Sugared Cranberries

Learn how to make sugared cranberries and rosemary in just a few simple steps! These make for a beautiful, festive garnish for cocktails, cakes, and more.

We're constantly making a batch of sugared cranberries over the holidays! They're absolutely beautiful as a garnish for cakes or cocktails, and once you get the hang of it, they're extremely easy to make.

You might even be able to memorize this recipe after a few tries!

You can also use this process to make sugared rosemary sprigs, which are also beautiful atop a cake or cocktail.

Jump to:

• Sugared Cranberries Ingredients
• How to Make this Sugared Cranberries Recipe
• Uses for Sugared Cranberries
• Storage
• Tips and FAQ
• Top tip
• More snack recipes
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Reviews

Sugared Cranberries Ingredients

• Cranberries: For best results, use fresh cranberries. Frozen cranberries have extra moisture and the syrup will not stick as well. They also tend to shrivel when defrosted.
• Granulated sugar: Regular granulated sugar is the best (and easiest!) choice for both the simple syrup and coating the cranberries. I know it sounds like a lot of sugar, but most of the sugar doesn't end up on the cranberries.
• Water: For making the simple syrup.

How to Make this Sugared Cranberries Recipe

STEP 1: Add water and sugar to a saucepan and heat until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and let cool for 5 minutes.

STEP 2: Place the cranberries in a large bowl and pour the simple syrup on top. Stir well to coat the cranberries, and let them sit in the syrup for a few minutes.

STEP 3: Line a sheet pan with a wire cooling rack. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the cranberries to the wire rack, spreading them apart so they aren't touching. Let them sit out at room temperature for at least one hour to dry. They should be very sticky.

If making sugared rosemary, repeat the same process with the rosemary.

STEP 4: Add ½ cup of sugar to a wide bowl. Working a few cranberries at a time, coat the cranberries in sugar until evenly coated. (Follow the same process with the rosemary sprigs.)

STEP 5: Let the sugared cranberries dry for another hour at room temperature.

Uses for Sugared Cranberries

There are so many ways to use sugared cranberries! Try them as a drink garnish on a few of these cocktails:

• Cranberry Mimosas
• Cranberry Orange Whiskey Cocktail
• Santa Baby Cocktail

Or use them as a garnish for:

• Cakes
• Cheesecakes
• Cupcakes

They're also delicious by the handful as a snack! You can also give these sugared cranberries as an edible holiday gift, or use them for holiday decorating.

Storage

Keep these sugared cranberries stored at room temperature in a cool, dry environment for about 2 days, or in the refrigerator for 1 week. If the sugar starts to 'melt', just toss them in more sugar to re-coat.

Do not freeze sugared cranberries, as the sugar will melt when they defrost. 

Tips and FAQ

More tips

• Make sure to let the cranberries dry out after coating them in syrup, and then again after coating them in sugar. If you transfer them to a storage container too soon, the sugar may start to dissolve.
• If you live somewhere hot and humid, you may want to place a fan in front of the cooling rack for circulation, or place in the refrigerator.
• Don't get rid of the simple syrup! Let it cool completely, then transfer to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to a month. You can use it in cocktails and mocktails, like this Mistletoe Margarita.
• Sugared rosemary makes for a beautiful cocktail or cake garnish.

More snack recipes

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