Sugared Cranberries Recipe

Written by Camille Published on December 11, 2021 Updated on August 9, 2023

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How to Make Sugared Cranberries | How to Freeze Sugared Cranberries | 3 Ways to Use Sparkling Sugared Cranberries

Quick, simple, and delicious, sugared cranberries are simply the best! Make this sugared cranberries recipe in less than an hour, and use the berries for desserts, decoration, or co*cktails. Get the recipe below.

Sugared Cranberries Recipe | Baker Street Society (1)

How to Make Sugared Cranberries

This sugared cranberries recipe is so quick and easy! I’ll even give you a shortened method in the recipe if you are in a time crunch, but it’s already a quick cranberry recipe.

To start, you’ll need a 12-ounce bag of cranberries. Sift through the cranberries to remove any wrinkled or past ripe cranberries, and rinse the remaining berries.

You’ll also need a 1:1 ratio of granulated sugar and water combined in a medium pot. If you want to make the cranberry simple syrup extra sweet, use a 1.5:1 ratio. The cranberries will have slightly more sweetness if you add more sugar to the simple syrup, but 1:1 is great otherwise.

Making sugared cranberries is simple. Here’s how:

Cook the sugar and water until the sugar fully dissolves.
Remove from heat and let cool for 20 minutes.
Add rinsed cranberries to warm syrup and let sit for a few minutes
Strain berries, let them dry, and then roll in sugar.

Save the leftover cranberry simple syrup for co*cktails or mocktails. It’s very flavorful, and it’s the perfect way not to let the syrup go to waste.

If you want to add some extra flavor, you can make a simple cranberry orange syrup by adding some orange zest. It’s a very simple and fun way to add more flavor!

Sugared Cranberries Recipe | Baker Street Society (2)

How to Freeze Sugared Cranberries

After making the sugared cranberries, you may not need to use them all immediately. Luckily, you can freeze sugared cranberries!

To freeze them, place the sugar-coated cranberries in a freezer bag and remove all the air. Freeze for up to 2 months.

When you remove them from the freezer, you will notice that the sugar has melted and is sticky from the moisture that naturally occurs during freezing and thawing.

Roll the cranberries in sugar after they have completely thawed, and they will be ready to use again.

Sugared Cranberries Recipe | Baker Street Society (3)

3 Ways to Use Sparkling Sugared Cranberries

Use Them to Garnish Desserts

One of my favorite ways to use this sugared cranberries recipe is by adding them to winter desserts, like on this winter pavlova. You can also add them to cupcakes, bundt cakes, and so much more.

Not only do the cranberries add sparkle and texture, but the sugary coating is a great contrast to the tartness of the berries. Cranberries are almost too tart on their own, so the sugar really helps balance them out.

Add Them to co*cktails

After making a cranberry co*cktail or mocktail with the leftover simple syrup, garnish with the sparkling cranberries. You can skewer them or place them on the drink’s surface so they float on top of the ice.

Decorate with Them

You can also use sugared cranberries as decoration! Place tall candles in jars and make a border of cranberries around the candles inside the glass. Place greenery around the jars, and you have a super elegant centerpiece.

Print Recipe

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Author: Camille
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Rest Time: 65 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Category: Dessert

Ingredients

UnitsScale

200 grams sugar (1 cup)
237 ml water (1 cup)
100 grams sugar (1/2 cup)
6 – 12 ounces fresh cranberries

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Instructions

Combine 200 grams sugar and water in a medium pot and bring to a simmer. Cook until sugar fully dissolves and remove from heat.
Let the simple syrup cool for 20 minutes, and then add the cranberries. Let cranberries sit for 5 minutes, and then strain the berries on a cooling rack set over a half sheet pan or piece of parchment. Let dry for 45 minutes, being sure to mostly separate the berries so they have room to dry.
Add 100 grams of sugar to a bowl, and then coat a few berries at at time until all berries are sugar coated.
Store sugared cranberries in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. Freeze remaining cranberries for up to 2 months if desired. (Re- role in sugar after thawing)
For a shortened method- add cranberries to syrup as soon as you remove syrup from the heat. Let the berries soak for 60 seconds, and then strain them. The main downside to this method is that the super hot syrup tends to make the berries burst slightly, so they may not be perfectly smooth and round afterward.
Save cranberry simple syrup for co*cktails or mocktails.

Keywords: sugared cranberries recipe, sugared cranberries

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Welcome to the Society

Hi, I’m Camille! I'm a professionally trained pastry chef with a passion for food travel, all things French, and teaching others how baking works in my baking program. I spend my days raising 3 amazing kids while baking, instructing, and planning my next food travel adventure!

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