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🎁 These homemade Sugared Cranberries are a quick, beautiful way to dress up your holiday treats and cocktails. 🍸
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Pin ItSugared Cranberries Recipe
If you’ve ever wondered how to make sugared cranberries, you’re in for a treat. This simple sugared cranberries recipe transforms tart berries into sparkling, sweet gems perfect for holiday desserts, cocktails, or charcuterie boards.
The process for how to sugar cranberries couldn’t be more straightforward – just simmer, dry, and roll them in sugar for a dazzling finish.
Whether you call them sugar covered cranberries or sugar cranberries, this festive treat adds color and sparkle to any dish. They’re a quick, make-ahead option that instantly makes your holiday table shine.
⭐ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick and easy to make in just minutes.
- Beautiful and festive for desserts, drinks, or décor.
- A perfect balance of tart and sweet.
- Great way to use fresh cranberries during the holidays.
🛒 Ingredients & Substitutions
- granulated sugar – substitute with superfine sugar for a lighter coating texture
- fresh cranberries – use frozen cranberries (thawed and patted dry) if fresh are unavailable
- water – can be replaced with orange juice for a citrusy twist
✨ Variations
- Roll in superfine sugar for a more delicate, frosty look.
- Add a hint of citrus by using orange juice instead of water.
- Use flavored sugars, such as vanilla or cinnamon, for an extra twist.
- Try mixing in sugared rosemary sprigs for a wintry garnish.
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🔥 Tips
- Always remove cranberries from the syrup before they burst.
- Let them dry completely before rolling in sugar for the best sparkle.
- If the sugar coating softens, reroll them just before serving.
- For easy cleanup, line your baking sheet with parchment paper.
❓ FAQs
Yes! Store them at room temperature for up to 2-3 days in a covered container.
They likely weren’t dry enough before rolling in sugar. Make sure they sit for at least an hour before coating.
Yes, just thaw and dry them thoroughly before coating to prevent clumping.
🍽️ Other Recipes You May Enjoy
Side Dish
Cranberry Sauce
Dessert
Cranberry Curd Tart
Mixes, Sauces, Condiments
Cranberry Vinaigrette
Mixes, Sauces, Condiments
Cranberry Jam
Sugared Cranberries
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Equipment
- medium saucepan
- slotted spoon
Ingredients
- ½ cup water
- 1½ cups granulated sugar, divided
- 3 cups fresh cranberries, rinsed and dried
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a medium saucepan, combine the water and ½ cup sugar. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 3 minutes.½ cup water, 1½ cups granulated sugar
- Stir in the cranberries to fully coat them in the syrup.3 cups fresh cranberries
- Remove the pan from the heat and continue stirring until the cranberries are evenly coated.
- Using a slotted spoon, transfer cranberries to the prepared baking sheet and let them dry for 1 hour.
- Roll cranberries in batches in the remaining 1 cup of sugar to coat completely.
Notes
🥡 STORAGE
- Store sugared cranberries covered at room temperature for up to 2-3 days.
- If storing longer, keep them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
♨️ REHEATING
- Sugared cranberries do not need reheating. They are best served at room temperature.
❄️ FREEZING
- Not recommended, as freezing will cause the sugar coating to melt when the item is thawed.
💡 TIPS FOR BEST RESULTS
- Remove the cranberries before they soften or burst.
- Let cranberries dry completely before rolling in sugar for the best sparkle.
- Reroll any cranberries in sugar before serving if the coating looks damp.
🍳 ALTERNATE COOKING METHODS
- No alternate cooking methods are needed for this recipe.
♻️ LEFTOVERS
- Use leftover sugared cranberries as a garnish for cakes, cheesecakes, cocktails, or charcuterie boards.
- Mix them into holiday salads or baked goods for a festive touch.
📝 NOTES
- Sugared cranberries make a great garnish or snack.
- For extra shine, use superfine sugar for the final coating.
- This recipe for sugared cranberries is simple enough for beginners.
- Try using them to decorate cheesecakes, cupcakes, or a holiday punch.
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Make a batch to give as edible gifts during the holidays – they’re always a hit!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Good stuff.
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