Description
Cranberry lovers will adore this orange vanilla candied cranberries recipe that combines zesty citrus with sweet vanilla notes. Home cooks can easily create these festive garnishes perfect for desserts, cocktails, and holiday snacking.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz (340 g) cranberries
- 1 orange zest
- 1 orange juice (0.5 cup or 120 mL fresh juice)
- 2 cups (400 g) sugar
- 1.75 cups (420 mL) water
- 1.5 to 2 cups (300 to 400 g) white sugar for coating (mixture of granulated and clear sparkling sugar in 3:1 ratio)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 whole cinnamon stick
Instructions
- Preparation: Meticulously inspect and cleanse cranberries, removing any damaged or stemmed fruits, then transfer to a heat-resistant container.
- Syrup Creation: In a 2-quart stockpot, combine water, orange zest and juice, vanilla extract, granulated sugar, and cinnamon stick. Bring to a robust boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to low, simmering 5-7 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Maceration: Remove pot from heat, allowing syrup to cool slightly. Pour warm syrup over cranberries, ensuring complete coverage, and include cinnamon stick. Seal container and refrigerate overnight to intensify flavor infusion.
- Draining and Coating: Position colander over a large bowl, transferring infused cranberries to drain excess syrup. Let berries rest 30-60 minutes to develop a tacky surface. Spread white sugar across a sheet pan and gently roll cranberries to achieve an even, glistening sugar coating.
- Crystallization: Allow sugar-encrusted cranberries to air-dry at room temperature for approximately three hours, creating a crisp, crystalline exterior that transforms the fruits into sparkling culinary delights.
Notes
- Fruit Selection: Choose plump, firm, and vibrant red cranberries without blemishes for the best texture and flavor intensity.
- Sugar Coating Technique: Roll cranberries gently in sugar to create an even, delicate crystalline exterior without crushing the fragile fruit.
- Temperature Control: Maintain gentle heat when simmering syrup to prevent burning and preserve the delicate orange-vanilla essence.
- Storage Wisdom: Store candied cranberries in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week, keeping their crisp sugar coating intact.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 84
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 1 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 21 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 0.5 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg