Description
Sugared cranberries are an easy yet beautiful garnish for so many festive delights, from pumpkin pie to gingerbread waffles. They’re also very tasty as a sweet snack all on their own! You need just 3 ingredients to make these sparkly treats, and you can use the same method with fresh rosemary. A version of this recipe is also in my cookbook, Sally’s Baking 101.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (120g) fresh cranberries (do not use frozen)
- 3/4 cup (180g/ml) water
- 1 and 1/4 cups (250g) granulated sugar, divided
Instructions
- Place the cranberries in a medium heat-safe bowl. Set aside.
- In a medium saucepan set over medium heat, bring the water and 3/4 cup (150g) of sugar to a simmer, whisking until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and let cool for 5 minutes.
- Pour the sugar syrup over the cranberries and stir. Cover the bowl and set aside for 15 minutes.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the cranberries from the sugar syrup and place them on the prepared baking sheet. Allow to dry, uncovered, for 1 hour. The cranberries will be quite sticky at this point.
- Pour remaining 1/2 cup (100g) sugar into a large bowl. Toss the cranberries in the sugar, coating them all the way around. Return the sugared cranberries to the lined baking sheet and let them dry, uncovered, for at least 1 hour at room temperature or in the refrigerator.
- Use immediately or store them, tightly covered, in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. If they start to look a little wet, toss them in a little more sugar.
Notes
- Special Tools (affiliate links): Glass Mixing Bowls | Saucepan | Whisk | Baking Sheet | Parchment Paper Sheets or Silicone Baking Mat | Slotted Spoon or Sieve
- Frozen Cranberries: Do not use frozen or thawed cranberries. They’re simply too wet, and the simple syrup and sugar just won’t stick. You can trying patting them as dry as possible, but the results won’t be the same. Do not freeze the sugared cranberries because, as they thaw, the sugar absorbs into the liquid.
- Rosemary: You can use the same exact “recipe” or method with fresh rosemary sprigs to make sparkly “pine needles” as a garnish for various baked goods or festive drinks. Or, just toss a few sprigs in with the cranberries to make both—no need to increase the amount of simple syrup or sugar.