Sparkling Cranberries

Name: Sparkling Cranberries
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 12 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 12 ounces fresh cranberries, rinsed and picked over; 1/3 cup water; 1/3 cup granulated sugar, for the syrup; 1/2 cup granulated sugar, for coating

These sugared cranberries are tart, crisp, and coated in a frosty layer of sugar. Use them to dress up holiday desserts, cheese boards, cocktails, or a simple bowl of vanilla ice cream.

Total time: 25 min
Yield: 12 servings
Difficulty: Easy

Prep 20mCook 5mAmericanHoliday

Sparkling cranberries are fresh cranberries soaked in a light sugar syrup, then rolled in sugar until they look frosted. They are not cooked into sauce, so they keep their pop and bright tart flavor.

They are especially useful during the holidays because they make almost anything look finished. Scatter them around a cake, pile them beside a cheese board, or float a few on top of a festive drink.

The hands-on work is simple, but the cranberries need time to dry after their syrup soak. Plan on at least 1 hour of resting time, or make them a day ahead for the easiest prep.

01What you'll need

Ingredients

4 items · 12 servings

12 ounces fresh cranberries, rinsed and picked over
1/3 cup water
1/3 cup granulated sugar, for the syrup
1/2 cup granulated sugar, for coating

02How to make it

Step-by-step

Sort the cranberries
Pick through the cranberries and discard any that are soft, wrinkled, or bruised. Rinse the firm cranberries under cool water and dry them gently with a clean towel.
Make the syrup
Combine the water and 1/3 cup sugar in a small saucepan. Warm over medium heat, stirring often, until the sugar dissolves. Do not boil hard; a very hot syrup can make the cranberries split.
Coat the cranberries
Remove the pan from the heat and let the syrup cool for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the cranberries and stir gently until every berry is lightly coated.
Let them soak
Transfer the cranberries and syrup to a bowl. Let them stand for 10 minutes, stirring once or twice. This gives the sugar a chance to cling without softening the berries too much.
Drain and dry
Use a slotted spoon to lift the cranberries out of the syrup. Spread them in a single layer on a wire rack or a parchment-lined baking sheet. Let them dry until tacky, about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Tacky means sticky to the touch, but not wet.
Roll in sugar
Place the remaining 1/2 cup sugar in a shallow bowl. Add a small handful of cranberries and roll them gently until coated. Repeat with the rest of the cranberries.
Rest before serving
Spread the sugared cranberries back out in a single layer. Let them sit for 15 to 20 minutes so the coating sets, then serve or store.

03From our kitchen

Cook's tips

Make-ahead: Sparkling cranberries are at their prettiest the day they are made, but you can make them up to 2 days ahead.
Storage: Store in a loosely covered container at room temperature for 1 day, or in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. If sealed airtight, they may weep and lose their sparkle.
Refresh the coating: If the sugar looks damp after storage, roll the cranberries in 1 to 2 tablespoons fresh sugar just before serving.
Sugar swap: Superfine sugar gives a more delicate sparkle, but regular granulated sugar works well. Avoid powdered sugar; it melts quickly and turns pasty.
Flavor swap: Add a strip of orange zest, a cinnamon stick, or a few slices of fresh ginger to the warm syrup. Remove before coating the cranberries.
Use the leftover syrup: Stir the cranberry-flavored syrup into sparkling water, cocktails, tea, or lemonade. Keep it refrigerated and use within 1 week.

Cook's note

Keep the syrup warm, not boiling, when it touches the cranberries. Boiling syrup can burst the berries and turn this garnish into something closer to cranberry sauce.

04Frequently asked

Questions & answers

Can I eat sparkling cranberries raw?

Yes. Fresh cranberries are safe to eat raw, though they are very tart. The sugar coating balances that tart flavor and gives them a crisp, sweet shell.

Why did my cranberries get wet after a few hours?

Sugar pulls moisture from fruit. This is normal, especially in a humid kitchen or an airtight container. Roll the berries in a little fresh sugar before serving to bring back the frosted look.

Can I use frozen cranberries?

Fresh cranberries work best. Frozen cranberries soften as they thaw and often release too much juice, which makes the sugar coating melt.

Do I need a wire rack?

A wire rack helps the cranberries dry evenly, but parchment paper also works. If using parchment, spread the berries out well and move them once or twice so they do not sit in puddles of syrup.

How should I serve sparkling cranberries?

Use them as a garnish for cakes, pies, pavlovas, cheesecakes, holiday cocktails, mocktails, or cheese boards. They are also good as a small tart-sweet snack.

05Per serving

Nutrition Facts

12 servings

Amount per serving

Calories67

% Daily Value*

Total Fat0 g: 0%
Saturated Fat0 g: 0%
Cholesterol0 mg: 0%
Sodium1 mg: 0%
Total Carbohydrate17 g: 6%
Dietary Fiber1 g: 4%
Total Sugars15 g
Protein0 g: 0%

Vitamin D0 mcg: 0%
Calcium2 mg: 0%
Iron0.1 mg: 1%
Potassium23 mg: 0%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.

05Keep cooking

Holiday

Classic Cranberry Sauce

This bright, ruby cranberry sauce is tart, sweet, and simple enough to make while the rest of the holiday meal comes together. It uses fresh or frozen cranberries, orange juice, and a short simmer on the stove.

17m8 servingsEasy

Drinks

Sparkling Mint & Lemon Juleps

These bright, fizzy juleps turn fresh mint, lemon juice, and a quick sugar syrup into a cooling drink for warm afternoons. They are alcohol-free as written, with plenty of crushed ice and sparkle in every glass.

20m4 drinksEasy