Description
Delightful Orange Vanilla Candied Cranberries bring festive winter magic to holiday desserts with sparkling sweetness. Guests will savor each jewel-like morsel of tangy cranberries kissed with warm citrus and delicate vanilla notes.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups (480 milliliters) fresh cranberries
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) water
- 1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar
Flavoring Ingredients:
- 1 zest of orange
- 1 juice of orange
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cinnamon stick
Coating Ingredients:
- Additional granulated sugar (for coating)
- Clear sparkling sugar (for coating, optional)
Instructions
- Craft a fragrant syrup by blending water, sugar, orange zest, freshly squeezed orange juice, vanilla extract, and a cinnamon stick in a medium saucepan.
- Activate heat to medium, stirring periodically until sugar dissolves completely and the liquid reaches a gentle simmer. Allow 5-7 minutes for flavor infusion.
- Remove from heat and discard the cinnamon stick, letting the aromatic liquid cool slightly.
- Delicately introduce cranberries into the warm syrup, ensuring each berry receives an even coating.
- Allow cranberries to marinate in the infused liquid for 30-120 minutes, depending on desired flavor intensity.
- Using a slotted spoon, extract cranberries, permitting excess syrup to drip away naturally.
- Prepare sugar stations by spreading granulated and sparkling sugars across shallow dishes.
- Tenderly roll each syrup-coated cranberry through the sugar mixture, creating a complete crystalline exterior.
- Arrange sugared cranberries in a single layer atop a parchment-lined surface.
- Position cranberries at room temperature, allowing approximately 1-2 hours for the sugar coating to solidify and develop a delicate crunch.
- Transfer to an airtight container, maintaining freshness for up to one week.
Notes
- Enhance flavor depth by using freshly squeezed orange juice and zesting the orange right before cooking to maximize citrus essence.
- Adjust sugar coating thickness by gently patting cranberries after sugaring to create a delicate or more substantial crystallized exterior.
- Transform recipe into dietary-friendly version by substituting granulated sugar with coconut sugar or monk fruit sweetener for low-glycemic alternative.
- Elevate presentation by incorporating edible glitter or colored sparkling sugar for festive holiday garnishing, making cranberries visually stunning and delicious.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 101 kcal
- Sugar: 25 g
- Sodium: 1 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 0.3 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg