This 3-Ingredient Recipe for Candied Cranberries Is Pure Christmas Magic

Holiday traditions abound this time of year. Some are cultural Christmas traditions passed down from our grandparents and great-grandparents. My German family, for example, used to put their shoes out for St. Nikolaus to fill with candy and toys, and my mom and grandma used to bake lebkuchen and drink glühwein.

And then, there are new traditions and customs that pop up and just stick. Lately, I’ve seen candied cranberries on my TikTok feed left and right, and I just had to know what the deal was. Sweet and crunchy with just a smidgen of tartness, these little red treats are about to become a part of your annual routine.

What are candied cranberries?

Also known as sugared cranberries, these delectable little spheres are incredibly popular in Russia and have been since long before Soviet times. While native to North America, cranberries are also plentiful in Russia’s northern regions. Russians often use the berries in alcohol, jams, teas and a multitude of other delicious cranberry recipes.

Candied cranberries were harder to come by long ago, but now, they can be easily made in your own kitchen.

How do you make candied cranberries?

This recipe comes from TikTok user @cookiterica, who shared her Russian grandmother’s original recipe.

@cookiterica ⭐️YOU NEED THESE CANDIED CRANBERRIES IMMEDIATELY!! ⭐️ This is my Russian grandmothers recipe, Lillian approved! #holidayrecipes #easyrecipe #thanksgiving #4ingredients #christmas #holiday #cranberries #motherdaughter #familyrecipe ♬ original sound – ERICA & MORGAN

Start by rinsing a bag of raw cranberries and placing them in a large bowl. Fill the bowl with equal parts Prosecco and orange juice, then cover the bowl and let sit in the fridge for a few hours. Next, transfer the cranberries from the liquid into a new larger container (preferably with a lid). Drain as much liquid as you can, but don’t dry them. You can use the leftover Prosecco and orange juice in a cranberry mimosa.

Once they’re transferred, pour half a bag (or more) of confectioners’ sugar on top of the cranberries. Make sure you add enough to fully cover each berry! Place the lid on the container and shake, shake, shake!

When your cranberries are covered, spread them evenly onto a baking sheet and place them in the oven for five to seven minutes at 200°F. After baking, let them sit in the fridge for at least 12 hours. After they’re chilled, pop ’em out and enjoy!