Easy Candied Cranberries Recipe (Video)

Candied cranberries are a festive treat made by coating fresh cranberries in a simple syrup and then rolling them in sugar. The process results in a delightful combination of sweet and tart flavors, and sparkling cranberries are the perfect garnish for so many recipes during the holiday season. I’m also sharing a quick cranberry cream cheese dip!

Candied Cranberries

Up until a few years ago, the only cranberries we had around Christmas were cranberry sauce. And that wasn’t even real cranberries because my entire family considers the jellied cranberry sauce in a can a holiday staple. 

But then I started making hot apple cider and discovered that fresh cranberries were the perfect addition to that drink. And then I found another cranberry recipe that I loved, then another.

After that, I found other holiday recipes that I loved with cranberries. And since cranberry season is upon us, I thought now would be the perfect time to share this easy recipe and share all the different ways you can use these pretty frosted cranberries.

What are Candied Cranberries?

Candied cranberries are perfect for adding a festive touch to your holiday celebrations! They have a frosted appearance, with the sugar crystals creating a sparkly, almost snow-like coating. They can be a beautiful garnish for so many holiday desserts.

The texture is a mix of soft and chewy on the outside, thanks to the syrup and sugar, while the cranberries inside remain slightly firm and juicy. They’re often enjoyed as a holiday snack, used to garnish desserts, or added to cheese boards for a pop of color and flavor.

Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip (3 ingredients)

In addition to the easy sugared cranberries, you only need cream cheese and white chocolate chips to make a festive, simple dip that is a delicious addition to any dessert spread.

The contrast of the tart cranberries with the sweet sugar coating and the creaminess of the cheese and chocolate chips makes a great dip for cinnamon sugar tortilla chips, cookies, sweet crackers or even fruit!

Video

Supplies

• Small Pot
• Strainer
• Wire Rack
• Baking Sheet

Ingredients

With a bag of cranberries plus a couple of simple ingredients, you can make these beautiful and delicious cranberries!

• Water
• Granulated Sugar (just plain white sugar)
• Fresh or *Frozen Cranberries

*Note: if using frozen cranberries, do not thaw them before making this recipe!

If you’re going to serve them as dip, you’ll also need these basic ingredients:

• Whipped Cream Cheese
• White Chocolate Chips

How to Make Sugared Cranberries

1. Learning how to make candied cranberries is so easy! 

2. Start by making the sugar syrup. Add the equal parts sugar and water to a medium saucepan.
3. Bring to a boil until sugar dissolves and then boil for one minute. 
4. Remove the hot syrup from heat and let it cool down a bit, then add the bag of fresh cranberries (or frozen ones). You want to add the berries to warm syrup, not hot syrup.
5. Stir until they are all well coated and the cranberries are fully covered in syrup. 
6. Let them sit for about 10 minutes.
7. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the cranberries to a wire rack placed over a sheet pan to catch any drips.
8. Allow the cranberries to dry for about an hour. They should be sticky but not wet.
9. After they have dried, place cranberries in a bowl and sprinkle generously with remaining sugar. Shake or stir them around to coat them evenly.
10. Spread them back out on the cooling rack in a single layer and let them dry for another 1-2 hours. 
11. Once the cranberries are completely dry, they are ready to serve. You can enjoy them as a snack, use them as a great garnish, or store them in an airtight container for up to a week.

Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip

1. On a serving plate spread out whipped cream cheese. 
2. Top with white chocolate chips and then place the sugared cranberries on top.
3. Serve with sugar cookies, vanilla wafers, graham crackers or apple slices.

Pro Tips

Do not thaw frozen cranberries before adding them to the simple syrup mixture.Use the leftover simple syrup to moisten cakes!

Serving Suggestions for Frosted Cranberries

Sugar Cranberries are perfect to garnish so many desserts and holiday treats. First, you can just pop them in your mouth as a stand-alone great snack! But if you want to be more creative, here are some of my favorite ways to use frosted cranberries

Ice Cream – I bet they’d be delicious on top of homemade vanilla ice cream.

Cakes – check out this Wedding Cake with Sugared Berries. They look like little jewels on the cake!

Cheesecakes – such as this Cranberry Orange Cheesecake.

Holiday Cocktails – use as a garnish to make a festive cocktail, like this Christmas Mimosa (call it a Cranberry Mimosa?)

Decorations – there are so many wonderful ways to use homemade sugar-coated cranberries as garnish. Use them on a charcuterie board, to decorate a cheese board, or even on a fruit platter in the center of your holiday table. 

Storage Directions

Store sugared cranberries in a cool, dry place at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to a week.

If the sugar on any leftover cranberries begins to melt or appear wet, toss them in more sugar to refresh their coating.

More Delicious Recipes

• Easy Sugared Berries (Just 3 Ingredients!)
• Pumpkin Pie Dip
• Easy Chocolate Covered Cherries (Cherry Cordials)
• Stunning Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board
• Easy Santa Hat Christmas Cheese Ball
• Cranberry BBQ Meatballs (made from scratch or from frozen!)
• Cranberry Cream Cheese Crescent Wreath
• Best Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad Recipe
• Sugared Champagne Grapes (Prosecco Grapes)