• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Midwest Nice logo

  • Recipes
    • All Recipes
    • Recipe Index
  • Ebooks
    • Venison Ebook
    • Coffee Ebook
  • About
  • Contact
  • Portfolio
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Search
  • Recipe Index
  • Ebooks
    • Venison Ebook
    • Coffee Ebook
  • About
  • Contact
  • Portfolio
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Cranberries

    December 1, 2022 · Updated September 5, 2024

    Sugared Cranberries (3 Ingredients!)

    No ratings yet
    2 Comments

    · by Amanda Gajdosik

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video

    This post may contain affiliate links. This blog generates income via ads.

    Sugared Cranberries are a fun and festive holiday treat that require only three ingredients! These sparkly, sugar-coated fresh cranberries are great to give as gifts or to accompany your favorite holiday recipes. Personally, I love using them to garnish a poinsettia cocktail!

    The combination of the tart, fresh cranberry and sweet sugar makes this simple dessert recipe a dangerously delectable treat! Popping these candied cranberries in my mouth and having them burst when I bite into them is so fun!

    If you’re looking for more fresh cranberry recipes be sure to check out my simple cranberry compote recipe and cranberry sauce with orange and cinnamon.

    Ingredients for This Recipe

    • Cranberries – we’ve got to use fresh cranberries for this recipe, dried or frozen cranberries simply won’t work.
    • Sugar – the sweet balances out the tart from the berries.
    • Water – straight from the tap is just fine.

    How to Make Cranberries Coated in Sugar

    1. Clean the cranberries. I have detailed instructions below.
    2. Make the simple syrup. It’s just a 1:1 ratio of water and sugar.
    3. Add the fresh cranberries. Just a quick dunk, we’re not cooking the berries.
    4. Sprinkle with sugar. And let dry for at least 4 hours, overnight is even better.
    Rinse the cranberries.
    Make a simple syrup.
    Dunk the berries in syrup.
    Coat in sugar and let dry.

    The key to really great sugar coated cranberries is making sure they are left out to dry so the sugar has enough time to adhere.

    Cleaning Fresh Cranberries

    Even though cranberries are harvested in water it’s still important to properly clean them before use to rinse off any remaining residue from the fields or processing facility.

    Pour the berries into a strainer and rinse well, tossing them gently to ensure every cranberry is properly washed. Discard any berries that are off-color or squishy. Allow the excess water to drain for a few minutes before using.

    Storing Leftover Sugared Cranberries

    I make this recipe using an entire 12-ounce bag of fresh cranberries. This means there’s enough made to decorate cakes or cheesecake or a cheeseboard and still have some leftover to snack on or give as a gift.

    To help keep the cranberries firm and prevent a soggy, sugary, syrupy mess, store the sugared cranberries in a large container at room temperature with the lid slightly ajar.

    Storing them this way, covered but not sealed, helps keep the berries bright and firm for up to four days!

    Oh what fun!

    Watch the recipe video!

    An overhead shot of a small glass bowl filled with fresh candied cranberries.
    Print Recipe
    No ratings yet

    Sugared Cranberries

    Made with just three ingredients these sugared cranberries are a tart and sweet treat that’s perfectly festive for your holiday celebrations! Use them to garnish desserts, drinks, or just enjoy as a snack!
    Prep Time5 minutes mins
    Dry Time4 hours hrs
    Total Time4 hours hrs 5 minutes mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: cranberry recipe, sugared cranberries
    Servings: 12 servings
    Calories: 125kcal
    Author: Amanda Gajdosik
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • Strainer
    • Small Sauce Pot
    • Strainer/Sieve
    • Rimmed Baking Sheet
    • Parchment Paper

    Ingredients

    • 1 ¾ cups granulated sugar, divided
    • ¼ cup water
    • 12 ounces fresh cranberries, rinsed and drained

    Instructions

    • Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
    • In a small saucepan, mix together ¼ cup sugar and ¼ water over medium heat stirring until sugar is just dissolved. Remove from heat and pour cranberries into saucepan, tossing gently to coat.
    • Using a slotted spoon, remove cranberries from simple syrup to a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
    • Sprinkle ½ cup of sugar over cranberries and shake pan vigorously to coat.
    • Sprinkle remaining 1 cup sugar over cranberries and shake pan again to ensure an even coating of sugar.
    • Set pan over a cooling rack and let dry at room temperature for at least four hours, giving the pan a good shake every hour to ensure the sugar is evenly coating the berries.
    • For even better results, allow the cranberries to sit out and dry overnight after the initial four hours.

    Video

    Notes

    • Cranberries can be stored at room temperature in a container gently covered with a lid (but not sealed!) for up to four days.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1ounce | Calories: 125kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.003g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.02g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 23mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 17IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 0.1mg

    Browse More Recipes!

    • A slice of raspberry pretzel jello salad sits on a white plate garnished with fresh raspberries.
      Raspberry Jello Pretzel Salad (using fresh or frozen berries)
    • A small glass dish filled with Oreo fluff and garnished with a whole cookie.
      Oreo Fluff with Cream Cheese and Cool Whip
    • No-Churn Cranberry Ice Cream
    • An ice cream scoop filled with mulberry ice cream sits in a pan of mulberry ice cream.
      No-Churn Mulberry Ice Cream
    7 shares
    • Share this Recipe!
    • Send this Recipe!

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a rating and review! Cancel reply

    Did you love the recipe? Let me know! And let others know too by leaving a comment and star rating. Reviews are so useful in helping other people find my site and make my recipes. Your support means the world to me!

    Amanda

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

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hey, Yall!

    Amanda, a food photographer and recipe developer, leans against a kitchen counter. She is smiling and holding a camera. She wears a white shirt and black jeans.
    Hi! I'm Amanda, and I believe in good food for good people. I hope you enjoy the homemade recipes you'll find on my site.
    • instagram
    • facebook
    • pinterest

    Choose a Category

    Looking For Something?

    Recently

    • Lemon Drop Jello Shots (Using Real Lemons!)
    • Ground Venison Taco Salad (Great for Leftovers!)
    • London Fog Latte with Lavender Syrup (Hot or Iced)
    • Ground Venison Tater Tot Hotdish (Midwestern Casserole)
    • Three Ingredient Mandarin Orange Jello Salad (No Cottage Cheese)
    • Sweet & Spicy Dirty Chai Espresso Martini
    • One Pan Venison Hamburger Helper
    • Strawberry Rosé Jello Shots (3 Ingredients!)
    • Old Fashioned Green Jello Salad with Pineapple and Cool Whip
    • Three Ingredient Champagne Jello Shots (No Vodka!)

    Archived Posts

    Meet Amanda

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Wisconsin Classics

    • Brandy slush cocktail 
    • Beer battered fish fry
    • Wisconsin brandy old fashioned
    • Grasshopper cocktail
    • Beer brats and onions
    • Pink squirrel with ice cream
    • Raspberry jello pretzel salad

    Venison Dinners

    • Seared venison tenderloin 
    • Venison dry rub 
    • Juicy venison burger
    • Red wine venison roast
    • Venison meat sauce 
    • Smoked venison backstrap
    • Grilled venison tenderloin

    Coffee at Home

    • Pumpkin cream cold brew 
    • Vanilla iced coffee
    • Dirty chai latte 
    • Pistachio cream cold brew
    • Maple syrup latte
    • Vanilla sweet cream cold brew
    • Homemade chai concentrate

    About / Contact / Privacy Policy

    Copyright © 2025 Midwest Nice

    7 shares

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




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