Spiced Sugared Cranberries are a tart, sweet treat - perfect for holiday snacking, creating beautiful garnishes, or decking out everything from salads to desserts.
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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
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.
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.
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.
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!
For something a little different, try making sugared cranberries using homemade ginger simple syrup!
More Cranberry Recipes
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Spiced Sugared Cranberries
Equipment
- 1 Parchment Paper or silicone mat
- 1 wire sieve
Ingredients
- 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
- 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
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.
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Originally published December 2, 2016. Post has been updated with new content, images, and recipe instructions to improve reader experience.
Tara says
A wonderful sentimental recipe that's just as beautiful as it is tasty. Love!!
Robin G. says
The spices were such a lovely addition. I have only simply sugared them in the past.
Kelley says
This was such a fun idea for the holidays! My guests loved these thank you!
Nathan says
Absolutely loving these sugared cranberries, I mix some in with my oatmeal for breakfast and they give it so much flavor!
Kris says
These turned out pretty as a picture and tasted amazing!
April says
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.
Renée ♥ says
It's definitely a sentimental favorite.
Pech says
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!
Renée ♥ says
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.
Erin @ Platings and Pairings says
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!
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
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 🙂
Renée ♥ says
Thank for getting it, Marlynn. You're the best.