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    Home » Recipes » Desserts

    How to Make Sugared Cranberries

    Published: Nov 12, 2018 · Modified: Feb 22, 2023 by Tiffany Dahle · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    A close up of the cranberries on top of a cake.

    Sugared cranberries are the easiest and most perfect garnish for your Thanksgiving dessert or Christmas treat. Sprinkle them in a tall clear hurricane vase for your holiday tablescape, or use them to decorate your dessert buffet.

    A close-up photo of sugared cranberries show the red fruits and sparkling sugar coating.

    When I was working on The Ultimate Kids' Baking Book, I needed something extra-special to garnish the easy Thanksgiving dessert recipe.

    I experimented with making these sugared cranberries and my girls couldn't stop watching as I tossed them in sugar.

    The final effect is so cool, the sugared cranberries look frosted with snow and so very pretty. 

    I shared a sneak peek at them in my Instagram Stories and polled whether or not to share the tutorial. The answer was a resounding "Yes, Please!" so here we go!

    How to Make Sugared Cranberries

    To make sugared cranberries, we'll use a simple two-step process.

    1. Toss them in simple syrup and let them dry.
    2. Toss the sticky berries in a bowl of sugar and let them dry again.

    That's it!

    The full recipe is at the bottom for you to print and use as a guide.

    What Is Simple Syrup?

    Simple syrup is the easiest recipe you'll ever use in your dessert or coffee making. In fact, it is an essential element to my DIY Christmas Coffee Bar!

    You simply take 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water and stir them together in a saucepan.

    Heat the mixture over medium heat until the sugar has dissolved. So easy, right??

    That's really all it is! You can change it up by adding flavorings:

    • Add some vanilla extract and you've got vanilla simple syrup
    • Add peppermint extract for peppermint syrup
    • And so on!

    How That Frosted Look Happens

    But for the sugared berries, you don't need to add any flavorings, you just want the sugar-water mixture for coating the cranberries.

    Once the water evaporates, the sugar crystals will remain on the cranberries, giving that signature snowy/frosty look.

    How to make sugared cranberries and what to do with them for the holiday

    What to Do with Sugared Cranberries

    This is the fun part! Here are just a few ideas for how to use sugared cranberries:

    • Garnish a frosted dessert like cupcakes with cream cheese frosting
    • Garnish a holiday pie
    • Garnish your turkey platter for Thanksgiving
    • Garnish your cinnamon rolls for Christmas morning
    • Fill a bunch of mason jars and tie them with ribbon or twine for a simple table decor
    • Fill a hurricane vase and then stack candles inside
    • Dot them in a low floral arrangement
    • Fill a large bowl with fresh clementines and/or oranges and toss in a few sugared cranberries for an edible centerpiece

    These desserts would all look lovely with some sugared cranberries sprinkled over the top or on the platter:

    • A deep dish pie pan has pie crust draped over the side and a mound of sliced apples coated in cinnamon and butter.
      Is King Arthur's Most Popular Apple Pie Any Good?
    • A slice of plain cheesecake has fresh strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries sprinkled over the top and on the table. A drizzle of dark purple triple berry sauce is dripping down from the top. A pitcher of sauce is nearby.
      Triple Berry Sauce for Topping a Plain Cheesecake
    • The sliced pumpkin gooey butter cake bars are on a white plate. There's a dusting of powdered sugar over the top for garnish.
      Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake Bars
    How to make sugared cranberries for garnish

    How Long Will They Last?

    It depends on whether you plan to eat them or not.

    I feel a lot more comfortable making them in advance if I plan to use them as a decoration on the table vs. a garnish for a food where they will be eaten.

    They are so easy to make, if you plan to eat them that I would do it no earlier than the night before. 

    If you plan to just use them as decor, they will hold their appearance for at least a week if you keep them in an air-tight container. 

    If you’ve tried these sugared cranberries or any other recipe on PeanutBlossom.com please don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know where you found it in the comments below. I love hearing from you!
    FOLLOW along on Instagram @peanut.blossom as well as on  Pinterest and Facebook.

    📖 Recipe

    A bowl of sugared cranberries up close so you can see the sparkly sugar.

    Sugared Cranberries

    5 from 2 votes
    This super easy sugared cranberries recipe makes a breathtaking garnish for your holiday dessert or accent for your holiday table. Let your kids prepare them, they will love watching the process!
    TOTAL TIME 2 hours hours 5 minutes minutes
    PREP TIME 5 minutes minutes
    COOK TIME 2 hours hours
    YIELD 2.5 cups berries
    PIN RECIPE FOR LATER PRINT RECIPE NOW

    Ingredients
      

    For the simple syrup:

    • ¼ cup sugar
    • ¼ cup water
    • 1 16 oz bag of fresh cranberries

    For the final dusting:

    • 1 cup sugar

    Instructions

    • In a large saucepan combine ¼ cup sugar and ¼ cup water over medium heat. Stir until the sugar has completely dissolved but don't let it come to a full boil.
    • Wash and rinse the cranberries. Lay a wire rack out on the counter over a large piece of parchment paper for easy cleanup.
    • Add the cranberries to the saucepan and toss to coat in the syrup. Use a slotted spoon to transfer them to the wire rack. Spread them out in a single layer and let them dry for 1 hour.
    • Place the remaining 1 cup sugar in a large bowl. Use the slotted spoon to transfer the berries into the bowl and gently toss them in the sugar until they are coated. Return them to their single layer on the wire rack to dry for an additional hour.
    COURSENo-Bake Desserts
    CUISINEAmerican
    AUTHORTiffany Dahle

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    1. Shala Howell

      November 25, 2019 at 5:51 pm

      We made these for the first time last Thanksgiving, and when I asked my daughter what her one Have-to-Have Thanksgiving food this year was, she asked for these.

      So delicious! We use them as a nibble during the day to help folks wait for the turkey. 😉

      Reply
    2. Shala Howell

      November 25, 2019 at 5:51 pm

      5 stars
      We made these for the first time last Thanksgiving, and when I asked my daughter what her one Have-to-Have Thanksgiving food this year was, she asked for these.

      So delicious! We use them as a nibble during the day to help folks wait for the turkey. 😉

      Reply

    Trackbacks

    1. Cranberry Bars With Cream Cheese Frosting: A Sweet, But Not-Too-Sweet, Holiday Dessert says:
      December 3, 2019 at 8:35 am

      […] Sparkly Sugared Cranberries recipe is […]

      Reply
    2. 5 easy Thanksgiving recipes for kids that will blow you away says:
      November 15, 2018 at 11:44 am

      […] 4. Sugared cranberries: This impressive but CRAZY EASY garnish is the perfect topper for any of your desserts. The kids can make them the day before or easily the morning of Thanksgiving while the turkey cooks. Get the simple sugared cranberries recipe here. […]

      Reply
    3. 20 fresh cranberry recipes your holiday needs right now says:
      November 14, 2018 at 7:01 am

      […] The prettiest holiday garnish: sugared cranberries […]

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Tiffany!
    I believe a great family recipe is one that makes everyone at the table happy, not just the kids. I'm the author of two bestselling cookbooks for kids that are chock full of recipes everyone in your family will love. I'm also the hostess of the best online book club for women.

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