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Sugared cranberries in a white bowl with fresh cranberries behind
Aaliyah

Sugared Cranberries

Fresh cranberries soaked in a light simple syrup, rolled in sugar, and dried until sparkly. A festive garnish for desserts, cheese boards, and holiday drinks.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Soak and dry 9 hours
Total Time 9 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 3 cups
Course: Snack
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the syrup
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
For the cranberries
  • 12 ounces fresh cranberries about 3 cups, rinsed and picked over
  • 1 cup granulated sugar for rolling, or use superfine sugar for a finer coat

Equipment

  • Medium saucepan
  • Mixing bowl
  • Wire cooling rack
  • Sheet pan
  • Parchment paper

Method
 

  1. Combine the water and 1 cup of sugar in a medium saucepan. Warm over medium heat, stirring, just until the sugar dissolves. Don't let it boil hard.
  2. Remove the pan from the heat and let the syrup cool until it's just warm, about 10 to 15 minutes. Hot syrup will make the cranberries split.
  3. Put the cranberries in a bowl and pour the warm syrup over them. Stir so every berry is coated, then cover and refrigerate for about 8 hours or overnight.
  4. Drain the cranberries, saving the syrup if you like. Spread them on a wire rack set over a sheet pan and let them dry for about 1 hour, until tacky but not wet.
  5. Put the rolling sugar in a shallow dish. Roll the cranberries a handful at a time until they are well coated.
  6. Spread the sugared cranberries on parchment and let them dry for about 1 hour, until the coating is set. Serve or refrigerate.

Notes

  • Use firm, fresh cranberries. Thawed frozen berries are softer and won't hold the coating as well.
  • Let the syrup cool before adding the berries. Hot syrup makes them burst.
  • Store in a single layer in an airtight container in the refrigerator and eat within about 3 days. The sugar slowly dissolves over time.
  • The leftover syrup is a cranberry simple syrup. Refrigerate it and use it within about a week in drinks or to sweeten tea.
  • Whole cranberries can be a choking hazard for young children, so cut them up for little ones.