The one thing that screams “Christmas” more than Santa is sugar. (Sorry, dentists.) During holiday party season, there’s lots of room for creativity. No need to go basic with chocolate chip cookies or brownies, even though they are delicious. Trending this year: candied cranberries.
This sweet and tart snack is going viral on social media for their “crunch factor.” And boy, they did not disappoint. Guests will find it impossible to have just one. Bonus points: No plates or silverware for serving are required, which is a score for the cleanup team!
How to Make Candied Cranberries
This is a very simple recipe, but it does require some time in between steps. Start by washing your cranberries and then patting them dry. A key step to remember here is to remove any soft or squishy cranberries from the mix because the sugar won’t stick as well.
Pour the cranberries into a bowl with equal parts orange juice and Sprite. Pop them in the refrigerator for 12 to 24 hours. Strain the cranberries and add them to a clean bowl with a generous amount of powdered sugar.
Bake the sugar-coated cranberries in a 200°F oven for 5 minutes. Then leave them out on the counter for a few hours to finish drying. Once dry, put them in the fridge for 12 hours for optimal crunch.
My Honest Review of Candied Cranberries
These candied cranberries are the perfect “little something different” to bring to any holiday party. While most desserts on the table are overly sweet or chocolaty, these are tart. It’s a nice new flavor to add to the mix. The powdered sugar coating helps to complement and cut through some of the sourness, so it’s not overwhelming. The orange juice was a subtle, but definitely present, flavor to add even more fun to the party.
My favorite part about these treats is their crunch. Seriously, it sounds like you are biting into the crispiest green grape, and it’s so satisfying every time you pop another in your mouth. It really is all about the crunch factor! While it did take over a day to prepare these cranberries, the steps are so simple you could make a big batch for whatever Christmas occasion you’ve got coming up. My roommates and I definitely will be serving these up at our housewarming party next week!
