Two Ingredient Sugared Cranberries

Easy two ingredient sugared cranberries are the perfect accompaniment to fancy desserts, charcuterie and cheese boards, or holiday snacking – the ultimate sweet-tart combination.

sugared cranberries piled on a piece of parchment paper

This right here is going to be the easiest post ever on Bunsen Burner Bakery.  The easiest.  Two ingredients.  

Three, if you count water, which technically is an ingredient, but it probably flows freely from your kitchen faucet so you don’t have to obtain it separately.  So we’ll go with two ingredients.

cranberries in a pot on the stove simmering in water

Sugar.  Fresh cranberries.  That’s it.  One, two.  And really, you get not just sugared cranberries, but also cranberry-flavored simple syrup and cranberry sugar out of the deal.  So two ingredients, three recipes.

Now that is some math I can really support.

cranberries covered in simple syrup to make sugared cranberries

I originally made these with grand visions of fancy desserts, topped with heaping piles of sugared cranberries.  But instead… we ate them.  

Okay, not all of them, and I have a few recipes headed your way with starring some of these beauties, but far more went right into my mouth than I originally anticipated.

There is something so addictive about that sugary sweet, sour tart, “pop!” from each bite.  So, so, delicious.

closeup picture of a pile of sugared cranberries

My best friend Mark nailed the sugared cranberry dilemma: do you go for the big cranberries or the little ones?  The big ones have more of a juicy pop and the delicious cranberry tartiness.  The little ones have more sugary coating.  

Personally, I like the big ones (tart for LIFE over here).

side view of a bowl full of sugared cranberries

I also served this on our charcuterie board, and they were a huge hit.  Cured meats, fancy cheeses, some black lava cashews, and a sprinkle of sparkling sugared cranberries.  A little sweet to pair with all that savory.  

Someone likened these sugared cranberries to gourmet sour patch kids.  I dig it.

sugared cranberries arranged in a while bowl

Most importantly, save the simple syrup after tossing the cranberries and save the sugar you use to coat the cranberries.  Hello – cranberry flavored simple syrup, perfect for drinks.  And cranberry flavored sugar, perfect for baking.  Win-win!

Delicious Uses for Sugared Cranberries:

Sugared Cranberries: these two ingredient sweet-tart sugared cranberries are the perfect accompaniment to fancy desserts, charcuterie and cheese boards, or holiday snacking. #bunsenburnerbakery #cranberries #sugaredcranberries #holiday #christmas

Two Ingredient Sugared Cranberries

Yield: 3-4 cups
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Drying Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes

Easy two ingredient sugared cranberries are the perfect accompaniment to fancy desserts, charcuterie and cheese boards, or holiday snacking – the ultimate sweet-tart combination.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups sugar, divided
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 (12-ounce) bag fresh cranberries

Instructions

  1. Combine 1/2 cup of the sugar and the water in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the sugar is fully dissolved, about 5 minutes. Add in the cranberries and gently stir until completely coated with the simple syrup. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the cranberries to a sheet of parchment paper. Allow cranberries to dry, 1 to 2 hours. {Save the cranberry simple syrup for another use!}
  2. Place the remaining sugar in a bowl. Roll the cranberries, a handful at a time, in the sugar until well coated. Place the sugar-coated cranberries on a clean piece of parchment paper and allow to dry for at least another hour. {Save the remaining cranberry-flavored sugar for another use!}

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Did you make this recipe?

Don't forget to leave a rating or a comment and share your recipe photos on Instagram - tag @bunsenburnerbakery!

Sugared Cranberries: these two ingredient sweet-tart sugared cranberries are the perfect accompaniment to fancy desserts, charcuterie and cheese boards, or holiday snacking. #bunsenburnerbakery #cranberries #sugaredcranberries #holiday #christmas