Even though I'm not ready to think about the holidays yet, the grocery store is! The other day I found fresh cranberries on special next to other holiday meal ingredients and couldn't believe my eyes. I snagged two bags of the cranberries, but not with cranberry sauce or salad in mind.
Instead, I popped one bag in the freezer for later (they keep for up to a year in there!) and used the other to make sugared cranberries.
Instead, I popped one bag in the freezer for later (they keep for up to a year in there!) and used the other to make sugared cranberries.
Admittedly these are not the healthiest thing I've made, I mean, they are covered in sugar for goodness sake. BUT they still hold some nutritional benefit if eaten in proper portions, yay! Cranberries are a super food containing high amounts of vitamin C and they are also believed to help protect your gastrointestinal system and ward off UTIs. But these little buggers are sour as can be if eaten right out of the package, and what fun is that?
Sugared Cranberries
1 pound fresh cranberries
3 cups sugar
2 cups water
Start by making a simple syrup. Place your 2 cups of water and 2 cups of sugar in a saucepan, boil, and cool. The syrup will thicken slightly
Sugared Cranberries
1 pound fresh cranberries
3 cups sugar
2 cups water
Start by making a simple syrup. Place your 2 cups of water and 2 cups of sugar in a saucepan, boil, and cool. The syrup will thicken slightly
Once cool, add in your cranberries. Allow them to soak for 8-12 hours in the sugar syrup. Remember learning about osmosis in high school science class? Same concept applies here. The sugar syrup will permeate the skin of the cranberries and sweeten up that tart juice inside.
After soaking, use a slotted spoon to drain the cranberries and place them in a Tupperware container. Cover with sugar, close the container, and give it a good shake.
Continue this in small batches until all your cranberries are sugar coated. Doing it in one large batch will make your sugar too wet and it won't stick to the berries.
Aren't they beautiful?! They look like they're snow covered! Perfect for your fall/winter occasions.
Add these to a bed of spinach with bacon and clementine pieces for a nice salad, or eat them straight for a sweet & tart dessert.
This is a nice recipe to have in your back pocket for the upcoming holiday season! Super simple but looks super fancy, what could be better?
So go ahead, pour some sugar on me! Happy cooking, happy eating!
This is a nice recipe to have in your back pocket for the upcoming holiday season! Super simple but looks super fancy, what could be better?
So go ahead, pour some sugar on me! Happy cooking, happy eating!