How To Make Sugared Cranberries - candied cranberries recipe (2024)

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Looking for a fun and festive way to decorate your holiday treats? Try making some sugared cranberries! These little berries are easy to make and add a pop of color and sweetness. They can be used in various recipes, from appetizers to desserts! These sugary cranberries are not only a delicious seasonal treat but also a beautiful garnish to all your holiday dishes and festive co*cktails.

TABLE OF CONTENTS hide

1 Why You’ll Love This Recipe

2 Ingredients

3 How to Make

4 How to Serve

5 Frequently asked questions about homemade sugary cranberries

6 More Recipes You May Enjoy

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Cranberries are super popular during the holiday season and with reason. They are absolutely delicious! You’ve got:

Cranberry Sauce
Champagne co*cktail With Cranberries
Cranberry Orange Marmalade

And that’s just to name a few popular recipes. Cranberries are very versatile and can be used in a variety of dishes. What better way to enjoy them than with a little bit of sweetness? These sugared cranberries hit the spot.

Besides eating them as a snack, use these sugary cranberries to add to a holiday look to a cookie tray, cheeseboard, and holiday desserts. You can even use them as a co*cktail garnish. This year, I used them to decorate my gingerbread house cake.

All you need to make candied cranberries are three ingredients: white sugar, water, and fresh cranberries! It’s really that simple.

How To Make Sugared Cranberries - candied cranberries recipe (2)

How To Make Sugared Cranberries - candied cranberries recipe (3)

Ingredients

Here’s what you need to make this recipe:

Cranberries: The main ingredient! You will need 1 bag of fresh cranberries for this recipe.
Sugar: To make sure the cranberries are perfectly coated, you will need 2 cups of white sugar. Although, using another type of sugar might not be able to dissolve and coat the cranberries as effectively.
Water: To help the sugar dissolve and coat the cranberries, you will need about 1/2 cup of cold water. It makes this delicious sugary syrup that pairs nicely with the tart cranberries!

How to Make

This recipe can’t get any easier. All you need to do is…

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine 1/2 cup of sugar with 1/2 cup of water.
Then, stir until the sugar is dissolved (2-3 minutes) and then remove from the heat.
After, gently fold in the cranberries until they are well coated.

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Using a colander, drain the liquid from the cranberries.
Transfer the cranberries to a wire rack and let dry for at least an hour.

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Working in small batches, roll the cranberries in the remaining sugar until they are well coated.
Let them dry for at least one hour on a wire rack.
Serve and enjoy!

Note: I’ve provided the exact ingredients and instructions in the printable recipe card below.

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How To Make Sugared Cranberries - candied cranberries recipe (8)

How to Serve

First and foremost, they taste great by themselves or as part of a cheese board appetizer. The sugar shell offsets the tart cranberries perfectly for a juicy snack that everyone will love. Serve them with some pepperoni and you’re good to go!

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My all-time favorite way to serve them? Holiday co*cktails! Not only do they add a bit of pizzazz to your drink, but they also look fabulous on a wood skewer placed atop the glass. When sugar comes in contact with a co*cktail, it will dissolve and adds this sweet/tart flavor to the drink.

Frequently asked questions about homemade sugary cranberries

Here are a few questions I’ve been asked when I have shared this easy cranberry recipe.

How long do sugared cranberries take to make?

The entire process takes about 2 hours, but most of that time is inactive! All you need to do is mix the ingredients together and wait for the cranberries to cool.

How long do sugared cranberries last?

If stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, sugared cranberries will last up to two weeks!

Do sugared cranberries need to be refrigerated?

Yes, sugared cranberries should be kept in an airtight container in the fridge. They can last up to 5-7 days, but they are best enjoyed within a few days of making them.

Can sugared cranberries be frozen?

Yes, you can freeze them in an airtight container for up to 2 months. When ready to enjoy, let the cranberries thaw overnight in the refrigerator before eating.

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Pretty simple, right? It’s easy to see why these little guys make the perfect holiday garnish. Now you’re ready to tackle the holidays with a delicious dessert recipe (that doubles as an adorable and festive village), plus some sparkly cranberries you can use in a variety of ways.

Enjoy and happy holidays!

More Recipes You May Enjoy

Cranberry Brie Bites
Marscapone Cranberry French Toast
Cranberry Sweet Rolls
Apple Cranberry Tart
Cranberry Orange Marmalade

Try making these sugared cranberries. If you do, please leave a comment and a 5-star rating below.

Want more from Inspired by Charm? Follow along onInstagramandTikTokfor daily updates and behind-the-scenes looks at my processes. There’s even more inspiration onFacebookandPinterest!

Sugared Cranberries

These sugared cranberries are not only a delicious seasonal treat, but they make a beautiful garnish to all of your holiday dishes and festive co*cktail recipes.

5 from 3 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Appetizer, Dessert, Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: christmas, cranberries, dessert, holiday, sugared cranberries

Prep Time: 25 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 0 minutes minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes minutes

Servings: 12

Calories: 142kcal

Ingredients

2 cups sugar divided
1/2 cup water
1 bag (12-ounces) fresh cranberries

Instructions

In a medium sauce pan over medium heat, combine 1/2 cup of sugar with 1/2 cup water. Stir until the sugar is dissolved (2-3 minutes). Remove from heat and stir in the cranberries until they are well coated. Using a colander, drain the liquid from the cranberries. Transfer the cranberries to a wire rack and let dry for at least an hour.
Working in small batches, roll the cranberries in the remaining sugar until they are well coated. Let them dry for at least one hour on a wire rack.
Store the cranberries in a bowl without a lid. Enjoy as a snack within two days or use as decor for up to two weeks.

Nutrition

How To Make Sugared Cranberries - candied cranberries recipe (2024)

FAQs

How much sugar is in cranberries? ›

Out of all fruits, cranberries have one of the lowest amounts of sugar. In every cup of cranberries, there is only 4g of sugar. This compares to raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries, which have 5, 7, and 7 grams of sugar per cup, respectively.

Get More Info Here ›

How long does cranberry simple syrup last? ›

Strain mixture through a fine mesh sieve, pressing on cranberries to extract their liquid. Let cool and refrigerate until ready to use. Syrup can be stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

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How long do cranberries last? ›

How Long Fresh Cranberries Will Last. If stored correctly, fresh cranberries will last in the refrigerator for three to four weeks. If you opted to freeze them, they'll keep well for up to a year. When frozen, you can use them straight from the freezer without defrosting.

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What kind of sugar is in cranberries? ›

Name	Amount	Samples
Total Sugars	4.27	3.55
Sucrose	0.16	0.07
Glucose	3.44	2.89
Fructose	0.67	0.51

19 more rows

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What are the ingredients in cranberries? ›

Both types of cranberries, the large and small, contain many phenolic compounds, such as phenolic acids, flavonoids (anthocyanins and flavonols), and tannins. The large cranberry has been recognized as an important food and healing agent because of these compounds.

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How are dried cranberries sweetened? ›

Unfortunately, it is not possible to make sweetened dried cranberries or cherries without adding any form of sugar. Sugar is a key ingredient in the process of making dried fruits, as it helps to preserve the fruit and prevent spoilage.

How long do homemade dried cranberries last? ›

In a sealed container, dried cranberries can be stored up to one (1) year at room temperature. They must be kept in a cool, dark place. Dried cranberries may also be kept in the freezer for a period up to 1 year.

How do you sweeten and dehydrate cranberries? ›

To begin, set your dehydrator to roughly 135°F (57°C) and leave it to work for 8-12 hours, but drying times can vary. Cranberries do not need to be blanched before dehydrating; simply load them onto the trays. If you want a sweeter flavor, soak the cranberries in a sugar or honey solution before drying.

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Can dogs eat cranberries? ›

Yes, cranberries are perfectly safe for most dogs. Cranberries are a superfood full of antioxidants that offer numerous health benefits. Stick to feeding your dog fresh cranberries or dried cranberries, so long as they're not processed with added sugars or artificial sweeteners (such as xylitol).

Do you have to refrigerate simple syrup after making? ›

Simple syrup should be stored in the fridge, and not kept at room temperature for extended periods of time. Unflavored syrup can be made in advance and stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a month.

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Do dried cranberries really go bad? ›

If kept properly stored, dried fruits can last for several months after the expiration date. In fact, even if they are just stored in the pantry, they can last from six months to a year after the expiration date as long as the container is airtight and properly sealed after each use.

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Can dried cranberries go bad? ›

Dried cranberries typically possess a shelf life of 6 to 12 months when kept at room temperature. The indicated expiration date on packaging often reflects a 'best by' date rather than a hard stop on consumption suitability. If stored in a refrigerator, dried cranberries can extend their freshness for 1 to 2 years.

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Are cranberries OK for diabetics? ›

If you have any concerns about managing your blood sugar, speak with your healthcare professional. Like most foods, cranberry juice in small amounts can be a part of a healthy diet, even for those with diabetes.

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Are cranberries good or bad for diabetics? ›

Cranberries are high in polyphenols, and epidemiological studies have shown that a high-polyphenol diet may reduce risk factors for diabetes and CVD.

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Are cranberries good for high sugar levels? ›

One study published in Food and Function found that adding whole cranberries to a high-fat meal may improve postprandial blood glucose levels (AKA how high your blood sugar get after a meal).

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Why should cranberries not be eaten raw? ›

Is it safe to eat cranberries raw? Cranberries are generally considered safe whether they are cooked or raw. However, because of their notoriously bitter, sharp taste, most people prefer not to eat them raw or unsweetened. This bitterness is due to the high tannin content of cranberries.

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