It's the little things in life! This saying has taken on more significance in my life throughout 2020, as many of my favorite activities are unavailable and it has become vital to find joy in tiny unexpected moments. I feel that this applies to food too since sometimes the essence of the meal lies in the small details of the dish. Although they may take an extra bit of effort, garnishes and sauces add flair to a dish and bring the other flavors together. This brings me to a particularly sparkly and tasty topping for the holidays: sugared cranberries.
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Sugared Cranberries for the Holidays
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Forget the cherry on top! Sugared cranberries are festive, pretty and full of sugary goodness. They add that sparkly touch of joy that we all need in our lives. If you've ever made candied pecans, these are a similar idea. Sugared cranberries go well with a variety of other flavors, from cheese to baked goods to ice cream. They are also an easy way to get vitamin a, vitamin c and calcium in your diet. They can even be a fun and yummy garnish on a fancy cocktail.
Cranberries are a staple of the holiday season. No Thanksgiving is complete without cranberry sauce, and my family even uses them to decorate our Christmas tree. However, as popular as cranberries are, they have a very tart flavor. This is why sugared cranberries are so wonderful; the coat of sugar is the perfect remedy to the cranberries' tartness!
How to Make Sugared Cranberries
This sugared cranberries recipe is extremely simple to follow, and all you need are fresh cranberries, sugar and water. First, wash your cranberries, taking out any that are squished or brown, and set aside.
Now it's time to make a simple syrup, which involves mixing sugar and water. You can use either granulated sugar or cane sugar for this part. If you've never made simple syrup, also called sugar syrup, it's super easy. Combine sugar and water in a medium saucepan, using a 1:1 ratio, so if you use 1 cup of sugar you'll use 1 cup water. Bring to a boil on medium heat, and stir until the sugar dissolves.
Stir in the cranberries, fully coating them in the simple syrup to ensure lots of sugar for your sugared cranberries. Remove with a slotted spoon, placing them in a single layer on a wire rack to dry at room temperature. Alternatively, you can use a baking sheet covered in parchment paper, making sure to spread them out.
Allow them to dry, which should take about an hour. Then, roll your cranberries in the remaining sugar, and that's it! The second layer of sugar is important to achieve the aesthetically pleasing sugar coat that makes these sweet cranberries so festive.
To store these easy sugared cranberries, refrigerate in an airtight container. They will keep for a few days, and if they begin to lose their sugar coating, just add another coat of sugar to spiffy them up!
Sugared cranberries are as versatile as they are delicious, perfect as an appetizer, ice cream topping or cupcake decoration. Hopefully, these sugary treats will add as much sparkle to your life as they do to your kitchen!
Watch: Cranberry Rosemary White Sangria
Sugared Cranberries
Ingredients
- 2 cups sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 12 oz bag fresh cranberries
Instructions
- Wash your cranberries, and remove any that are squished or brown. Then, combine 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil on medium heat, and stir until the sugar dissolves.
- Stir in cranberries, coating them in the simple syrup. Remove with a slotted spoon, placing them in a single layer on a wire rack to dry at room temperature.
- Allow them to dry, which should take about an hour. Then, roll your cranberries in the remaining 2 cups sugar.
