Quick and easy Sugared Cranberries make a beautiful garnish on cakes, pies, or cocktails and make a delicious sweet treat for your holiday celebrations!
I’m not a cranberry sauce fan. At least not yet. Are you?
I’ve not found or created a recipe that’s wowed me.
Sugared Cranberries on the other hand, I adore.
Have you made them?
When I first made Sugared Cranberries, I was so surprised how quickly they come together and how much I loved them given my cranberry sauce aversion.
Three ingredients y’all!
Pop em’ in your mouth.
Garnish a cocktail, may I suggest this one, top a cake or cupcake… sweet potato mash or pie.
Offer them as a snack at a party.
They make tasty gifts too.
A quick (hands on time) and easy recipe that’s so impressive during the holidays.
And just look at that color!
They’re sweet and sour, but balanced. The cranberry pops under the pressure of a bite, an exhilarating sensation I might add, then sweetness kicks in leaving a bold experience of both sweet and sour. Can cranberry sauce do that?
Make a 1/2 batch, full, double or triple based on needs. Your family and guests will appreciate them.
I’d love to hear your favorite cranberry sauce recipe! I want to like it… really. Share or drop a link in the comments.
Sugared Cranberries
Ingredients
- 1/2 C Water 118g
- 3/4 C Cane Sugar divided*, 176g
- 1 C Fresh Cranberries 112g
Instructions
- In a small sauce-pot, whisk water and 1/2 C (134g) of sugar to combine. Bring just to a simmer and whisk until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and stir in the cranberries so that they are coated evenly with the sugar syrup. Cover and let steep for 10 minutes.
- Strain, reserving the syrup*. Separate the cranberries and place on a piece of parchment paper on a wire cooling rack. Allow to dry out for one hour.
- Place the remaining sugar on a plate and transfer the cranberries to the plate, rolling the cranberries in the sugar to coat. This is sticky, but as the cranberries get coated, they wont stick to your hands as much.
- Place the cranberries in a lidded container with a little bowl of rice. The rice helps keep the cranberries fresh by absorbing any moisture in the air. Sugar loves water and will pull it right out of the air making your cranberries soggy quicker than you'd prefer. It should stay fresh for two days, if they last that long! After two days, you'll notice the cranberries "weeping." To freshen them up again, simply toss them with sugar again.
Notes
Teresa Randall says
June 22, 2019 at 7:03 amJust finished doing my cranberries for a cake topping. My berries are beautiful. Definitely giving this 5 stars.
Marianne says
December 17, 2018 at 8:44 pmHi There, I would like to use these as garnish for a drink and prepare in advance. Can I freeze these?
Traci says
December 18, 2018 at 10:00 amHi Marianne! I’ve not tried it but if frozen, you’d have to thaw them out to use. The cranberries would probably be mushy, and the sugar would absorb any surrounding moisture. You could try a few test cranberries though, prior to committing the whole batch if you want to give it a go.
Metqa says
December 13, 2018 at 6:14 amThanks for the recipe. Sounds simple enough. Could you change the time needed though?
It suggests 15 minutes but in the body you say you have to let the cranberries sit and cool for an hour.
Big difference in time.
I was looking for a last minute garnish for a pie, and I was initially pleased to see only 15 minutes, then despondent to see 1 hour.
Traci says
December 13, 2018 at 8:06 amHi Metqa! Thank you for your note! So happy you enjoyed the cranberries. I’ve updated the top recipe notes to include the hands off time needed to dry the cranberries. Thank you again!
Sue says
December 12, 2018 at 4:43 amDo you place the cranberries on top of the rice to store them?
Traci says
December 12, 2018 at 6:42 amHi Sue! They don’t need to be touching. I simply put the rice in a little pinch bowl and set it in the storage container with the Sugared crans.
Diane says
December 6, 2018 at 7:57 amHi! If I make these the night before my party, would I need to refrigerate them? With the rice?
Traci says
December 6, 2018 at 8:16 amHi Diane! No need to refrigerate. Store at room temperature with the rice, they’ll be fine. If they do soften a bit, just toss them with sugar again for a double coating – they’ll be even more sparkly! Enjoy!
Priscilla Rivera says
November 20, 2017 at 8:21 amCan you use these to decorate hurricane with candles.
Traci says
November 22, 2017 at 9:33 amHey Priscilla, thank you for your note… while I’ve not tried it, this link may be able to answer your question: https://www.pinterest.com/doximom55/decorating-with-cranberries/ Pinterest saves the day!
Chelsy says
November 19, 2016 at 4:53 pmI have a silly question. Store them with raw rice ? Does it matter brown or white ?
Thanks!
Traci says
November 19, 2016 at 8:54 pmHey Chelsy! I use white rice, but have never tried brown. Because the bran has been stripped off white rice, it may absorb moisture better. If you experiment, I’d love to know what you find! :D
Ann says
February 26, 2016 at 10:03 pmHi,
Just started to read your blog. The pictures are beautiful. Tomorrow I’m going to make your Dutch Baby. I don’t mean to be critical – just was reading the above recipe and wanted to tell you that there is a small typo. You wrote Place instead of Plate. No big deal, but I did have to read it a couple of times.
Can’t wait to peruse the rest of your site.
Traci says
February 27, 2016 at 5:44 amHi Ann. So sorry about that. Thank you for your note! I hope you enjoy the Dutch Baby!
Katie @ Garnish Blog says
December 8, 2015 at 7:27 amThanks again for the recipe! I used them to garnish my Autumn Cranberry Old Fashioned: http://www.garnishblog.com/2015/12/autumn-cranberry-old-fashioned.html
Traci says
December 8, 2015 at 3:48 pmHi Katie! Your Old Fashioned is gorgeous! Delicious work my dear and thank you for your shout out! :D
Dulcie says
December 1, 2015 at 4:50 pmLove this… what a perfect cocktail garnish. Will definitely try this recipe soon!
Traci says
December 1, 2015 at 6:26 pmThank you Dulcie! May I suggest this one? http://vanillaandbean.com/the-big-sister/ I hope you enjoy these tasty treats!
Emily says
December 1, 2015 at 8:31 amSo fun and gorgeous, Traci! Yes, would be so pretty on cakes, platters, and all things holiday! Beautiful photos as always!
Traci says
December 1, 2015 at 2:26 pmThank you so much Emily! These were fun to make and indeed, so pretty on cakes, platter and everything holiday! I’m not sure they’d get that far around here, though. They’re to easy to pop in one’s mouth! :D
Beeta @ Mon Petit Four says
November 27, 2015 at 8:48 pmWhat gorgeous sugared cranberries! I love decorating with them. I don’t really have a cranberry sauce recipe per se as I usually eye it and use whatever I have on hand, but usually it’s a mixture of cranberries, fresh Oj, orange zest, and cranberry juice! :)
Beeta @ Mon Petit Four says
November 27, 2015 at 8:49 pmOh and maple syrup!
Traci says
November 28, 2015 at 5:37 amYesss!!! :D
Traci says
November 28, 2015 at 5:37 amLike Jewels, no? I’m seeing fresh OJ and zest used a lot… maybe I need to add copious amounts to my next trial. I love citrus with cranberries! Thank you my dear! :D
Kenna says
December 13, 2018 at 10:31 pmCouldn’t help adding a couple thoughts for cranberry sauce (or chutney) … I know it’s a subject from long ago but, hey what the heck.
I always add a couple more fruits and a nut. Usually an Apple cored, chopped snall, peeled or not and blueberries (fresh or frozen)…along with fresh Orange juice and Zest… and Walnuts chopped. And I usually trade out some of the white sugar for brown sugar…and a pinch of salt with about a 1/4 tsp. Cinnamon.
But last year I switched the blueberry for raspberry! YUM! We use this for wonderful turkey sandwiches with leftovers from Thanksgiving.
Hope you find a sauce that works for you! And have fun experimenting.
Traci says
December 14, 2018 at 7:36 amHi Kenna! Thank you for your note and tips!
Stacey says
November 25, 2015 at 4:36 pmI just made these to take as hostess gifts for Thanksgiving. They.are.so.good! I’m happy I had a few leftover; been popping them like candy! Saved the syrup and will be making those drinks for a birthday party on Satuday. Thanks for the great idea!
Traci says
November 25, 2015 at 5:26 pmHooray Stacey! Thank you for letting us know your success! I hope the hostess loves them as much as we do… Let us know too, how The Big Sister turns out! Happy Thanksgiving my dear! :D
deb says
November 25, 2015 at 5:44 amI love cranberry sauce, bet I would love these, too! I am imagining them on a leafy salad with blue cheese and walnuts…or a fruit salad! And I agree with you about the cane sugar. Gorgeous!
Traci says
November 27, 2015 at 7:10 amOooooh…… Yesss, Deb!! What a great idea! Sweet, salty, tart crunch! I love it! What kind of dressing? Thank you my dear!
Nora | Savory Nothings says
November 25, 2015 at 2:47 amI absolutely love cranberry sauce, but I also absolutely love sugared cranberries. I guess I just generally love cranberries, full stop ;) Your pictures are so incredibly gorgeous Traci! I could stare at them forever.
Traci says
November 27, 2015 at 7:08 amThank you Nora! Perhaps these little poppers will be a new entry into my love of cranberry relish/sauce? :D
Meghan | Fox and Briar says
November 24, 2015 at 11:36 amI have been wondering about these sugared cranberries. They are so pretty but I was worried they would be too tart – you have convinced me to try them! Also it is such a great idea to save the syrup for cocktails. I do like homemade cranberry sauce on Thanksgiving, I like the sweet and savory combo that you get by having just a little on your plate next to the turkey and stuffing. Plus, it is essential for the Day After Thanksgiving Sandwich! I make a super simple recipe with just some water, sugar, orange zest and cranberries.
Traci says
November 27, 2015 at 7:08 amI know Meghan! I used to think that too until I gave em’ a go. They are still tart, but the sugar really balances out the sharpness. No doubt the day after Sandwich. Sometimes it seems that’s more on the brain than the actual feast! People love sandwiches! hehe.
[email protected] says
November 24, 2015 at 9:25 amI have never made them but have always wanted to…they’re as pretty as they are flavorful, I’m sure. I shared a little nod to my cranberry applesauce on IG earlier today…you just might like it – it’s on the sweeter side with warm cinnamon undertones and a bright citrusy zest. Wishing you a lovely holiday, my dear! xo
Traci says
November 27, 2015 at 7:05 amYes, yessss!! They are Annie, and sooo easy. You’d love them! I did see your cranberry applesauce on IG! I’ll be checkin it out. The cinnamon and bright citrus sounds just fabulous! Thank you my dear!
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says
November 23, 2015 at 5:57 pmI have never made sugared cranberries, but they look so pretty and sound delicious. I will definitely give them a try Traci! Thanks for sharing and I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Traci says
November 24, 2015 at 7:34 amOh you’d love them, Mary Ann! Thank you my dear… you have a beautiful holiday as well! :D
Geraldine | Green Valley Kitchen says
November 23, 2015 at 5:39 pmI’m not a huge cranberry sauce fan either but these sugared cranberries treats look lovely – the sweetness of the sugar and the tartness of the cranberries sound like a perfect combination. I love the idea of pairing them with cocktails! Your photos, as always, are gorgeous. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, Traci!
Traci says
November 24, 2015 at 7:27 amYeah! Geraldine… we’re on the same train with cranberry sauce. Adding them to cocktails is the best! :D