Name: Sugared Cranberries
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 140 min
Ingredients: 3 cups granulated sugar ((divided-½ for simple syrup, ½ for coating)); 12 oz fresh cranberries

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Nature’s sweet-tart, these sugared cranberries are beautiful and delicious! They’re so easy to make and look like snow covered berries. They’re gorgeous as part of a holiday spread, but they taste even better!

Sugar coated cranberries in a white bowl on a green table with pine decorations in the background

Serves: about 4 for every 4 ounces of cranberries
Soak Time: 20 minutes
Rest Time: 2 hours total

Ingredients:

granulated sugar (about 1 cup for every cup of cranberries, divided)
fresh cranberries (usually sold in 12 oz packages)

Fresh ripe cranberries in a white bowl and a cup of sugar on a pastel green background.

Get the full printable instructions with measurements at the bottom of the post in the recipe card.

Step-by-Step Directions:

Step 1: Begin by making the simple syrup. You’ll need ½ cup of sugar and ½ cup of water for every 4 oz of cranberries (about 1 cup). If you’re making the entire package, use 1 ½ cups of sugar and water each. Click the link above for a quick tutorial on making simple syrup.

Step 2: Rinse the cranberries and place them in a bowl. Stir in the prepared simple syrup and let them sit for at least 20 minutes, stirring occasionally since the cranberries will float.

Fresh cranberries in a glass bowl with a spoon, ready for cooking or baking, perfect for holiday recipes and cranberry sauces, vibrant red color.

Step 3: Using a strainer or slotted spoon, scoop the cranberries onto a counter or baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Let them sit for about an hour until they are dry and sticky.

Fresh red cranberries coated in simple syrup being spread on parchment paper with a small metal strainer

Step 4: Pour ½ cup of granulated sugar into a clean bowl and toss with 1 cup of cranberries with a fork. Place them back on the parchment paper. Continue adding more sugar and cranberries until you have coated them all. Let them dry and enjoy immediately or store them in the refrigerator in an airtight container. So festive!

Fresh cranberries in a glass bowl with sugar coating, ready for use in holiday recipes or baking.

fresh cranberries coated with a light dusting of sugar, arranged on parchment paper for preparing fresh fruit recipes or desserts.

Tips:

1 ½ cups of sugar combined with 1 ½ cups of water will yield approximately 2 ½ cups of simple syrup.

Sugared Cranberries

Cranberry holiday dessert in a white ramekin with a Christmas tree and snowy decorations in the background, perfect for a festive holiday celebration.

Nature's sweet-tart, these sugared cranberries are beautiful and delicious!

Beth

Prep Time 20

Rest Time 2

Total Time 2 20

Servings

Ingredients

3 cups granulated sugar (divided-½ for simple syrup, ½ for coating)
12 oz fresh cranberries

Instructions

Begin by making the simple syrup. You'll need ½ cup of sugar and ½ cup of water for every 4 oz of cranberries (about 1 cup). If you're making the entire package, use 1 ½ cups of sugar and water each. Click here for a quick tutorial.
Rinse the cranberries and place them in a bowl. Stir in the prepared simple syrup and let them sit for at least 20 minutes, stirring occasionally since the cranberries will float.
Using a strainer or slotted spoon, scoop the cranberries onto a counter or baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Let them sit for about an hour until they are dry and sticky.
Pour ½ cup of granulated sugar into a clean bowl and toss with 1 cup of cranberries with a fork. Place them back on the parchment paper. Continue adding more sugar and cranberries until you have coated them all. Let them dry and enjoy immediately or store them in the refrigerator in an airtight container. So festive!