Sugared Cranberries: A Festive Touch For Your Celebrations

Make easy festive sugared cranberries, just like you see in holiday movies! These sparkling cranberries are a sweet and tart treat perfect for adding a festive touch to desserts or enjoying a fun snack.

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Cranberries take center stage in fall, and not just for cranberry sauce. These jewel-like, sugar-coated treats are as pretty as a holiday ornament. And they’re sooo easy to make – with just three basic ingredients: cranberries, sugar, and water.

These tiny, tart, and sweet morsels make for an excellent snack, a stunning dessert garnish, or even a gorgeous edible centerpiece at your holiday table. They’re like little jewels that add a pop of color and a burst of sweet-tart flavor to every bite.

Whether you’re sprinkling them on ice cream, garnishing your cocktails, or snacking straight from the container (no judgment here), these sugared cranberries are a holiday treat you’ll want to keep around year-round.

In this post, we’ll delve into the world of these sparkling little gems, discussing everything from the simple sugar-coating process to some creative ways to use these beauties in your festive meals.

🥘Ingredient Notes

For exact amounts needed see the recipe card below

There are just three simple ingredients.

• Cranberries: I try to use fresh cranberries. They’re tart, tangy, and pack a punch that’s just perfect for this recipe. Fresh ones also handle the heat better without turning mushy. Frozen ones will work if you’re in a pinch, but let them thaw before you start.
• Sugar: Sugar is what gives the cranberries a beautiful, frosty look. Use granulated sugar for the best results.
• Water: Just a regular tap water will do. We’re using it to make a simple syrup to soak the cranberries, which helps the sugar adhere to their surface.

🥣The Step-by-Step Guide on How to Make Sugared Cranberries

1. Start by boiling half a cup of sugar with half a cup of water in a medium saucepan. Let it simmer for about 2 minutes. You’re creating a simple syrup here.
2. Now, remove the pot from the heat and stir in the cranberries. Make sure to coat every one of those little red orbs in the syrup.
3. Next, using a slotted spoon, fish out the cranberries and lay them out on a parchment-lined tray. Try to separate them as much as possible. They need their space to dry out properly.
4. Let them sit and dry for about an hour.
5. Once they’re dry, toss them in the remaining sugar. Roll them around until they’re evenly coated. At this point, they should look like a winter’s frost has kissed them.

🍴Serving Ideas for Sugared Cranberries

If you’re anything like me, the moment that tray of sparkly frosted cranberries comes out of the fridge, it’s like a moth to a flame. You just can’t resist! But it’s worth saving some to jazz up your dishes.

A personal favorite in our house is sprinkling these little gems on top of vanilla ice cream. The kids go wild for what they refer to as “Santa’s ice cream.”

The tart cranberries perfectly counterbalance the sweet creaminess of the ice cream. And they are a beautiful garnish during the holiday season for Christmas treats like a yule log cake or cranberry upside down cake.

But don’t stop at the dessert. These cranberries can be the star of your brunch, too. Try them atop your Christmas pancakes and waffles, or mix them into your favorite muffin batter.

And if you want to get fancy, use these sugared cranberries on a gingerbread house, a charcuterie board, or as a garnish for cocktails. Picture this: a cranberry Moscow mule with a sugared cranberry garnish. It’s like Christmas in a glass!

💭How to Store

To store the sugared cranberries, pop them into an airtight container and keep them in the fridge. You can keep them refrigerated for up to a week. Remember to separate layers with wax paper or parchment paper to prevent sticking.

You can also freeze sugared cranberries. By freezing them, you can have a stash ready for whenever the cranberry craving strikes. Just freeze them in a single layer on a baking sheet before transferring them to a freezer-safe container.

They’ll keep for up to a month. Once you defrost them, consume them immediately. They won’t hold up well if you try to refreeze.

❓Do Sugared Cranberries Actually Taste Good?

These look cute, but you might wonder if a bit of sugar makes raw cranberries taste good! Well if you like sour and tart things, you will like them. They are sweet and tangy and sour.

So, if Sour Patch Kids are a beloved candy, you’ll like these candied cranberries. They are sweet on the outside with a burst of puckery flavor on the inside. On the other hand, if you hate sour candy, stick to using these as decorations!

📝FAQ

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