Candied cranberries are the perfect holiday accent to add on cocktails and desserts. Scroll down for the full recipe!
Candied cranberries are incredibly easy to make, but they will require a minimum of 12 hours to cool and set. I make these sugared cranberries in the evening and let them set overnight. After preparing these candied cranberries, you can choose to use them glossy, covered in sugar or a combination of both. Regardless of how you choose to use them, these candied cranberries are the perfect combination of tart and sweet.
After allowing these sugared cranberries to set overnight, the final step is to roll them in sugar. During this process, the sugar will turn pink and moisten. I recommend reserving this pink-hued sugar. It can be used to sweeten lemonade or it can be a fun addition to a gingerbread house.
Now that I have shared a couple of ideas on how to reuse the pink sugar produced from these candied cranberries, let’s get to the recipe!
How to Make Candied Cranberries for Cocktails and Dessert Garnishes
Candied Cranberries Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup rinsed cranberries
Instructions
- Combine one cup of granulated sugar and one cup of water in a one quart sauce pan. Cook on medium-high heat for 5 to 10 minutes until it reaches a rolling boil. Remove the simple syrup from the heat after it reaches a rolling boil.
- Add ½ cup of rinsed cranberries into the simple syrup and allow the cranberries to soak in the mixture for two minutes. The cranberries will float to the top of the simple syrup. Use a spoon to stir and scoop simple syrup onto the tops of the cranberries. This will ensure that all of the cranberries are properly soaked during the two minutes. After the two minute soak, place the cranberries onto a flat plate or container covered with parchment paper. Repeat the process with the remaining ½ cup of cranberries. Spoon approximately ¼ cup of the simple syrup onto the cranberries.
- Cool the cranberries uncovered for a minimum of 12 hours. I have prepared these cranberries 24 hours in advance and they are perfectly delicious.
- After cooling the cranberries and allowing the gorgeous simple syrup to set and create a beautiful glossy look, then you are ready to roll the cranberries in sugar. Add ⅛ cup of granulated sugar in a bowl. Using a spoon, add a couple of candied cranberries to the bowl and roll gently in the granulated sugar. Place the sugar dusted cranberries on a plate or container covered with parchment paper. After rolling the cranberries, the sugar will moisten with the simple syrup. Discard or set the moistened pink sugar aside. Roll the remaining cranberries in the remaining ⅛ cup of granulated sugar. After the cranberries have been rolled in sugar, the candied cranberries are ready to be added to your favorite cocktails or desserts.
Tools used to make this Cranberry Recipe:
In addition to holiday cocktails, these candied cranberries will add a festive touch to cheesecakes, tarts, pies and more. Sugar coated cranberries should be added immediately to desserts. From experience, I can share that the sugar coated cranberries do not store well. That said, it is best to roll the cranberries in sugar immediately before using. While the sugar coated cranberries do not store well, the cranberries soaked in simple syrup do store well.
If you enjoyed this cranberry recipe, you will also love the Cranberry Simple Syrup that I use as a mixer for holiday cocktails. For the recipe, click here.
[…] How to Make Candied Cranberries for Cocktails and Dessert Garnishes […]