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These sparkling sugared cranberries are my favorite festive treat — perfect for tossing on cheese boards or using as a bright holiday dessert topper. With just three ingredients and no stovetop syrup to babysit the hardest part is waiting for them to chill. I loved making these with my kids last year and now they have become an annual tradition at our Thanksgiving table.
My first batch disappeared so quickly I had to make more for gifts and my friends still talk about them whenever the holidays come around.
Ingredients
- fresh cranberries: make sure they are firm and shiny for the best texture
- real maple syrup: coats the berries and helps sugar stick choose a dark robust syrup if you like deeper flavor
- granulated sugar: creates that sparkling frosty look try to get finer sugar for the prettiest result
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Prep the Cranberries:
- Rinse your cranberries thoroughly and pick out any that are soft or bruised. Only firm berries will give you that perfect pop when you bite them.
- Soak in Maple Syrup:
- Place the rinsed cranberries in a container with a tight lid. Pour the maple syrup over them and stir very gently to coat every berry evenly. Put the lid on and refrigerate the mix for six to eight hours or overnight to let them absorb the syrup through their skins.
- Drain the Cranberries:
- Set a colander over a bowl to catch the syrup and pour the cranberries in. Let them drain for a few minutes. You can save the leftover maple syrup for pancakes or oatmeal.
- Coat with Sugar:
- Spread your sugar in a shallow rimmed pan or baking sheet. Roll a few cranberries at a time in the sugar making sure every berry gets a thick even sparkle. Repeat with all the berries taking time to keep them separate so they do not stick together.
- Dry to Set the Coating:
- Spread the sugared cranberries out on the pan or on a cooling rack so that none are touching. Let them dry at room temperature or speed things up by putting them in the fridge for an hour or more. The longer they dry the crisper they will get.
- Store for Serving:
- Keep the dried cranberries uncovered on a sheet pan or shallow dish. If you need to pack them up as a gift use parchment between the layers and tell the recipient to leave the lid off until ready to eat.
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My favorite part is rolling the sticky cranberries in the sugar with my youngest daughter. Last year her fingers were stained pink but she declared it worth every minute for the taste. Now we always save a handful just for extra nibbling.
Storage Tips
Store your sugared cranberries spread out in a single layer with no cover. If they are enclosed or touch each other too much they start to get soggy. For longer storage dry them in the fridge before putting in tins if gifting. Moisture is the enemy of their crunch.
Ingredient Substitutions
You can use honey in place of maple syrup for a slightly floral flavor but the texture might be stickier. If you need even more sparkle whirl regular sugar in a food processor to make superfine sugar or use store bought caster sugar.
Serving Suggestions
Pile these on top of rich chocolate cakes or cheesecakes for a pop of holiday color. They are also perfect as a sweet snack between bites on a festive cheese and charcuterie board.
Cultural Context
Sugared fruits have a long history in European and American holiday traditions. Their glittery look symbolized abundance and celebration. Today sugared cranberries are especially popular in New England where fresh cranberries are a staple winter crop and maple syrup is a local treasure.
Frequently Asked Questions
- → How do I keep sugared cranberries from turning soggy?
Store them uncovered in a single layer so that air circulates around each berry, keeping them crisp and sparkly.
- → Can I use frozen cranberries for this process?
Fresh cranberries work best because frozen ones may soften and release moisture, which affects the sugar coating.
- → How long can sugared cranberries be stored?
They stay crisp for 2-3 days if kept uncovered in a dry, cool place. Avoid refrigerating in a sealed container.
- → Are there variations on the sugar coating?
Try superfine sugar for extra sparkle, or add orange zest or fresh ginger to the syrup for a flavor twist.
- → What can I do with leftover syrup?
The drained syrup is delicious poured over pancakes, waffles, or stirred into drinks for added flavor.