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‘Tis the season, friends! And that means one festive recipe after another, doesn’t it? Today, I’m sharing how to make sugared cranberries for festive recipes. You will want to keep this little gem in your back pocket all season long! Sugared cranberries are great for garnishing holiday desserts, drinks, and salads.

sugared cranberries in white bowl on dessert board

In my area, I can only seem to find fresh cranberries from about mid October through the Christmas season. Once I get my hands on those fresh bags of cranberries, the cranberry recipes are out in full force in my kitchen. And you can bet these gorgeous berries make their way onto as many festive recipes as I can put them on!

The sugared cranberries are so much easier to make than people think, but…wow…they make such a gorgeous addition to most any holiday food or drink! You will need to plan ahead and ensure you make the sugared cranberries ahead of time as they need time to set.

woman holds white bowl of sugared cranberries above dessert board

How to Make Sugared Cranberries

My Steps for Making Sugared Cranberries

I start by placing 1/4 cup of water and 1/4 cup of sugar in a shallow saucepan and bring to a simmer on medium to low heat stirring until the sugar is dissolved.

Next, I remove from the heat and add the cranberries and stir, making sure they are all coated. I let the cranberries sit for 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Then, I line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Using a slotted spoon, I transfer the cranberries to the parchment paper, making sure to keep them separated. After this step, I let them dry for one hour.

The cranberries should be dry and sticky by this point. I combine the 3/4 cup of remaining sugar into a small bowl, add a few berries at a time to the bowl, and sprinkle sugar on top and roll them around in the sugar. I place them back on clean parchment paper and repeat until everything has been coated. At this point, I left them all dry for an additional hour or so.

It is important to not let the berries touch while they dry, or they may get stuck together.

The Fast Route to Sugared Cranberries

Short on time? There is a shortcut method that will give you the pretty look of sugared cranberries, though the cranberries may not have as much staying power. But when I need some quickly to dress a cocktail, I sometimes just put a handful of cranberries in a bowl of water and let them sit for about 10 minutes. Then, I drain the water and roll the cranberries around in a shallow bowl of white sugar until coated.

I don’t worry about the drying time on this method. I just go ahead and use them as needed.

Again, this is a super fast method. When time allows, I do prefer to go with the original method.

What to Garnish with Sugared Cranberries

As mentioned, sugared cranberries can be used to garnish many things. Here are a few ideas!

Jello cranberry shots with sugared cranberries
Mixed green salad with sugared cranberries
Sugared cranberry-topped cheesecake
Sugared cranberry garnish for holiday cocktails like martinis or mimosas

Sugared Cranberries

This recipe for sugared cranberries is perfect to use with many holiday drinks and holiday desserts!

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Prep Time 15

Cook Time 5

Drying Time 2

Total Time 2 20

Course Drinks, Snack

Cuisine American

Servings servings

Calories 68 kcal

Ingredients

6 oz Cranberries fresh
1 cup White sugar divided into ¾ cup and ¼ cup
¼ cup Water boiling

Instructions

Place 1/4 cup water and 1/4 cup sugar in a shallow saucepan. Bring to a simmer on medium to low heat stirring until the sugar is dissolved.
Remove from the heat and add the cranberries and stir, making sure they are all coated. Let sit for 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the cranberries to the parchment paper. Make sure to keep them separated.
Let coated cranberries dry for one hour.
The cranberries should be dry and sticky by this point. Combine the remaining 3/4 cup of sugar into a small bowl. Add a few cranberries at a time to the bowl, sprinkle sugar on top and roll them around in the sugar. Place back on clean parchment paper. Repeat until everything has been coated.
Let dry for another hour or so.
Use as garnish – adding the sugared cranberries when ready to serve drinks and desserts.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.3cupCalories: 68kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 0.1gFat: 0.02gSaturated Fat: 0.001gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.01gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.003gSodium: 765mgPotassium: 11mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 9IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 1mgIron: 0.03mg

Keyword sugared cranberries

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