Festive Sparkling Sugared Cranberries Recipe for Holiday Joy

Crafting delightful sparkling sugared cranberries brings a festive touch to winter desserts and cocktail garnishes.

Sweet crystals cling to tart berries, creating a stunning visual and flavor contrast.

Winter gatherings deserve these jewel-like treats that shimmer with delicate sugar coating.

Minimal ingredients and simple technique make this recipe accessible for home cooks of all skill levels.

Guests will marvel at the elegant appearance and crisp, bright flavor profile.

Chilling time allows the sugar to set perfectly, ensuring a beautiful crystalline finish.

You can easily elevate any holiday spread with these beautiful, sparkling gems that look as incredible as they taste.

Sugared Cranberries Sparkle Guide

• Create a stunning, elegant dessert topping or garnish that adds a beautiful pop of color and shine to your holiday spreads and dessert tables.
• Elevate multiple dishes from cocktails to cakes, cheese boards to desserts with these sweet-tart gems that offer both visual appeal and delightful flavor contrast.
• Enjoy a guilt-free treat packed with antioxidants from fresh cranberries, providing a lighter alternative to heavy holiday sweets while still satisfying your sugar craving.

Ingredients for Sugared Cranberries

• Cranberries: Fresh, tart berries that provide the base for this sparkling holiday treat.
• Granulated Sugar: Sweet ingredient used for coating and creating a crystalline exterior on the cranberries.
• Water: Essential liquid for creating the sugar syrup that will help the sugar adhere to the cranberries.

• Fine Sugar: Adds an extra layer of sparkle and delicate texture to the sugared cranberries.

• Vanilla Extract, Cinnamon Stick, Orange Zest: Optional ingredients that can add depth and complexity to the sugar syrup if desired, though not necessary for the basic recipe.

How to Make Sugared Cranberries

Step 1: Crafting Sweet Syrup

In a medium saucepan, combine water and sugar.

Gently heat the mixture over medium temperature, stirring until sugar dissolves completely.

Be careful not to let the liquid boil.

Once smooth and clear, remove the pan from the heat source.

Step 2: Bathing Cranberries in Sweetness

Carefully pour the prepared cranberries into the warm syrup.

Use a gentle stirring motion to ensure each berry gets fully coated.

Allow the cranberries to soak luxuriously in the sweet liquid for 5-10 minutes, absorbing the sugary goodness.

Step 3: Draining Excess Liquid

Using a slotted spoon, transfer the syrup-coated cranberries onto a wire rack or parchment-lined baking sheet.

Let them drain and air-dry for approximately one hour.

The berries should develop a slightly tacky surface, which helps the sugar stick perfectly.

Step 4: Rolling in Sparkling Sugar

Prepare a shallow dish with granulated sugar.

Gently roll each cranberry in the sugar, ensuring complete and even coverage.

For an extra touch of glamour, sprinkle a delicate layer of fine sugar over the coated berries, creating a stunning, crystalline effect.

Step 5: Final Drying and Presentation

Allow the sugared cranberries to dry completely at room temperature.

This final resting period helps the sugar set and creates a beautiful, frost-like coating.

Once fully dry, they’re ready to be served or stored in an airtight container.

Tips for Sparkling Sugared Cranberries

• Ensure cranberries are completely dry before rolling in sugar to achieve an even, sparkling coating.
• Heat sugar syrup gently to dissolve sugar without boiling, which prevents cranberry texture from breaking down.
• Let cranberries air dry for at least an hour to create a tacky surface that helps sugar adhere perfectly.
• Select plump, firm cranberries without soft spots for the best texture and most attractive final presentation.
• Experiment with adding a touch of vanilla extract or orange zest to the sugar syrup for subtle, sophisticated flavor notes.

Storing Sugared Cranberries

• Store sugared cranberries in an airtight container between layers of parchment paper for up to 5 days. Keep them chilled to maintain their sparkling texture and prevent sugar from dissolving.
• Place cranberries in a freezer-safe container, separating layers with parchment paper. Freeze for up to 1 month. Thaw at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before serving.
• Keep in a sealed container away from direct sunlight and heat. Consume within 2 days to maintain their crisp sugar coating and prevent moisture buildup.
• If sugar starts to look dull or clump, gently roll cranberries in fresh granulated sugar before serving to restore their sparkling appearance.

Pairing Suggestions for Sugared Cranberries

• Pair Sweet with Tart Cocktails: Mix cranberry's sugary crunch with bright, zesty gin cocktails like a classic Gimlet or French 75 for balanced flavor complexity.
• Complement Cheese Platters: Scatter these sparkling cranberries alongside creamy brie, sharp aged cheddar, and mild goat cheese to create stunning appetizer presentations with contrasting textures.
• Enhance Winter Dessert Garnishes: Top vanilla panna cotta, chocolate mousse, or seasonal cheesecake with these sugared cranberries to add elegant, festive decoration and unexpected tangy sweetness.
• Boost Champagne Celebrations: Float these glittery cranberries in chilled champagne or prosecco for a stunning, festive drink garnish that delights guests and adds sophisticated seasonal charm.

Creative Uses for Sugared Cranberries

• Citrus Zest Cranberries: Add orange or lemon zest to the syrup for a bright, tangy flavor profile that complements the sweet sugar coating.
• Spiced Winter Cranberries: Mix cinnamon or ground ginger into the sugar coating to create a warming winter-inspired version with subtle spice notes.
• Low-Sugar Alternative: Replace regular sugar with monk fruit sweetener or stevia for a diabetic-friendly and low-calorie option that maintains the original recipe's essence.
• Herbal Infusion Cranberries: Steep fresh rosemary or thyme in the syrup to introduce an elegant herbal undertone that enhances the cranberries' natural tartness.

FAQs

• Why do I need to soak cranberries in syrup before sugaring?

The syrup helps the sugar adhere better to the cranberries and softens their tartness, creating a sweet and sticky surface for the sugar coating.

• Can I use frozen cranberries for this recipe?

Fresh cranberries work best, but if using frozen, thaw and pat them completely dry before starting the recipe to ensure proper sugar adhesion.

• How long will these sugared cranberries stay fresh?

They’ll keep well in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 days, or refrigerated for up to 5 days. The sugar coating might become slightly less crisp over time.

• Are sugared cranberries just a decoration or can I eat them?

They’re delicious as a sweet-tart snack, cake topper, cocktail garnish, or festive holiday treat that you can enjoy eating directly.

Sparkling Sugared Cranberries Recipe

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4.6 from 39 reviews

• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Sparkling Holiday Cranberries bring festive cheer with their jewel-like shimmer and delicate sweetness. Guests will adore these elegant garnishes that elevate desserts and cocktails with their magical winter charm.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 2 cups (480 ml) fresh cranberries
• 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar (for coating)

Liquid Ingredient:

• 1/2 cup (120 ml) water

Optional Finishing Ingredient:

• 1 pinch fine sugar (for extra sparkle)

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Instructions

1. Craft a smooth syrup by blending water and sugar in a saucepan, heating gently until sugar dissolves completely without reaching a boil.
2. Immerse fresh cranberries into the warm syrup, ensuring each berry is thoroughly saturated, and let them absorb the sweet liquid for 5-10 minutes.
3. Extract cranberries using a slotted spoon, carefully transferring them onto a wire rack or parchment-lined baking sheet.
4. Allow cranberries to air-dry for approximately one hour, creating a slightly sticky surface that will help sugar adhere.
5. Gently roll each tacky cranberry in granulated sugar, rotating to achieve an even, sparkling coating.
6. For an enhanced crystalline effect, dust the sugared cranberries with a delicate layer of fine sugar.
7. Position the decorated cranberries in a cool, dry area, permitting them to set completely before serving or storing.

Notes

• Adjust sugar syrup thickness by simmering longer for a more concentrated glaze that helps sugar adhere better to cranberries.
• Experiment with flavored sugars like vanilla-infused or maple sugar for unique coating variations that enhance the cranberries’ natural tartness.
• Pat cranberries gently with paper towels before sugar coating to remove excess moisture and ensure a more even, crisp sugar layer.
• Store sparkling cranberries in a single layer in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days to maintain their sugary crunch and festive appearance.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Appetizer, Snacks, Desserts
• Method: Steeping
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 140
• Sugar: 28g
• Sodium: 0mg
• Fat: 0g
• Saturated Fat: 0g
• Unsaturated Fat: 0g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 35g
• Fiber: 4g
• Protein: 1g
• Cholesterol: 0mg