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4.4 from 57 votes

Sugared Cranberries

Jump to RecipePrintRate
By: Joanna Cismaru •11/20/22 18 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

a bowl full of sugar coated cranberries

Learn how to make these sparkling and festive Sugared Cranberries. All you need are 3 ingredients; cranberries, sugar and water. So simple and so impressive!

Sugared Cranberries in a bowl
Table of Contents Open
  • Ingredients
  • Fresh Or Frozen?
  • How To Make Sugared Cranberries
  • How To Serve
  • Fun For The Whole Family
  • Storing Leftovers
  • Craving More Cranberry? Try These Delicious Recipes:
  • Sugared Cranberries
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Equipment
    • Notes
    • Nutrition Information
  • Did You Make This?

Tis the season for all things sparkly! Don’t you just love it? And nothing’s prettier than these super simple and sinfully sweet sugared cranberries.

I have to admit that cranberries are not my favorite because of how tart they really are, but you know what? I can devour them no problem when they’re sugar coated like this. They’re sweet and tart, totally adorable and oh so festive.

Can’t you just picture it now – a beautiful cranberry sauce with these studding the top? Or maybe you’d prefer these sprinkled lovingly over top of your favorite holiday pie! I even sneak them into cocktails if I’m really feeling like wowing a crowd.

Sugar and cranberries are basically all you need to make these. First you have to make some simple syrup, which is really simple, equal parts water and sugar. I’m not here to make your holiday meal any more labor intensive than it already is!

Ingredients

  • Water – Just plain old water straight from the tap – any temperature.
  • Cranberries – I used fresh cranberries today, they are super easy to pick up around the holiday season!
  • Sugar – Granulated white sugar is a must, we aren’t going to achieve that showstopper frosted look with any other kind.
Sugared Cranberries before being rolled in sugar

Fresh Or Frozen?

This recipe has only been tested with fresh cranberries, so I would not use frozen cranberries.

How To Make Sugared Cranberries

  1. Combine the sugar and water: In a medium saucepan, combine the water and 1/2 cup of the sugar and bring to a boil over medium heat until sugar is fully dissolved, about 3 minutes.
  2. Allow the cranberries to cool: Stir in the cranberries and make sure each cranberry is well coated in the simple syrup. Using a slotted spoon, transfer cranberries to a wire rack and let them dry for at least an hour.
  3. Finish: After an hour the cranberries should be dry but sticky. Working with a few cranberries at once, roll them in the remaining sugar until they are fully coated. Let them sit until and dry for another hour.

How To Serve

Well these tasty treats were made to be admired! And what better way to admire them than to serve them atop some of your drool worthy creations.

  • Sprinkled over cranberry sauce
  • Garnish for a cocktail
  • The ‘cherry’ atop apple pie
  • Use them as garnish around your turkey
  • Scatter them around a charcuterie board for a bright festive touch
  • Plunk them over some vanilla ice cream
  • Or just eat them as is! It’s your house

Fun For The Whole Family

These would great to do with kids, yeah they’ll have sticky little hands and probably make a mess out of your kitchen, but they’ll have fun and you’ll love cleaning up after. Ahem!

Sugared Cranberries in a bowl

Storing Leftovers

Store these in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. These bad boys don’t mix well with freezing so try to make them at maximum a few days before you need them!

Craving More Cranberry? Try These Delicious Recipes:

  • Cranberry Orange Bread
  • Copycat Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars
  • Cranberry Pork Roast
  • Cranberry Meatballs
  • Roast Turkey Breast With Saucy Cranberry Sauce
  • Cranberry Orange Muffins

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

a bowl full of sugar coated cranberries
4.37 from 57 votes

Sugared Cranberries

Prep 2 hours hours 30 minutes minutes
Cook 5 minutes minutes
Total 2 hours hours 35 minutes minutes
12
Rate Recipe Print Recipe
Learn how to make these sparkling and festive Sugared Cranberries. All you need are 3 ingredients; cranberries, sugar and water. So simple and so impressive!
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup water
  • 2 cups sugar (divided)
  • 12 ounce cranberries (fresh)

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Instructions 

  • In a medium saucepan, combine the water and 1/2 cup of the sugar and bring to a boil over medium heat until sugar is fully dissolved, about 3 minutes.
  • Stir in the cranberries and make sure each cranberry is well coated in the simple syrup. Using a slotted spoon, transfer cranberries to a wire rack and let them dry for at least an hour.
  • After an hour the cranberries should be dry but sticky. Working with a few cranberries at once, roll them in the remaining sugar until they are fully coated. Let them sit until and dry for another hour.

Equipment

  • 3-Quart Saucepan with Lid
  • Black Cooling Rack

Notes

  1. This recipe has only been tested with fresh cranberries, so I would not use frozen cranberries.
  2. Store these in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
  3. Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on products used.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 142kcal (7%)Carbohydrates: 36g (12%)Sodium: 1mgPotassium: 24mg (1%)Fiber: 1g (4%)Sugar: 34g (38%)Vitamin A: 15IUVitamin C: 3.8mg (5%)Calcium: 2mgIron: 0.1mg (1%)
© Author Joanna Cismaru

Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.

a bowl full of sugar coated cranberries

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Originally shared Nov 2014.

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Joanna Cismaru

Joanna Cismaru

I’m Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Through Jo Cooks, I invite you to join me in my kitchen as we explore delicious recipes from around the globe, celebrate the joy of cooking, and make every meal a memorable one. Happy cooking!

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18 Comments
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Kristin
Kristin
Posted: 1 year ago

5 stars
Really beautiful and surprisingly snackable. Going to put them on a pavlova for Christmas. .

0
Reply
Irene Mary Connell
Irene Mary Connell
Posted: 1 year ago

This recipe looks great could I use grapes instead

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Irene Mary Connell
Posted: 1 year ago

You sure can!

0
Reply
Danielle R
Danielle R
Posted: 1 year ago

5 stars
Incredible recipe. Easy , delicious. I ate almost all of them. Thanks.
Can’t wait to fancy them off to others.

0
Reply
Tannis
Tannis
Posted: 2 years ago

I love sugared cranberries! I first made them for a garnish until I realized how tasty they are. Now my family asks that I make them for Thanksgiving and Christmas every year! I also Like to save the syrup for cocktails!

0
Reply
Barbara Warner
Barbara Warner
Posted: 4 years ago

5 stars
Jo,
I made these today and have them setting on my table in a lovely crystal bowl. They look just like yours! All white and sparkly and screaming “Christmas!” I have friends coming over tomorrow, so some may be eaten, if not I will put them around a candle in my hurricane lantern! Thanks for sharing such a beautiful, EASY recipe!

0
Reply
Nicole Beaulieu
Nicole Beaulieu
Reply to  Barbara Warner
Posted: 4 years ago

Isn’t this just the best time of the year? We’re glad you love these cranberries!

0
Reply
Barbara Warner
Barbara Warner
Posted: 4 years ago

5 stars
Can you leave the sugared cranberries at room temp for decorations? Just place in bowls or trays with candles, etc? Will they last through Christmas – for decor purposes, not eating!

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Barbara Warner
Posted: 4 years ago

Hi Barbara! They will only last a couple days, unfortunately!

0
Reply
Edith McKee
Edith McKee
Posted: 4 years ago

fast and easy recipe.

0
Reply
Ellen
Ellen
Posted: 7 years ago

How would you store these and for how long?

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Ellen
Posted: 7 years ago

You can store these in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.

0
Reply
Ellen
Ellen
Reply to  Joanna Cismaru
Posted: 7 years ago

Thanks

0
Reply
Cerise
Cerise
Posted: 8 years ago

5 stars
I made these tonight. They turned out great! The sugar makes a wonderful crunchy shell. Perfect mix of sweet and tart. There was extra syrup, so I sugared some grapes as well.

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Cerise
Posted: 8 years ago

Oh grapes, great idea, I bet they were wonderful. 🙂

0
Reply
Lauren @ A Nerd Cooks
Lauren @ A Nerd Cooks
Posted: 8 years ago

These are so pretty! I can’t wait to try this recipe out for myself.

0
Reply
My Inner Chick
My Inner Chick
Posted: 8 years ago

5 stars
This looks spectacular!
Just printed your Sex in Pan. OH, MY!!! thank you.

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  My Inner Chick
Posted: 8 years ago

You’re welcome 🙂

0
Reply

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I’m Joanna (Jo for short) and this is the place where I share my passion for easy and delicious recipes. From comforting classics to global flavors, I believe that cooking should be fun, approachable, and most importantly, rewarding. Join me on this culinary journey and let’s get cooking!

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