, sides, and main dishes.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Rest Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Ingredients
- 1½ cups granulated sugar divided ½ cup + 1 cup
- ½ cup purified water
- 3 cups fresh cranberries
Instructions
- Prepare a cooling rack with parchment paper.
- Add ½ cup of purified water and ½ cup of granulated sugar to a small saucepan. Bring the mixture to a low boil, immediately lower the heat to medium-low, and simmer for 3 to 5 minutes.1½ cups granulated sugar, ½ cup purified water
- Remove the mixture from the heat and allow it to cool for a few minutes. Fold in 3 cups of cranberries. Toss the cranberries with a wooden spoon until all the cranberries are coated. Strain the cranberries and reserve the syrup.3 cups fresh cranberries
- Place the coated cranberries on the parchment-prepared cooling rack. Allow the cranberries to dry for at least one hour.
- While the cranberries dry, prepare a shallow dish with 1 cup of granulated sugar. Once the cranberries are done drying, roll them in the granulated sugar. Make sure they are coated completely.1½ cups granulated sugar
- Use these to decorate your favorite holiday dessert or cocktail. ENJOY!
Jenn’s Notes
Storage:
- To Store: Store your sugared cranberries covered in an airtight container at room temperature in a cool, dry environment for up to 2 days.
- To Freeze: I do not recommend freezing sugared cranberries. As they thaw, the sugar melts and the cranberries turn to mush.
- You can use frozen cranberries, but you must be sure they are thawed and completely dried out before using them in this recipe.
- Fresh cranberries can be found in the produce section of your favorite supermarket.
Nutrition Info
Calories: 431kcal | Carbohydrates: 112g | Protein: 0.5g | Fat: 0.5g | Saturated Fat: 0.01g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.02g | Sodium: 5mg | Potassium: 82mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 104g | Vitamin A: 60IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 0.3mg
