Sugared Cranberries (Easy Recipe) VIDEO (2024)

Sugared Cranberries are so festive and are an easy way to dress up desserts for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Candied cranberries have just 3 ingredients and will make any dessert sparkle.

These frosted cranberries are beautiful as a dessert topping like Cranberry Bundt Cake, but they’re also a fun addition to a holiday cookie platter.

Sugared Cranberries (Easy Recipe) VIDEO (1)

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We love cranberries for the holidays from Cranberry Sauce to Sparkling Cranberry Punch. They make everything more festive and these sugared cranberries are such a treat.

Sugared Cranberries Video

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What are Sugared Cranberries?

Sugared cranberries are essentially candied cranberries, dipped in a simple syrup of sugar and water then rolled in sugar until well coated. This recipe only requires 3 ingredients and it’s easy to scale the recipe up or down.

Sugared Cranberries (Easy Recipe) VIDEO (2)

The Best Sugar for Cranberries: We love granulated sugar because it gives the cranberries an even coating and the granules are still large enough to make the cranberries look frosted, but you can also use cane sugar.

How to make Sugared Cranberries

  1. Heat the Syrup – In a medium saucepan, simmer 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup sugar for 3 minutes.
  2. Stir in cranberries to coat then remove from heat and stir another 1 minute.
  3. Remove cranberries with a slotted spoon and transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet or rack and dry out for 1 hour
  4. Roll sticky cranberries in remaining sugar to coat.
Sugared Cranberries (Easy Recipe) VIDEO (3)

Tips for making sugared cranberries

  • Rinse and dry the cranberries. The syrup will stick better to dry cranberries and you don’t want to incorporate excess water into your syrup.
  • Simmer syrupon low heat for 3 minutes after it’s come to a boil. You want the sugar to fully dissolve and form a slightly thickened syrup for coating cranberries.
  • Fully Coat the cranberries in the syrup. I like to stir them for a minute off the heat.
  • Remove Cranberries before they burst. You don’t want them to release their juices or soften.
Sugared Cranberries (Easy Recipe) VIDEO (4)

Can I eat candied cranberries?

Sugared cranberries are edible. They are sweet, tangy, and delicious. Raw cranberries can be very tart on their own but once they are coated in that sweet syrup and a layer of sugar, they almost taste like candy.

How to serve cranberries in sugar:

  • Snacking –Sugared Cranberries are great for snacking and look amazing on a holiday cheeseboard.
  • Garnish – Try them over a Cranberry Cake, or scatter them on Pumpkin Pie or a cooled Apple Pie.
  • Decorate Main Dishes – decorate the serving platter of your Baked Ham or Prime Rib.
  • Make Desserts Festive – Decorating Vanilla Cake or Cupcakes with sugared cranberries will instantly make them look Christmasy and festive.
Sugared Cranberries (Easy Recipe) VIDEO (5)

What can I do with the sugar syrup?

You can discard the sugar syrup or make great use of it to:

  • Soak Cakes: Adding the simple sugar syrup to a Sponge Cake adds sweetness and moisture.
  • Add to Drinks: you can use the syrup for Homemade Lemonade or add it to your favorite Cranberry Pineapple Punch.

Storing sugared cranberries

Store sugared cranberries covered at room temperature in a cool, dry environment for up to 2 days.

Pro Tip: If the sugar starts looking moist, you can re-roll them in a little more sugar to freshen them up.

Sugared Cranberries (Easy Recipe) VIDEO (6)

What to do with leftover sugared cranberries?

If your cranberries have softened or you just have leftover cranberries, You can put them into a saucepan with a little water and make a quick homemade cranberry sauce.

More Holiday Desserts

  • Christmas Sugar Cookies – our go-to Christmas Cookies
  • Caramel Sauce – nothing beats homemade
  • Almond Snowball Cookies – melt-in-your-mouth delicious
  • Strawberry Pretzel Salad – a staple at holiday dessert buffets
  • Tiramisu Yule Log Cake – a stunning bouche de noel
  • Red Velvet Cake – with the best frosting

Sugared Cranberries (Easy Recipe)

5 from 121 votes

Author: Natasha Kravchuk

Sugared Cranberries (Easy Recipe) VIDEO (8)

How to make easy sugared cranberries with just 3 ingredients. These candied cranberries are perfect for decorating cakes, pies, and even holiday roasts.

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Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Cook Time: 5 minutes mins

Resting Time: 1 hour hr

Total Time: 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Ingredients

Servings: 12 people (makes 3 cups)

  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar, divided
  • 3 cups fresh cranberries, rinsed and dried

Instructions

  • In a medium saucepan, combine 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup sugar. Bring to a boil and let it simmer on low heat for 3 minutes.

  • Stir in the cranberries to fully coat in the syrup then remove from heat and stir 1 minute.

  • Remove cranberries with a slotted spoon and transfer to a parchment lined baking sheet or a metal rack to let cranberries dry out for 1 hour.

  • Roll cranberries in batches in the remaining 1 cup sugar to coat.

Nutrition Per Serving

108kcal Calories28g Carbs1g Protein1g Fat1g Saturated Fat1mg Sodium21mg Potassium1g Fiber26g Sugar15IU Vitamin A3mg Vitamin C2mg Calcium1mg Iron

  • Full Nutrition Label
  • Nutrition Disclosure

Nutrition Facts

Sugared Cranberries (Easy Recipe)

Amount per Serving

Calories

108

% Daily Value*

Fat

1

g

2

%

Saturated Fat

1

g

6

%

Sodium

1

mg

%

Carbohydrates

28

g

9

%

Fiber

1

g

4

%

Sugar

26

g

29

%

Protein

1

g

2

%

Vitamin A

15

IU

%

Vitamin C

3

mg

4

%

Calcium

2

mg

%

Iron

1

mg

6

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Course: Dessert, snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: candied cranberries, sugared cranberries

Skill Level: Easy

Cost to Make: $

Calories: 108

Natasha Kravchuk

Sugared Cranberries (Easy Recipe) VIDEO (9)

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.

Read more posts by Natasha

Sugared Cranberries (Easy Recipe) VIDEO (2024)

FAQs

Sugared Cranberries (Easy Recipe) VIDEO? ›

Add spices- Just a pinch of warm spices like cinnamon, ginger, allspice, clove, and nutmeg can add a different level of flavor. Try simmering a cinnamon stick with the cranberries. Add zest- orange zest, lemon, or lime zest are perfect for cranberry sauce. Orange peel and rosemary make excellent garnish!

How do you make cranberries taste better? ›

Add spices- Just a pinch of warm spices like cinnamon, ginger, allspice, clove, and nutmeg can add a different level of flavor. Try simmering a cinnamon stick with the cranberries. Add zest- orange zest, lemon, or lime zest are perfect for cranberry sauce. Orange peel and rosemary make excellent garnish!

Do cranberries sweeten when cooked? ›

Cooking with Fresh Cranberries

When fresh cranberries are cooked, they release all their sweet-tart flavor and the jammy goodness (from natural pectins) that makes cranberry sauces and relishes so popular at Thanksgiving.

How much sugar is in cranberries? ›

Out of all fruits, cranberries have one of the lowest amounts of sugar. In every cup of cranberries, there is only 4g of sugar. This compares to raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries, which have 5, 7, and 7 grams of sugar per cup, respectively.

How do you freeze cranberries for drinks? ›

Spread the cranberries in a single layer on a freezer safe rimmed baking tray. Freeze for 2-4 hours, being careful not to leave longer than 4 hours since they will get freezer burn. Transfer the frozen berries to freezer bags or freezer safe containers and seal. Return to the freezer and store for up to one year.

Why should cranberries not be eaten raw? ›

Is it safe to eat cranberries raw? Cranberries are generally considered safe whether they are cooked or raw. However, because of their notoriously bitter, sharp taste, most people prefer not to eat them raw or unsweetened. This bitterness is due to the high tannin content of cranberries.

What takes the bitterness out of cranberries? ›

Add A Splash Of Vinegar

While citrus is a natural pairing for cranberry sauce, bright, savory vinegars like sherry vinegar, balsamic vinegar, and apple cider vinegar play well with the bitter-tart berries. Start with a little, then add more gradually. It's easy to overdo it when in comes to bold vinegars.

What is the healthiest way to eat cranberries? ›

There are lots of ways to add this fruit to your diet. Some varieties, such as dried cranberries, cranberry juice, and canned cranberry sauce, are available year-round. The healthiest way to enjoy cranberries is to eat them fresh. Raw cranberries take about 16 months to fully mature and are gathered in early fall.

Why add sugar to dried cranberries? ›

Unlike other berries, cranberries are low in sugar and high in acidity. They require sweetening to be palatable. During this step, the cranberries are sweetened to replace what nature left out; the additional sweetness helps to balance their natural tartness.

Are dried cranberries sweeter than fresh? ›

Quantity Adjustment:Dried cranberries are sweeter and more concentrated in flavor than fresh ones.

Do cranberries raise blood sugar? ›

One study published in Food and Function found that adding whole cranberries to a high-fat meal may improve postprandial blood glucose levels (AKA how high your blood sugar get after a meal). A food like cranberry sauce is traditionally made with ingredients including real cranberries, sugar and spices.

Are Craisins the same as dried cranberries? ›

Dried cranberries may be marketed as craisins due to the similarity in appearance with raisins, although the word "Craisin" is a registered trademark of Ocean Spray. Craisins were introduced as part of a packaged cereal produced by Ralston Purina in 1989.

Are cranberries good or bad for diabetics? ›

Cranberries are high in polyphenols, and epidemiological studies have shown that a high-polyphenol diet may reduce risk factors for diabetes and CVD.

Do frozen cranberries get mushy when thawed? ›

If cranberries are frozen then removed from the freezer then thawed, they will have a soft texture and are usable for cooking and baking.

Can dogs eat cranberries? ›

Both fresh and dried cranberries are safe to feed to dogs in small quantities. Whether your dog will like this tart treat is another question. Either way, moderation is important when feeding cranberries to dogs, as with any treat, as too many can lead to an upset stomach.

How do you make cranberries less tart? ›

Anything from a drizzle of honey to agave, maple syrup, or molasses will also fare well. After a few minutes of maceration, the sour fruit juices will mix with the sugar and alleviate some of the cranberries' natural tartness.

What flavors compliment cranberries? ›

cranberry
  • Thyme (Orange) citrus. grassy. woody. floral.
  • Sage (Common) savory. herbal. menthol.
  • Rosemary. savory. herbal.
  • Mexican Tarragon. citrus. anise.
  • Zaatar Marjoram. woody. floral.
  • Marigold Flower. citrus. grapefruit. grassy.
  • Epazote. oregano. anise. mint. gasoline.
  • Basil (Purple Ruffles) cinnamon. anise. menthol.

Do I need to cook cranberries before eating? ›

There's little health risk to consuming them raw, but consuming them cooked is certainly preferable in terms of taste, texture, and flavor. "I have seen that consuming too much of them can cause stomach upset, but I do not think very many people are over consuming them raw," notes Keyser.

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