Easy Healthy Candied Cranberries: No-Simmering and Sugar-free

These Healthy Candied Cranberries are a simple festive treat that brings a sweet-tart and healthy sparkle to your holiday celebrations. They make a lovely garnish for your holiday desserts and drinks, main dishes, and more.

I think this is the best recipe out there for these candied cranberries, and I think you'll agree. They're sure to be a huge hit in your home this holiday season, and you'll definitely want to make them year after year.

I have to say, though these are meant to be a garnish, they don't last long in our house! And hey, cranberries are really good for you, and this recipe is so simple to make, so I don't mind at all!

Why You'll Love This Recipe

This sugar-free candied cranberry recipe is a low-carb, super simple version of a viral recipe. It's super popular for a number of reasons, not the least of which is these berries are just so festive! Don't they just make you happy just looking at them?

But this simple recipe really makes the typical recipe even better.

I tested a lot of versions, and this is what I ended up with:

• a really thick syrup that works amazingly well.
• a no-simmer method, so there's no risk of overcooked berries!
• a healthy sweetener (low-carb/keto or coconut sugar) version, so these work for those on a sugar-free diet too!
• delicious flavor add-ins that, while optional, make these taste even better.

It's also a very flexible recipe so that you can use most any sweetener. It's completely up to you!

Sweetener Options

I opted for allulose for the syrup and xylitol or erythritol for the topping for this recipe, but again, you can use pretty much whatever sweetener you like.

Allulose is a great sweetener for the simple syrup, but you could also use other options as mentioned in my Sugar-Free Simple Syrup post.

For the coating, you'll want a sweetener that's crystal-like, which allulose is not; it's more of a powdered texture. Xylitol and erythritol are great options for this.

Coconut sugar is another healthier option, but it's brown so your cranberries will look as good. They'll still be yummy, however!

Our family avoids regular sugar, but you can make this recipe work using basically any sweetener you'd like.

Ingredients

All you need for this recipe are the following simple ingredients. For the exact amounts, see the printable recipe card below.

• cranberries. I recommend buying organic due to the heavy amount of toxins used on cranberries. See the FAQs about using frozen cranberries.
• water
• sweetener: Any sweetener that will work for making a simple syrup can be used for the first sweetener. You'll need a granulated crystalline sweetener for the coating.
• salt (optional, but recommended)
• vanilla extract or vanilla powder (optional)
• orange zest (optional)

How to Use

You can use these little sweet-tart candied gems in so many ways, from main dishes to appetizers to beverages and baked goods. How about:

• as a garnish for drinks (individually or on a skewer), like on this Homemade Cranberry Juice or on this Vegan Eggnog.
• as a pie decoration. They'd be especially lovely on pumpkin pie.
• on top of frosting for cupcakes or cakes
• on pudding or flan
• served with crackers like these Lentil Crackers or Dairy-free Cheese Crackers, and regular or vegan cheese, or on a charcuterie board
• on top of ice cream 
• atop gelatin desserts
• to decorate main dishes like ham, roast, or spatchcock chicken or turkey
• served along with a Christmas cookie display

Variations

• Use blueberries or raspberries, or use half blueberries and half cranberries for a lovely mix of color. A blueberry/red raspberry combo would make this a great addition to Fourth of July or Memorial Day celebrations.
• Roll the cranberries in powdered sugar for more of a snow-covered rather than crystal look.
• If you're not watching your carbs, use orange juice instead of water to infuse the cranberries with some more citrus flavor.
• Make hard-coated keto candied cranberries. Place the coated cranberries on a baking sheet and bake in the oven at 200°F (93°C) for 5-8 minutes. I haven't tried this yet with a low-carb sweetener, but it should work! I'll report back after I try it! Just watch them carefully, or you'll have baked cranberries instead.

How to Store

You can store these berries in an airtight container at room temperature for about 2 to 3 days or in the fridge for that same length of time, or possibly a little longer.

They don't freeze well. You can freeze them if need be, but they won't hold their shape, and you might want to roll them in additional sweetener.

FAQs

Can you use frozen cranberries for this recipe?

You can, but the results will be a little different. They'll be softer and might have a bit of a wrinkly appearance, but they taste great and actually will likely be a little sweetener than the fresh version. I think that's due to the skin being broken down a bit and more of the syrup soaking into the berries. Some in our family like them better this way!

So I say, stock up on cranberries when they're in season, and freeze to make these little gems all year round! And if you're lucky, you can grab some on sale after Christmas and stock up.

What can you do with the leftover syrup?

This recipe doesn't make that much syrup, so you won't likely have much or any leftovers. You can, of course, make extra if you like.

If you do have leftover syrup, don't toss it. It makes a great addition to drinks or desserts or even works on pancakes or waffles. This Sugar-free Simple Syrup post has lots of ways to use the syrup noted in the post. AND you can use it to make more of these yummy berries.

Is it important to buy organic cranberries?

Apparently pesticide use on cranberries is really heavy with the run off from conventional cranberry bog causing a lot of problems (source). So I highly recommend buying organic whenever possible. It can be hard to find them, but Azure Standard has them fresh sometimes and should have them frozen year round and their cranberries reportedly have no pesticides used on them.

More Healthy Cranberry Recipes

Here are some other healthy cranberry recipes that you might like.

• Sugar-free Cranberry Sauce
• Homemade Cranberry Juice—4 Ways
• Cranberry Smoothie Bowl: Don't these sugar-free candied cranberries look lovely on this smoothie bowl?