Vegan Candied Cranberry Garnish

Featured in: Sweet Prairie Treats

This vibrant candied cranberry garnish offers a perfect balance of sweet and tart flavors. Fresh cranberries are soaked in warm sugar syrup, dried until sticky, then rolled in superfine sugar for a sparkly coating. The garnish adds color and texture to desserts, drinks, and festive plates. It requires minimal preparation time and is excellent for vegan and gluten-free menus. Optional flavor twists like cinnamon or orange zest can be added to the syrup for extra depth.

Updated on Tue, 25 Nov 2025 10:03:00 GMT
Close-up photo of glistening Vegan Candied Cranberry Garnish, sweet and ready to top a dessert. Save to Pinterest
Close-up photo of glistening Vegan Candied Cranberry Garnish, sweet and ready to top a dessert. | honeyprairie.com

A vibrant, jewel-like garnish of sweet-tart cranberries, perfect for topping desserts, cocktails, or festive dishes.

This garnish adds a beautiful sparkle and tart flavor to our holiday treats.

Ingredients

  • Cranberries: 1 cup (100 g) fresh cranberries
  • Syrup: 1/2 cup (120 ml) water, 1/2 cup (100 g) granulated sugar
  • Coating: 1/2 cup (100 g) superfine or granulated sugar (for rolling)

Instructions

Step 1:
Rinse the cranberries and gently pat dry with a paper towel. Set aside.
Step 2:
In a small saucepan, combine water and 1/2 cup sugar. Heat over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves completely and the mixture is clear& do not let it boil.
Step 3:
Remove the syrup from heat and let it cool for 2 minutes. Add the cranberries, stirring to coat evenly.
Step 4:
Using a slotted spoon, transfer cranberries to a wire rack set over a baking sheet. Let them dry for 45–60 minutes, until sticky but not wet.
Step 5:
Pour the remaining 1/2 cup sugar into a shallow bowl. Roll the sticky cranberries in the sugar until well coated.
Step 6:
Return cranberries to the wire rack and let dry for another 15 minutes before using.
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| honeyprairie.com

This garnish brings joy to family gatherings during the holidays.

Required Tools

Small saucepan, slotted spoon, wire rack, baking sheet, shallow bowl

Allergen Information

Free from common allergens (dairy, eggs, nuts, gluten, soy). Always check sugar is certified vegan if strict dietary compliance is required.

Nutritional Information

Calories: 44, Total Fat: 0 g, Carbohydrates: 11 g, Protein: 0 g (per serving)

Shiny, sugared vegan candied cranberries, ruby-red and perfect for holiday or celebratory plates. Save to Pinterest
Shiny, sugared vegan candied cranberries, ruby-red and perfect for holiday or celebratory plates. | honeyprairie.com

This candied cranberry garnish is the perfect final touch for any festive dish.

Vegan Candied Cranberry Garnish

Sweetened cranberries rolled in sugar make a vibrant, jewel-like garnish for desserts or drinks.

Prep duration
10 minutes
Cook duration
5 minutes
Overall time needed
15 minutes
Recipe by Honey Prairie Abigail Greene


Skill Level Easy

Cuisine type American

Makes 8 Number of portions

Diet specifications Plant-based, No Dairy, No Gluten

What You'll Need

Cranberries

01 1 cup fresh cranberries

Syrup

01 1/2 cup water
02 1/2 cup granulated sugar

Coating

01 1/2 cup superfine or granulated sugar

How to Make It

Step 01

Prepare cranberries: Rinse cranberries and gently pat dry with a paper towel. Set aside.

Step 02

Make sugar syrup: Combine water and 1/2 cup sugar in a small saucepan. Heat over medium, stirring until sugar dissolves and mixture is clear without boiling.

Step 03

Coat cranberries: Remove syrup from heat and let cool for 2 minutes. Add cranberries and stir to coat evenly.

Step 04

Dry cranberries: Transfer cranberries with a slotted spoon onto a wire rack set over a baking sheet. Allow to dry 45 to 60 minutes until sticky but not wet.

Step 05

Sugar coating: Pour remaining 1/2 cup sugar into a shallow bowl. Roll sticky cranberries in sugar until fully coated.

Step 06

Final drying: Return cranberries to the wire rack and dry for an additional 15 minutes before use.

Essential tools

  • Small saucepan
  • Slotted spoon
  • Wire rack
  • Baking sheet
  • Shallow bowl

Allergy Details

Go through all ingredients to spot potential allergies. If unsure, check with a health expert.
  • Free from common allergens including dairy, eggs, nuts, gluten, and soy. Verify sugar is certified vegan if required.

Nutrition details (per portion)

Details for informational use only — not a substitute for a medical professional.
  • Energy (calories): 44
  • Lipids: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 11 g
  • Proteins: 0 g