Sugared cranberries are easy to make and make the most beautiful garnish for holiday dishes! Made from sugar, water, and fresh cranberries.
You might also like our sparkling cranberry punch, our heart strawberries, or our homemade cherry pie.
Watch our step by step video!
Frosted Sugared Cranberries
Cranberries and pomegranates. The fruit of the holiday season. Cranberries are so pretty strung into garlands, added as garnishes to drinks and holiday recipes, and used as decor in bowls and vases. If you'd like to give the cranberries a frosted touch, make sugared cranberries! They are easy to make and so pretty.
What Can Sugared Cranberries Be Used For?
Sugared cranberries make a beautiful garnish. I added some to my cinnamon roll wreath (see photo above). You can also add them to frosted cookies, cranberry sauce, on top of pies, as a plate or platter garnish, or add a few to a holiday drink.
Because the sugar will melt off of the cranberries in drinks, you can add a few to a pick and place them across the top of a glass. I don't mind the sugar melting off, they still look beautiful and you get the frosted effect for a minute or two when the drink is first put together.
If you like the tart taste of cranberries, pop a few in your mouth! They start out sweet then turn tart. No matter how you use them, these frosted-looking cranberries are the perfect winter garnish.
What are Frosted cranberries made out of?
It's simple: sugar (white granulated sugar works best), water, and cranberries (fresh cranberries are recommended).
Sugared Cranberries Ingredients
- 1 (12 oz.) package fresh cranberries (about 3 cups)
- 1 ½ cups sugar, divided
- ½ cup water
More Supplies You'll Find Handy
- saucepan
- whisk
- measuring cup
- slotted spoon
- wire cooling rack
- baking sheet
How To Make Sugared Cranberries
Step 1: Make a Simple Syrup
Combine ½ cup sugar and ½ cup water in a saucepan. Heat on medium heat and whisk to dissolve sugar. Bring to a boil and simmer for 3 minutes.
Remove pan from heat. Add fresh cranberries and quickly stir to coat cranberries in syrup. They don't need to be in the hot syrup for more than a few seconds. Simply coat then remove the cranberries so that the skins don't crack.
Step 2: Let Cranberries Dry
Spoon cranberries onto a wire rack.
Let cranberries dry for 1 hour.
Step 3: Roll in Granulated Sugar
Pour the remaining 1 cup of sugar onto a small cookie sheet or platter. Coat cranberries in sugar. Then let cranberries sit for 1 more hour (they can just hang out on the platter of sugar).
Step 4: Store Cranberries
Cranberries, themselves, will last a long time, but cranberries tossed in sugar and syrup will eventually react to humidity. Sugared cranberries can be stored on the counter for a few hours and then transferred to the refrigerator for up to 7 days. Toss cranberries with additional sugar if they start to look sticky.
Can you use frozen cranberries?
Thawed frozen cranberries can be used. Pat dry to remove any condensation.
Can you freeze sugared cranberries?
You can, but they'll need to be coated in sugar again. Freeze them on a small cookie sheet so that they don't freeze in a clump. Once thawed, the sugar will turn sticky so toss in sugar and let dry once more.
Sugared Cranberries Recipe
Easy Sugared Cranberries
Equipment
- saucepan
- whisk
- measuring cup
- slotted spoon
- wire cooling rack
- baking sheet
Ingredients
- 1 12 oz. package fresh cranberries (about 3 cups)
- 1 ½ cups sugar divided
- ½ cup water
Instructions
MAKE A SIMPLE SYRUP
- Combine ½ cup sugar and ½ cup water in a saucepan. Heat on medium heat and whisk to dissolve sugar. Bring to a boil and simmer for 3 minutes.
- Remove pan from heat. Add fresh cranberries and quickly stir to coat cranberries in syrup. They don't need to be in the hot syrup for more than a few seconds. Simply coat then remove the cranberries so that the skins don't crack.
LET CRANBERRIES DRY
- Spoon cranberries onto a wire rack.
- Let cranberries dry for 1 hour. They'll be tacky (slightly sticky) which is what you want.
ROLL IN GRANULATED SUGAR
- Pour the remaining 1 cup of sugar onto a small cookie sheet or platter. Coat cranberries in sugar. Then let cranberries sit for 1 more hour (they can just hang out on the platter of sugar).
Brandy says
Hi everyone! Brandy here, these are so fresh and pretty! I stored mine in the refrigerator and tossed in sugar if they needed it later on. So pretty!