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    Home » Recipes » Appetizers, Small Bites & Snacks

    Spiced Sugared Cranberries

    Published: Sep 15, 2022 · Modified: Nov 15, 2022 · by Renée B. · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe   Print Recipe
    Small bowl of cranberries, with a felt mouse standing to the side of it. Pin text reads: Spiced Sugared Cranberries | garnishes, cocktails, snacks

    Spiced Sugared Cranberries are a tart, sweet treat - perfect for holiday snacking, creating beautiful garnishes, or decking out everything from salads to desserts.

    Small crystal bowl of sugared cranberries, with a few berries sprinkled on the table around it.
    Jump to:
    • What Goes into this Recipe
    • How to Make this Recipe
    • Ways to Use Sugared Cranberries
    • More Cranberry Recipes
    • Spiced Sugared Cranberries

    Spiced Sugared Cranberries are an easy, festive addition to your holiday table! Make them up to a week ahead of time, then use sugared cranberries for cocktails or as an easy dessert garnish, or use them wherever you need a little splash of color or a bit of a sweet-tart punch. 

    What Goes into this Recipe

    Sugared cranberry ingredients, labeled: fresh cranberries, sugar, spices.

    Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

    ★ Fresh cranberries: You can use frozen cranberries for this, but I don't find them to be quite as plump or pretty.

    ★ Sugar: Use plain granulated sugar.

    ★ Whole spices: You can use ground spices in place of any or all of the whole spices; however, the syrup will appear murkier, and some spices can create a slight gritty texture on the cranberries.

    For the purposes of this recipe:

    • 1 4-inch cinnamon stick = ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • 1 whole star anise = ½ teaspoon ground star anise
    • 1 inch fresh ginger = ½ teaspoon ground ginger
    • 4 whole allspice = ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
    • 4 whole cloves = ¼ teaspoon ground cloves

    How to Make this Recipe

    Double-strength Spiced Simple Syrup

    In a small saucepan, heat ½-cup sugar, ¼-cup water, cinnamon sticks, star anise, sliced ginger, and whole cloves over medium until it comes to a boil.

    Reduce heat to low-low and barely simmer uncovered, stirring frequently, until it reaches 230°–234°F (106°–112° C) on a candy thermometer (i.e., thread stage); about 10-12 minutes.

    Remove syrup from heat, and use a fork to remove the solids.

    Plates of spices: cinnamon sticks, star anise, ginger, and allspice.

    Coating the Cranberries

    Line a baking pan with parchment or a silicone mat, aluminum foil or plastic wrap and set a wire cooling rack on top.

    Pour one cup of cranberries directly into the syrup in the saucepan and use a wooden spoon to gently toss them, coating evenly.

    Small saucepan half full of cranberries, with discarded whole spices on a piece of parchment on the side.

    Use a fork or small slotted spoon to remove the syrup-coated cranberries from the saucepan, placing them directly on a wire rack.

    Let the cranberries cure on the wire rack for at least an hour.

    Syrup-coated cranberries curing on a wire cooling rack.

    Pour the remaining cup of sugar onto a dinner-size plate. Roll the cranberries a handful at a time in the sugar until well-coated.

    A small bowl of sugared cranberries, with a plate covered with sugar and more cranberries being rolled in it.

    Place the sugared cranberries in a small bowl. Refrigerate for at least an hour before using. Sugared cranberries can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to a week.

    Small crystal bowl of sugared cranberries, with an evergreen branch in the background.

    Ways to Use Sugared Cranberries

    Sugared cranberries make a colorful, surprising addition to your holiday celebrations.

    • Embellish desserts (cranberries go particularly well with apples and pumpkin!)
    • Sprinkle them on charcuterie boards
    • Throw a handful in your morning granola
    • Toss them in a salad
    • Garnish a cocktail
    • Set them out for snacking

    Sugared cranberries are perfect for garnished our amazing Spice Cranberry Mule!

    Overhead shot of copper mule mug filled with ice and liquid, and garnished with a toothpick with 3 cranberries and fresh mint.

    For something a little different, try making sugared cranberries using homemade ginger simple syrup!

    Small bowl of cranberries, with a felt mouse standing to the side of it.

    More Cranberry Recipes

    • Double-Crumb Sourdough Coffee Cake
    • Tall glass in the snow, filled with a bi-colored beverage: white on top, and red on the bottom.
      Blushin' Russian (Cranberry Cocktail & Mocktail)
    • Plate of couscous garnished with orange slices and fresh mint.
      Cranberry Orange Pearl Couscous
    • close-up of copper mule mug filled with ice and liquid, and garnished with a toothpick with 3 cranberries and fresh mint.
      Spiced Cranberry Mule

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    Small crystal bowl of sugared cranberries, with a few berries sprinkled on the table around it.
    5 from 4 votes

    Spiced Sugared Cranberries

    Spiced Sugared Cranberries are perfect for holiday snacking, creating beautiful garnishes, or decking out everything from salads to desserts.
    Print Pin Add to Shopping List Go to Shopping List
    Course: Condiment
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Gluten Free, Low Lactose, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Prep Time:10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time:20 minutes minutes
    Cooling & Setting Time:2 hours hours 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time:3 hours hours
    Servings: 8 servings
    Calories: 57kcal
    Author: Renee
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • 1 small saucepan
    • 1 Parchment Paper or silicone mat
    • 1 wire sieve
    • 1 wire cooling rack

    Ingredients

    US Customary - Metric
    • 1½ cups granulated sugar divided
    • ¼ cup water
    • 1 4-inch cinnamon stick
    • 1 whole star anise
    • 1 inch fresh ginger thinly sliced
    • 4 whole whole allspice and/or cloves
    • 1 cup fresh cranberries

    Instructions

    Spiced Simple Syrup

    • In a small saucepan, heat ½-cup sugar, ¼-cup water, cinnamon sticks, star anise, sliced ginger, and whole cloves over medium until it comes to a boil.
    • Reduce heat to low-low and barely simmer uncovered, stirring frequently, until it reaches 230°–234°F (106°–112° C) on a candy thermometer (i.e., thread stage); about 10-12 minutes.
    • Remove syrup from heat, and use a fork to remove the solids.

    Coating Cranberries

    • Line a baking pan with parchment or a silicone mat, aluminum foil or plastic wrap and set a wire cooling rack on top.
    • Pour one cup of cranberries directly into the prepared syrup in the saucepan and use a wooden spoon to gently toss them, coating evenly.
    • Use a fork or small slotted spoon to remove the syrup-coated cranberries from the saucepan, placing them directly on a wire rack.
      Let the cranberries cure on the wire rack for at least an hour.
    • Pour the remaining cup of sugar onto a dinner-size plate. Roll the cranberries a handful at a time in the sugar until well-coated.
    • Place the sugared cranberries in a small bowl. Refrigerate for at least an hour before using.
      Sugared cranberries can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to a week.

    Notes

    You can use ground spices in place of any or all of the whole spices; however, the syrup will be much murkier, and the spices can create a slight gritty texture on the cranberries.
    For the purposes of this recipe:
    • 1 4-inch cinnamon stick = ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • 1 whole star anise = ½ teaspoon ground star anise
    • 1 inch fresh ginger = ½ teaspoon ground ginger
    • 4 whole allspice = ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
    • 4 whole cloves = ¼ teaspoon ground cloves

    Nutrition

    Serving: 0.5ounce | Calories: 57kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 0.2g | Saturated Fat: 0.03g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.02g | Trans Fat: 0.001g | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 23mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 9IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 0.2mg
    This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
    Have you tried this recipe?Mention @TheGoodHeartedWoman or tag #thegoodheartedwoman!

    Thank you for visiting the Good Hearted Woman. Remember to bookmark this site, and come back soon!

    Originally published December 2, 2016. Post has been updated with new content, images, and recipe instructions to improve reader experience.

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    About Renée B.

    Renée is self-taught home chef with a penchant for creating healthy(ish) comfort food recipes, and adapting vintage recipes for the 21st century cook. In her spare time, she writes unfinished novels and songs about cowboys.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 4 votes

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    1. Tara says

      November 21, 2022 at 1:15 pm

      A wonderful sentimental recipe that's just as beautiful as it is tasty. Love!!

      Reply
    2. Robin G. says

      November 21, 2022 at 11:33 am

      5 stars
      The spices were such a lovely addition. I have only simply sugared them in the past.

      Reply
    3. Kelley says

      November 21, 2022 at 11:05 am

      5 stars
      This was such a fun idea for the holidays! My guests loved these thank you!

      Reply
    4. Nathan says

      November 21, 2022 at 11:03 am

      5 stars
      Absolutely loving these sugared cranberries, I mix some in with my oatmeal for breakfast and they give it so much flavor!

      Reply
    5. Kris says

      November 21, 2022 at 11:00 am

      5 stars
      These turned out pretty as a picture and tasted amazing!

      Reply
    6. April says

      December 02, 2016 at 1:47 pm

      We actually have never seen that movie in its entirety... it's on our list for Christmas this year! We keep saying we should watch it.

      Reply
      • Renée ♥ says

        December 02, 2016 at 1:49 pm

        It's definitely a sentimental favorite.

        Reply
    7. Pech says

      December 02, 2016 at 11:17 am

      You are the sweetest lovebirds, and I love this story about how little gestures of love can have so much meaning and affirmation and should be remembered to be appreciated! <3 Unfortunately my DH isn't into this holiday season, but he has his own version of this movie - it's just Field of Dreams. Also, I LOVE your mouse model in these photos, I have a huge crush on him!

      Reply
      • Renée ♥ says

        December 02, 2016 at 11:21 am

        Thanks, Pech! I fell in love with that little mouse too! (Hint: You can find one just like him at New Seasons.) Now I'm working on a DIY... which probably won't actually happen until next holiday season. We'll see.

        Reply
    8. Erin @ Platings and Pairings says

      December 02, 2016 at 9:47 am

      Christmas movies just seem to bring out the best memories in people - I love them all, just for the fact that they remind me of the past years. These cranberries look fantastic too - What a great garnish they make!

      Reply
    9. Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says

      December 02, 2016 at 9:32 am

      Aww Renée! You're making me tear up over here too! What a wonderful moment to share each year. I love the simple holiday traditions too, the more personal ones that don't involve a lot of fuss, but are just about love and family. This recipe looks to pair perfectly with all of that 🙂

      Reply
      • Renée ♥ says

        December 02, 2016 at 9:47 am

        Thank for getting it, Marlynn. You're the best.

        Reply

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