• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • About ๐Ÿ“š
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • About Tammilee
    • About John
    • Blog Bucket List
    • Advertise/PR Requests
    • Contact Us
    • Disclosure/ Privacy Policy
  • ๐ŸนCocktails
  • โœˆ๏ธ Travel
  • ๐ŸŒฎ Recipes
  • โค๏ธ Holidays
    • New Years
    • Valentines Day
    • Mardi Gras
    • St. Patrick's Day
    • Easter
    • Cinco De Mayo
    • 4th of July
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About ๐Ÿ“š
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • About Tammilee
    • About John
    • Blog Bucket List
    • Advertise/PR Requests
    • Contact Us
    • Disclosure/ Privacy Policy
  • ๐ŸนCocktails
  • โœˆ๏ธ Travel
  • ๐ŸŒฎ Recipes
  • โค๏ธ Holidays
    • New Years
    • Valentines Day
    • Mardi Gras
    • St. Patrick's Day
    • Easter
    • Cinco De Mayo
    • 4th of July
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • About ๐Ÿ“š
      • Frequently Asked Questions
      • About Tammilee
      • About John
      • Blog Bucket List
      • Advertise/PR Requests
      • Contact Us
      • Disclosure/ Privacy Policy
    • ๐ŸนCocktails
    • โœˆ๏ธ Travel
    • ๐ŸŒฎ Recipes
    • โค๏ธ Holidays
      • New Years
      • Valentines Day
      • Mardi Gras
      • St. Patrick's Day
      • Easter
      • Cinco De Mayo
      • 4th of July
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
      • Christmas
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ร—
    Home ยป Recipes ยป Christmas

    How to make Sugared Cranberries (Quick and Easy)

    Published: Dec 18, 2022 ยท Updated: Dec 6, 2023 by Tammilee ยท This post may contain affiliate links

    These easy, Sugared Cranberries are perfect for charcuterie boards, holiday gifts, drink garnishes, and wowing your holiday party guests!

    Sugared Cranberries text printed over a bowl filled with sugar coated cranberries

    Sugared Cranberries

    Contents show
    Sugared Cranberries
    Ingredients
    Equipment needed
    How to Make Sugared Cranberries
    Preparation and Storage
    Recipe Variations
    Tips for the Best Sugared Cranberries
    What to Serve with Sugared Cranberries
    When to Serve
    Great Recipe Collections
    Sugared Cranberries
    Ingredients
    Instructions
    Kitchen Tools
    Nutrition

    I have been on a roll making cranberry recipes. I bought too many from Costco and Trader Joe's and needed ways to use them.

    I forgot about the giant bag of cranberries in the fridge when I went to Trader Joe's and bought four more bags. Oops!

    So now I am making all the things with cranberries in them. Did you see the Cranberry Relish we shared? I also made Cranberry fluff salad, a cranberry Moscow mule, fresh cranberry sauce, and cranberry salsa.

    My fridge still has cranberries, so there will probably be even more cranberry recipes rolling out soon. Do you have a favorite recipe with cranberries in it?

    Sugared cranberries are also called candied, sparkling, or frosted cranberries. Whatever you call them, this easy recipe is perfect for the holidays!

    They look amazing on cheese boards and charcuterie boards, are perfect for snacking, or mixed with other berries for a colorful fruit bowl.

    We love using these sugared cranberries to garnish Christmas Cocktails.

    Sugared Cranberries ingredients sugar, water, and fresh cranberries

    Ingredients

    This is a quick overview of the simple ingredients that you'll need to make an sugared cranberries! Specific measurements and step by step instructions are included in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.

    • Cranberries
    • White Sugar
    • Water

    Cranberries - We use fresh cranberries that have been washed and all stems have been removed.

    Sugarย  - We use granulated sugar or cane sugar since it looks so good coating the cranberries.

    Sugared-Coated Cranberries and Rosemary - To add the rosemary flavor simply add a sprig of fresh rosemary to the simple syrup and let it steep while stirring in the sugar.

    Recipe variations - Add in a vanilla bean, orange zest to the simple syrup mixture for additional flavor.

    Equipment needed

    • Medium Saucepan
    • Slotted Spoon
    • Baking Sheets with Sides
    • Drying Rack: A cooling rack allows the cranberries to drip to get an even coating.
    • Parchment Paper: Please use parchment or something to make it easier to clean up!

    How to Make Sugared Cranberries

    I've included complete instructions in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post but here's a quick version.

    Sugar and water in a saucepan for sugared cranberries

    Step 1 - Combine sugar and water in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir until sugar has dissolved.

    Simple syrup in a sauce pan for candied cranberries

    cranberries in simple syrup for candied cranberries

    Step 2 - Once sugar has fully dissolved stir in the cranberries to saucepan and stir until well coated.

    slotted spoon going into a sauce pan filled with sugared cranberries

    Step 3 - With a slotted spoon transfer cranberries and transfer cranberries to a wire rack.

    sugar coated cranberries on a drying rack

    Step 4 - Allow cranberries to dry for at least an hour. They will be sticky!

    cranberries in a bowl of sugar for candied cranberries

    Step 5 - Working in batches roll cranberries in sugar until the sugar is evenly coating cranberries.

    sugared cranberries in a slotted spoon

    Step 6 - Once you have rolled them in sugar dry cranberries on a parchment lined cookie sheet for at least an hour.

    sugared cranberries in a white bowl

    Serve in a bowl or spread on a charcuterie board.

    Preparation and Storage

    Make Ahead + Storage:

    Store in an airtight container for 2-3 days at room temperature.

    If you are worried about leaving them out at room temperature, store them in an airtight container in the fridge.

    If you notice the cranberries weeping, toss them in fresh sugar to re-coat them.

    Freezing/How to Freeze: We do not recommend freezing these Sugared Cranberries. They start to get mushy as they defrost.

    Recipe Variations

    Substitutions: You can use white or brown sugar, depending on your preferred flavor. Brown sugar will give the cranberries a molasses flavor, with dark brown sugar imparting the most flavor.

    Vegetarian + Vegan Option: Cranberries, sugar, and water are the only ingredients in this holiday cranberry recipe, making it vegetarian and vegan!

    Gluten-Free: This recipe is also 100 percent safe for a gluten-free diet.

    Smaller Serving Size + Larger Group/More Servings: You can halve, double, or scale this recipe to how many cranberries you need.

    Sugar-Free: The written recipe contains 413 grams of sugar per batch. Sweeten your cranberries with a sugar-free alternative to make it sugar-free.

    Tips for the Best Sugared Cranberries

    • For the best results, plan time for the cranberries to dry.
    • If your Sugared Cranberries start to get mushy, you can use them in a homemade cranberry sauce.
    • You can use the sugar syrup left behind after making these cranberries to flavor cakes or cupcakes or as a simple syrup for cocktails.
    • If you are wondering how to tell if fresh cranberries have gone bad, see if they are soft, mushy, have bruises or mold, smell off, have shriveled, or look like they have issues.
    • Nutrition information, including calories, protein, calcium, carbohydrates, fiber, vitamin c, potassium, cholesterol, sodium, trans fat, monounsaturated fat, polyunsaturated fat, and more, will vary depending on the products used.

    sugar coated cranberries in a white bowl

    What to Serve with Sugared Cranberries

    This quick and easy recipe gives you homemade Candied Cranberries that will jazz up any holiday snack or charcuterie spread! Here are some menu pairing suggestions to make it part of a festive feast for sharing with friends and family.

    Sides: Brown Sugar Bacon Wrapped Smokies, Cheddar Bay Sausage Balls, Cheesy Green Beans, Cranberry Sauce, Sweet Potato Casserole with Canned Yams, Creamed Corn Casserole, Campbell's Green Bean Casserole, CrockPot Scalloped Potatoes & Ham

    Main Dishes: Eggnog French Toast, Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole, Ham & Cheese Crescent Roll, CrockPot Turkey, CrockPot Ham, CrockPot Cranberry Barbecue Meatballs, Bourbon Baked Ham, CrockPot Orange Glazed Ham, CrockPot Coke Glazed Ham

    Desserts: Eggnog Cookies, Cranberry Fluff, 4 Ingredient Christmas Crack, Reindeer Chow, Grinch Bark, No Bake Church Window Cookies, Eggnog Cake with Eggnog Glaze, No Bake Eggnog Pie, Snowball Cookies, Snow Ice Cream, Black Forest Cupcakes, no bake pumpkin pie

    Drinks: Broken Down Golf Cart Shot, Baileys Hot Chocolate, Grinch Jello Shots, Fireball Jello Shots, Cherry Bomb Shot, Cranberry Mimosa, Eggnog Coffee, Peppermint Patty Shot, Polar Bear Shot, Boozy Grinch Drink, Three Wise Men Shot, Maple Old Fashioned Cocktail

    When to Serve

    • Holiday Parties
    • Cocktail Garnish
    • DIY Holiday Gift
    • Dessert Topping
    • Snack or sweet treatย 
    • Decorate an appetizer board/charcuterie board

    Great Recipe Collections

    Leftover Ham Recipesย - Are you wondering what to do with Leftover Ham? Don't worry; these leftover ham recipes are perfect for making the most of your holiday ham!

    3 Ingredient Recipes - Easy 3 Ingredient Recipes that taste amazing! Drinks, entrees, and desserts you can make with a few ingredients.

    Easy Cookie Recipes - From classics to creative spins on familiar favorites, youโ€™ll find cookies galore in this collection of cookie recipes shared on our blog.

    Cool Whip Recipesย - You will love how many ways you can use Cool Whip in Recipes.

    Cream Cheese Recipesย - Check out how you can turn a block of cream cheese into something epic!

    Nutella Recipes - Epic Nutella Recipes you will love! Everything from Nutella Desserts to snacks and Nutella Banana Bread there are so many epic ways to bake with Nutella.

    Do you love recipes? Check out our copycat recipes, dessert recipes, and our CrockPot Recipes.

    Follow Tammilee Tips on MSN, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest for our recipe posts.

    Sugared Cranberries in a white bowl with a red and white towel

    Sugared Cranberries

    How to make Sugared Cranberries. Easy food garnish that looks great on charcuterie boards, cocktails and more.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Rate
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Drying Time: 2 hours hours
    Total Time: 2 hours hours 15 minutes minutes
    Calories: 1704kcal
    Author: Tammilee Tips

    Ingredients

    • 12 Ounce Cranberries 1 bag
    • 2 cups White Sugar
    • ยฝ cup Water

    Instructions

    • Clean and dry cranberries, make sure to remove any extra stems or mushy cranberries.
    • Combine ยฝ cup sugar and a ยฝ cup water in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves.
    • Add the cranberries to the sauce pan and stir to evenly coat all of the cranberries in syrup.
    • Using a slotted spoon remove the cranberries and spread them on a drying rack. Dry for a minimum of 1 hour.
    • Working is batches roll cranberries in sugar until evenly coated. Place on a parchment lined cookie sheet for at least an hour to dry.

    Kitchen Tools

    • Cookie Sheets
    • Parchment Paper
    • Spider Strainer

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Sugared Cranberries
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 1704 Calories from Fat 9
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 1g2%
    Saturated Fat 1g6%
    Sodium 17mg1%
    Potassium 297mg8%
    Carbohydrates 441g147%
    Fiber 16g67%
    Sugar 413g459%
    Protein 1g2%
    Vitamin A 204IU4%
    Vitamin C 45mg55%
    Calcium 35mg4%
    Iron 1mg6%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Love this recipe?Follow @TammileeTIps on Pinterest
    Tried this recipe?Mention @TammileeTipsLife when you share a photo!

    More Christmas

    • Collage of 4 crockpot side dishes with carrots, stuffing, loaded cauliflower, and green beans
      28+ Slow Cooker Side Dishes
    • M&M cookies stacked on a white plate on a silver platter with stars
      M&M Cookie Recipe
    • Collage of winter cocktails with hot chocolate, coffee, and a cranberry mule
      Warm Up by the Fire with These 30+ Winter Cocktails
    • Collage of eggnog recipes with cake, drinks, and french toast
      15+ Eggnog Recipes to Try This Holiday Season

    About Tammilee

    Lifestyle blogger who travels the world and drinks too much Chai tea. Travel blogger, award winning photographer, sunset hunter, Birkenstock girl, bird nerd
    You can find Tammilee on Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Karen

      December 10, 2022 at 9:41 am

      5 stars
      These are super easy to make and such a tasty and lovely addition to a charcuterie board!

      Reply
    5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Footer

    • About Us ~ Tammilee Tips
    • Advertise/PR Requests
    • Disclosure/ Privacy Policy
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube


    Copyright Tammilee Tips LLC 2022 Log in

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.