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? ›

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. Other similar fruits such as cherries and grapes, have 18 and 15 grams of sugar per cup, respectively.

Read On ›

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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How do you half cranberries? ›

If you don't have a food processor and don't want to invest in a chopper, I would suggest cutting each cranberry in half and then chopping them with a sharp chef's knife. Halving them prevents the round berries from flying all over your kitchen.

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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? ›

Many people don't know that sugar is added to dried cranberries to offset the natural bitterness of the berries and produce that velvety soft mouthfeel.

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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.

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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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How can you tell if cranberries have gone bad? ›

Discard cranberries that are shriveled, soft, wrinkled or have surface blemishes. Fresh cranberries are usually good stored in the refrigerator for two weeks. If kept longer, you will find a gradual deterioration of quality with more soft or bruised berries.

Can dogs eat cranberries? ›

Both fresh and dried cranberries are safe to feed to dogs in small quantities. Whether your dog will like this tart treat is another question. Either way, moderation is important when feeding cranberries to dogs, as with any treat, as too many can lead to an upset stomach.

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What happens if you cook cranberries too long? ›

If your cranberry sauce is too thick, it's most likely overcooked. When you cook cranberries (or any berries), they burst, releasing pectin—a natural thickener. The key to a perfect consistency is to allow some but not all of the cranberries to split open—something you'll achieve with less time on the stove.

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How many cranberries are needed to make one can? ›

The average number of cranberries used per can of sauce is 200. If you lay out all the cans of sauce consumed in a year from end to end, it would stretch 3,385 miles.

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What is the healthiest way to eat cranberries? ›

There are lots of ways to add this fruit to your diet. Some varieties, such as dried cranberries, cranberry juice, and canned cranberry sauce, are available year-round. The healthiest way to enjoy cranberries is to eat them fresh. Raw cranberries take about 16 months to fully mature and are gathered in early fall.

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Can you eat cranberries raw? ›

Eating raw cranberries is safe and easy, though their sharp, bitter flavor isn't for everyone. Be sure to clean and sort them thoroughly. You should also consume them in moderation, especially when juiced, as excessive amounts of juice may cause stomach upset or interfere with medications like warfarin.

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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.

Keep Reading ›

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.

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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Which has more sugar blueberries or cranberries? ›

Total sugar content of red cranberry fruit was only about 40% of that of ripe blueberry fruit. 2. Acids. The predominant organic acids in cranberry fruit were quinic, malic and citric with smaller amounts of succinic, shikimic, and tartaric present (Table 1).