• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Playful Cooking
  • About
    • Know Me
    • Contact
    • My Cookbook
    • Mention
    • Amazon Storefront
  • Recipes
  • Tutorials
    • How To Style Curries
    • Play with Light
    • ISO, Aperture and Shutter Speed
    • Live Zoom on Food Styling
  • Hire Me
  • Portfolio
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Know Me
  • My Cookbook
  • Portfolio
  • Hire Me
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Recipes

    Sugared Cranberries

    December 7, 2021 by Kankana Saxena

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    One of the simplest Christmas treats are these Sugared Cranberries. It makes a great garnish on cakes, desserts and drinks. Bring on the festive vibe with these super simple sugared cranberries.

    Sugared Cranberries

    As the name says, it is fresh cranberries that are coated with sugar. The steps are super simple, and anyone can make it.

    All you need is sugar, water and fresh cranberries

    Sugared Cranberries

    What flavors works well with Sugared Cranberries

    I like to add orange for the refreshing flavor. But fresh rosemary or thyme is amazing too, and it adds a subtle floral note.

    A grown-up version would be to add a little bit of chili powder for that subtle heat.

    Sugared Cranberries look so darn pretty and makes a great holiday edible gift. The sweetness of the sugar hits you first, and then you get that mild sour taste.

    My husband compared it with sour patch and yep, it is somewhat similar.

    Sugared Cranberries

    Ingredients for Sugared Cranberries

    Fresh Cranberries - Use good quality fresh cranberries and discard the ones that look bruised or bad.

    Orange - I love the refreshing flavor of orange with cranberries, so I used the zest in the sugar and the juice to make the syrup.

    Sugar - Use white granulated sugar to make the syrup. You can use other sweetener too, but that may change the consistency of the syrup and also the color.

    Sugared Cranberries

    Steps to prepare Candied Cranberries

    You can call these candied cranberries too! The steps are super easy, but you do need some time to let the fresh cranberries soak up all that syrup.

    1- Start by making the syrup along with the orange juice and zest. Let the syrup boil for 10 minutes.

    2 - In a glass container, add the fresh cranberries and pour the hot syrup on top.

    3- Then place a kitchen towel on top, so the cranberries stays dunk in. At first the cranberries will float and then slowly overnight as it sits in the fridge, it will start to sink down.

    4 - Mix sugar with orange zest.

    5 -After letting the cranberries soak in the syrup overnight, strain the fresh cranberries. Save the syrup to use in Cranberry Gin Fizz Cocktail

    6- Toss it in granulated sugar. Then leave it on a plate for it to dry out.

    Where to use Sugared Cranberries ?

    These are so cute that it makes the perfect garnish for your Christmas cake or Gingerbread mini bundt cake

    I love to use as garnish in cocktails.

    Makes the perfect Christmas Edible Gifts.

    Perfect snack to munch on the go.

    How to store?

    Store at room temperature. I prefer to layer these on a plate and cover gently with a muslin cloth. If you store in a bottle, over time the warmth will start melting the sugar.

    It's best to make in a small batch and enjoy right away.

    Candied Cranberries

    How to use the leftover syrup?

    The syrup is super flavorful and can be used in various different ways!

    1. Drizzle on cakes
    2. Drizzle over pancakes or waffles.
    3. Thicken the leftover syrup by letting it boil for a few more minutes and then, once cooled, you can use in mocktail or cocktail.
    4. The thickened syrup can be drizzled on hung yogurt/ labneh for a mildly sweet dip to go with crusty bagels or bread.

    This is actually the first time I used made Cranberries and am hooked by making it on repeat. As you pop in your mouth, the sugar hits you and then the tart from the cranberries makes it so interesting. A great snack for Christmas Holiday parties.

    Sugared Cranberries

    Kankana Saxena
    ne of the simplest Christmas treats are these Sugared Cranberries. It makes a great garnish on cakes, desserts and drinks. Bring on the festive vibe with these super simple sugared cranberries.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 15 minutes mins
    Course Spice and Condiment
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12 ounce cranberries
    Calories 220 kcal

    Ingredients
     

    • 12 ounce fresh cranberries (1 and ½ cups)
    • ½ white granulated sugar
    • zest of 1 orange

    for the syrup

    • ½ cup water
    • 1 cup sugar
    • ¼ cup fresg orange juice
    • zest of 1 orange

    Instructions
     

    • In a heavy bottom pan, prepare the syrup by boiling the water, sugar orange juice and zest for 10 minutes.
    • Place the fresh cranberries in a glass container and pour the hot syrup on it.
    • Place a parchment paper on top of the cranberries, so it gets dunk in the syrup.
    • Keep the container in the refrigerator for overnight.
    • The next day, strain the candied cranberries and don't discard the delicious syrup.
    • In a tray, add the sugar and orange zest and drop the strained cranberries. Shake the pan around to coat the cranberries with granulated sugar.
    • Place the sugar coated cranberries in a plate and leave it aside to dry out completely.
    • Once dried you can enjoy the sugared cranberries as snack or garnish on desserts or cocktails.

    Notes

    How to use the leftover syrup?

    The syrup is super flavorful and can be used in various different ways!
    1. Drizzle on cakes
    2. Drizzle over pancakes or waffles.
    3. Thicken the leftover syrup by letting it boil for a few more minutes and then, once cooled, you can use in mocktail or cocktail.
    4. The thickened syrup can be drizzled on hung yogurt/ labneh for a mildly sweet dip to go with crusty bagels or bread.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1gCalories: 220kcalCarbohydrates: 57gProtein: 1gSodium: 3mgFiber: 4gSugar: 49g
    Keyword christmas, condiment, dessert, garnish

    More Snack and Fingerfood

    • Sukha Kala Chana
      Sukha Kala Chana
    • Sabudana Khichdi
      Sabudana Khichdi (Tapioca Pilaf)
    • Stuffed Portobello mushroom
      Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
    • Soya Chaap Tikki
      Soya Chaap Tikka

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. mjskitchen

      December 15, 2021 at 6:36 pm

      Oh YAY! I have some cranberries left over from Thanksgiving and now I know what to do with them. It's not quite 12 ounces but this recipe looks easy to adjust. Can't wait to try them. Thanks for sharing.

      • mjskitchen

        December 18, 2021 at 3:33 pm

        I made these and they are fabulous! Now I need to make your spritzers.

    Primary Sidebar

    About

    Hey there! I am Kankana and this is my culinary space where I unfold memories, share stories and try new flavours. Easy effortless cooking with fresh ingredients is my mantra and I like to carry that in my everyday meal.

    Learn more about me →

    Seasonal

    • Congee With Miso Sauce
    • Apple cake
      Apple Cake
    • Creamy Garlic Mushroom Soup
    • How To Make Makhani Sauce

    Cookbook

    cookbook front cover
    Taste of Eastern India has an array of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes, street foods, snacks, drinks, comfort hearty food, desserts and some long-lost dishes.
    Learn More and Order

    Subscribe

    Kitchen tips and tricks
    Receive exclusive articles and eBooks on Kitchen Tips and Tricks, Photography Tutorial, Meal Prep Ideas and Simple Recipes for Busy Lifestyle. Plus Weekly Fresh Seasonal Recipes.


    Footer

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Portfolio

    Copyright © 2011-2023 Playful Cooking. All content on this blog is copyrighted. It may not be republished in part or whole without permission and proper credit. Please contact me to seek republishing or syndication rights.