Sugared Cranberries Recipe (2024)

Sugared Cranberries Recipe – These sparkly sugared cranberries come together quickly and easily with just two simple ingredients! Beautiful as garnish for cakes, cookies, co*cktails, or to serve as a sweet, yet tart treat!

Sugared Cranberries Recipe (1)

My fascination with cranberries continues with these beautiful, sparkly sugared cranberries that make everything that you serve them on more festive, fun and elegant!

They couldn’t be much easier to make, with just two simple ingredients – fresh cranberries and sugar!

Sugared Cranberries Recipe

Sugared Cranberries Recipe (2)

How to Make Sugared Cranberries

Make simple syrup. Make a simple syrup of equal parts sugar and water over medium heat. Once the sugar has dissolved in the syrup, you stir in the fresh cranberries. Remove the cranberries from the simple syrup using a slotted spoon.

Sugared Cranberries Recipe (3)

Dry the cranberries. I like putting them on a wire rack set over a parchment-lined baking sheet. That way, the parchment catches any of the drops of the simple syrup for super easy cleanup!

You’ll let the cranberries dry until just tacky on the wire rack. For me, this takes about 30 minutes.

Sugared Cranberries Recipe (4)

Roll in the sugar. Then, working in batches, I roll the cranberries in a bowl with the remaining sugar.

Since the sugared cranberries are still a bit tacky from the simple syrup, the sugar easily adheres to them and leaves them coated in the sparkly sugar.

Sugared Cranberries Recipe (5)

Dry again. Once they are coated, I carefully remove them from the bowl of sugar with a slotted spoon and place them back on the wire rack to dry again.

Sugared Cranberries Recipe (6)

I love that the parchment paper-lined baking sheet catches all of the drips and excess sugar!

Sugared Cranberries Recipe (7)

These cranberries are delicious to pop in your mouth as a sweet and sour treat if you like that sort of snack.

But once you make them, you’ll find all sorts of things to use them on as garnish – from cookies, cakes, and more!

I often make this beautiful garnish for serving on short toothpick skewers for my Warm Cranberry Pomegranate Cider and with my fresh Cranberry Sauce or Cranberry Orange Scones. Can you tell I love this festive berry?

Sugared Cranberries Recipe (8)

Here’s how I make my Sugared Cranberries. I hope you make them soon!

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Sugared Cranberries Recipe (13)

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Sugared Cranberries Recipe

Robyn Stone

Sugared Cranberries Recipe – These sparkly sugared cranberries come together quickly and easily with just two simple ingredients! Beautiful as garnish for cakes, cookies, co*cktails, or to serve as a sweet, yet tart treat!

Prep Time: 1 hour hour

Cook Time: 3 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 3 minutes minutes

Servings: 8

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups sugar, divided
  • 1 (12-ounce bag) fresh cranberries

Instructions

  • Combine 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water in a medium saucepan set over medium heat. Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved, about 3 minutes. Add the cranberries and stir until well coated. Transfer the coated cranberries, using a slotted spoon, to a wire rack situated over a baking sheet. Let dry until the cranberries are just tacky to the touch, about 30 minutes.

  • Working in batches, roll the cranberries in a bowl of the remaining sugar until well coated, return to the wire rack and let dry completely.

  • Roll the cranberries in the remaining 1 1/2 cups sugar until well coated; let dry for at least 1 hour.

  • Store in an airtight container in a cool place for up to a week.

Notes

Makes about 2 1/2 cups.

Nutrition

Calories: 164kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 0.3g | Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 35mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 39g | Vitamin A: 0.1IU | Vitamin C: 0.02mg | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 0.1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Enjoy!
Robyn xo

Sugared Cranberries Recipe (14)

From the Add a Pinch Recipe archives. Originally published in 2017.

Categorized as:All Recipes, Appetizers, Christmas Recipes, Cooking, Dairy-Free Recipes, Dessert Recipes, Egg-Free Recipes, Fruit Desserts, Game Day Recipes, Gluten-Free Recipes, Grain-Free Recipes, Make-ahead Recipes, Recipes, Shower Recipes, Simple Recipes, Snacks, Thanksgiving Recipes, Valentine’s Day Recipes, Vegan Recipes, Vegetarian Recipes

Welcome to Add A Pinch

About Robyn

Robyn Stone is a cookbook author, wife, mom, and passionate home cook. Her tested and trusted recipes give readers the confidence to cook recipes the whole family will love. Robyn has been featured on Food Network, People, Southern Living, and more.

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Sugared Cranberries Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Are sugared cranberries good to eat? ›

Sugared cranberries are edible. They are sweet, tangy, and delicious. Raw cranberries can be very tart on their own but once they are coated in that sweet syrup and a layer of sugar, they almost taste like candy.

What is the sugar content of cranberries? ›

How does the amount of sugar in cranberries compare to other similar fruits? Out of all fruits, cranberries have one of the lowest amounts of sugar. In every cup of cranberries, there is only 4g of sugar.

How many cranberries should I eat a day? ›

HOW MUCH CRANBERRIES TO EAT DAILY? Studies confirming the health-promoting properties of cranberries have typically used doses of 100-300 g of fresh cranberries, equivalent to 7-10 g of dried cranberries, and 100-150 ml of 100% cranberry juice.

How to prepare cranberries to eat? ›

  1. Sort the berries and discard any that are soft or spoiled.
  2. Wash the berries.
  3. Place in a saucepan and stir in water and sugar.
  4. Bring to a boil & cook uncovered for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally until mixture is foamy and popping stops. It will thicken when cooled.
  5. Cool at room temperature. Cover and refrigerate.

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.

When should you not eat cranberries? ›

Possible Interactions

Aspirin: Like aspirin, cranberries contain salicylic acid. If you take aspirin regularly, as a blood-thinner, for example, or if you are allergic to aspirin, you should not take cranberry supplements or drink a lot of juice.

Do cranberries raise blood sugar? ›

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). A food like cranberry sauce is traditionally made with ingredients including real cranberries, sugar and spices.

Are cranberries healthier than blueberries? ›

The cranberry is also a contender when it comes to antioxidant content. While wild blueberries outperform them when it comes to measuring both antioxidant capacity and cellular antioxidant activity, cranberries pack their own health punch.

What is the healthiest dried fruit to eat? ›

Some of the healthiest options with the most nutritional value include raisins, apricots, prunes and dates. But note that dried fruit may contain added sugar so opt for ones without as a healthier alternative.

What can eating too many cranberries do? ›

Cranberries and cranberry products are usually safe for most people if consumed in moderation. However, excessive consumption may cause stomach upset and diarrhea — and may also increase the risk of kidney stones in predisposed individuals.

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.

Can too much cranberry be bad? ›

Although cranberry juice is safe to consume in moderation, drinking too much can cause side effects such as upset stomach, diarrhea, and blood sugar spikes.

Can you just eat raw cranberries? ›

Yes, raw cranberries are safe to consume raw, but you probably don't want to eat them that way. "Cranberries are safe to eat raw. However, usually they are cooked and have sugar added because of the bitter and sharp taste they have when raw," says Kelly West Keyser, a registered dietitian in Alabama.

Can you eat cranberries as a snack? ›

Perfect as a snack or a main dish, cranberries are a low-key nutrient powerhouse. With just 50 calories and only 4 grams of sugar per cup, these berries are low in calories and sugar, especially when compared to other fruits.

Are sweetened cranberries good for you? ›

Fresh, raw cranberries are the healthiest. If they're too sour for you, you can still enjoy sweetened versions as part of a healthy diet. Eat dried cranberries with low-sugar foods, such as plain yogurt, oatmeal, or nuts. If you prefer juice, you can sip a glass of 100% cranberry juice (not “juice co*cktail”).

Are soft cranberries OK to eat? ›

Cranberries that were recently purchased and never frozen that appear soft are past the ripened stage, and these berries should be sorted and not eaten.

Why do they add so much sugar to dried cranberries? ›

Unlike other berries, cranberries are low in sugar and high in acidity. They require sweetening to be palatable. During this step, the cranberries are sweetened to replace what nature left out; the additional sweetness helps to balance their natural tartness.

Is it OK to eat a lot of dried cranberries? ›

Excessive consumption of dried cranberries may cause an upset stomach, diarrhoea, and nausea. It may also increase the risk of kidney stones in predisposed individuals. We recommend a quarter-cup of dried whole cranberries and 2 tablespoons of cranberry powder daily.

References

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