Quick and Easy Sugared Cranberries

Tis the Season for Sugared Cranberries!

What are sugared cranberries? Well, the sugared treats are basically candied cranberries coated in a simple syrup of sugar and water and then rolled in sugar until coated and glistening. The recipe only requires cranberries, water, and sugar, so it is definitely simple enough. Plus, you only need about 4 minutes of stove time. The rest is drying and coating time!

What sugar to use? I recommend granulated sugar. The granules make the cranberries look almost frosted with snow. Seriously a beautiful winter garnish. This recipe will absolutely work with cane sugar as well but the frost effect will be a bit reduced. You are welcome to try it with any other sugar replacement, such as monk fruit, as well. My recipe does not call for as much sugar as some other recipes. I feel like 1/2 cup in the simple syrup and 1/2 cup for coating is PLENTY. However, I know there are those who are mega sweet tooth so please feel free to adjust the sugar to your taste.

The Star of the Show – Cranberries

I am going through a huge cranberry kick right now and absolutely love cranberries in baked goods, savory dishes, and in cocktails. I bet these would be delicious in my pumpkin and cranberry strudel! Give it a try!

The tartness of fresh cranberries isn’t for everyone, but I prefer it to the over-sweetness of commercially dried cranberries. Cranberries offer a multitude of health benefits – obviously the sugar coating can take away a bit from those but the berry is still incredibly good for you! The cranberry has been shown to lower risk of urinary tract issues, aid in the prevention of certain cancers, decrease blood pressure, and support an improved immune response. Quite a superfood!

How to Make Sugared Cranberries

Materials Needed:

• Small saucepan
• Rubber spatula
• Slotted spoon
• Baking sheet lined in parchment paper
• Measuring cups

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup water
• 1 cup granulated sugar (divided)
• 12 oz fresh or frozen cranberries

Process:

Add 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup granulated sugar to saucepan on stove over high heat. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to low to simmer for 3 minutes.

Add all of the cranberries to the saucepan and stir with spatula to coat all berries in simple syrup. Remove from heat and continue stirring and coating for another minute.

Use a slotted spoon to remove berries from saucepan and place on parchment lined baking sheet. Allow to sit at room temperature for an hour to dry. After the hour has passed, sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup of sugar over all berries and use spatula to roll berries around to coat in sugar. Allow to sit for another 15-20 minutes and then place in bowl to refrigerate until ready to use. The berries will keep for about a week in the refrigerator.