Sugared cranberries, which require only three ingredients, can be a festive addition to many side dishes and desserts, particularly during the holidays.

Sugared Cranberries Recipe: How to Use Sugared Cranberries

Sugared cranberries are fresh or frozen cranberries coated first in a simple syrup and then in granulated sugar. Cranberries can be tart, while sugar is sweet, resulting in a complementary flavor combination. After you coat them in white sugar, the cranberries take on a sparkling quality, making them extra popular for holiday desserts and side dishes that are traditional at Christmastime.
Sugared cranberries have a sweet-tart taste, making them usable in dessert recipes and many other dishes. Here are a few ways you can use cranberries with a sugar coating:

- __As a garnish__: Sugared or candied cranberries make an attractive garnish for desserts like cheesecake, cupcakes, ice cream, or apple pie during the holiday season. Serve the cranberries on top of other popular holiday side dishes, like [cranberry sauce](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-cranberry-sauce) or even a sweet potato casserole. Sugared cranberries work better as a garnish than as a mix-in because the sugar coating wouldn’t hold up if you incorporate it into a cheesecake batter or pie filling. 
- __In cocktails__: Sugared cranberries pair well with many floral liquors, such as gin, and neutral alcohols, like vodka. Other seasonal flavors—like rosemary, orange zest, and clove—also pair well with sugared cranberries, making the sweet cranberries a viable addition to many cocktails. The sugar dissolves in the drink, adding sweetness, and the cranberry left at the end is a nice snack, like the olives in a martini.
- __On a charcuterie board__: Meat and cheese boards are classic appetizers, and usually something sweet—like jam, grapes, or honey—accompanies the savory meats and cheeses. Use sugared cranberries for a unique flavor and texture when making your next [charcuterie board](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/charcuterie-board-guide).
Sugared cranberries, which require only three ingredients, can be a festive addition to many side dishes and desserts, particularly during the holidays.

Sugared cranberries are fresh or frozen cranberries coated first in a simple syrup and then in granulated sugar. Cranberries can be tart, while sugar is sweet, resulting in a complementary flavor combination. After you coat them in white sugar, the cranberries take on a sparkling quality, making them extra popular for holiday desserts and side dishes that are traditional at Christmastime.

What Are Sugared Cranberries?

Sugared cranberries have a sweet-tart taste, making them usable in dessert recipes and many other dishes. Here are a few ways you can use cranberries with a sugar coating:<ul class="mc-m-4 list-styled"><li class="">As a garnish: Sugared or candied cranberries make an attractive garnish for desserts like cheesecake, cupcakes, ice cream, or apple pie during the holiday season. Serve the cranberries on top of other popular holiday side dishes, like <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-cranberry-sauce' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-cranberry-sauce","linkCopy":"cranberry sauce","category":null}'>cranberry sauce</a> or even a sweet potato casserole. Sugared cranberries work better as a garnish than as a mix-in because the sugar coating wouldn’t hold up if you incorporate it into a cheesecake batter or pie filling. </li><li class="">In cocktails: Sugared cranberries pair well with many floral liquors, such as gin, and neutral alcohols, like vodka. Other seasonal flavors—like rosemary, orange zest, and clove—also pair well with sugared cranberries, making the sweet cranberries a viable addition to many cocktails. The sugar dissolves in the drink, adding sweetness, and the cranberry left at the end is a nice snack, like the olives in a martini. </li><li class="">On a charcuterie board: Meat and cheese boards are classic appetizers, and usually something sweet—like jam, grapes, or honey—accompanies the savory meats and cheeses. Use sugared cranberries for a unique flavor and texture when making your next <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/charcuterie-board-guide' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/charcuterie-board-guide","linkCopy":"charcuterie board","category":null}'>charcuterie board</a>. </li></ul>

How to Use Sugared Cranberries

Sugared Cranberries Recipe

Sugared cranberries, which require only three ingredients, can be a festive addition to many side dishes and desserts, particularly during the holidays.

Sugared cranberries, which require only three ingredients, can be a festive addition to many side dishes and desserts, particularly during the holidays.
