Description
These 3 Ingredients Sparkling Sugared Cranberries are a simple, beautiful holiday treat made with fresh cranberries, water, and organic cane sugar. The berries are coated in a light sugar syrup, dried until tacky, then rolled in sugar for a sparkling finish. They make a festive garnish for pies, cakes, cocktails, holiday sides, or a sweet homemade gift.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (120 grams) water
- 3/4 cup (175 grams) organic cane sugar, divided
- 1 cup (115 grams) fresh cranberries
- Scraped vanilla bean, optional
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, whisk together the water and 1/2 cup of the sugar. Bring the mixture just to a simmer, whisking until the sugar dissolves.
- If desired, add a scraped vanilla bean pod to the syrup.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the cranberries, making sure they are evenly coated with the sugar syrup.
- Cover and let the cranberries steep in the syrup for 10 minutes.
- Strain the cranberries, reserving the syrup for cocktails or mocktails if desired. The vanilla bean pod can be added to the reserved syrup.
- Transfer the cranberries to a large piece of parchment paper set over a wire cooling rack. Separate the berries so they are not touching.
- Let the cranberries dry at room temperature for 45 minutes to 1 hour. They should look shiny rather than wet and remain slightly sticky so the sugar will adhere.
- Place the remaining sugar on a plate. Roll the cranberries in the sugar until evenly coated.
- Enjoy immediately or store in a lidded container with a small pinch bowl containing a couple of teaspoons of uncooked rice to absorb moisture.
Notes
- Save the syrup: Reserve the leftover sugar syrup for cocktails or mocktails.
- Sugar options: Organic cane sugar gives the cranberries their sparkling appearance, but regular granulated sugar also works well.
- Storage: Store in a lidded container at room temperature with a small bowl of uncooked rice inside to help absorb moisture. They generally stay fresh for 2 days and may last up to 4 days, depending on the freshness of the cranberries.
- Refresh the coating: After 2–3 days, the cranberries may begin to release moisture. Toss them with a little more sugar to freshen the coating.
- Rosemary variation: Add a sprig of fresh rosemary to the simple syrup while preparing it and steeping the cranberries.
- Vanilla variation: Add a scraped vanilla bean pod to the syrup while the cranberries steep.
- Orange variation: Add orange peel and a squeeze of orange juice to the simple syrup, then steep the cranberries in it.
- Yield: This recipe makes about 1 cup and uses approximately half of a 12-ounce bag of cranberries. Double the recipe to make about 2 cups.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Dessert, Snack, Garnish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American