Sugared Cranberry Bites

Sugared Cranberry Bites

These stunning Sugared Cranberry Bites are a multi-step process to create shop stopping appetizers for your next function or gathering!

We recently did an entertaining tasting event at work. Being a produce manager my selection to choose from is quite extensive. There are so many things I could have featured. At a meeting before the event someone had mentioned cranberry sauce. That started the gears in my mind turning. I thought it was a fantastic idea.

So many people automatically reach for the canned cranberry sauce on the shelves they have no idea how easy and flavorful homemade cranberry sauce can be.

The result was show stopping and fabulous! We had people coming back four and 5 times.

cranberry bites

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By the end of the evening, we sampled out over 400 bites and had received rave reviews from everyone.

Because of the volume of samples, we presented costs and time available for prep were kept in mind. If I were to make these at an event, I hosted in my home I would have chosen phyllo cups as the vehicle for the bites.

This is a three-step appetizer so planning ahead is essential.

sugared cranberries

Sugared Cranberry Bites

Sugared Cranberry Bites
 
Recipe type: Appetizer
Ingredients
  • sugared cranberries:
  • 2 cups fresh cranberries
  • 1 cup of maple syrup or honey
  • ½ cup of water
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • cranberry sauce:
  • 1 bag of cranberries - fresh or frozen
  • 1 cup of mango melon juice
  • 1 cup of sugar
  • ¼ cup of honey
  • for the bites:
  • crackers of your choice
  • soft spreadable cream cheese
  • cranberry sauce
  • sugared cranberries
  • fresh mint for garnish
Instructions
  1. sugared cranberries:
  2. Rinse cranberries and place in a large bowl.
  3. Heat syrup or honey and water in a small sauce pan just until warm.
  4. Pour the syrup over cranberries when warm.
  5. You do not want the syrup too hot as you do not want the cranberries to pop.
  6. Allow to cool.
  7. Cover and let the berries soak in the refrigerator overnight.
  8. Drain cranberries in a colander.
  9. Place sugar in a large bowl or baking dish.
  10. Add cranberries in small batches and roll around until lightly coated in sugar.
  11. Place on a parchment lined baking sheet until dry, 1 to 2 hours.
  12. When dry the berries have a nice crunchy candy coating.
  13. cranberry sauce:
  14. Place all the ingredients in a small pan.
  15. Cook on low - medium heat, stirring occasionally.
  16. As they heat up, the cranberries will pop open.
  17. You know the sauce is done when 90 % the berries have split open.
  18. Pour into a bowl to cool.
  19. to assemble the bites:
  20. Spread the crackers with the cream cheese, add a teaspoon of cranberry sauce, and 4 or 5 sugared cranberries.
  21. Garnish with fresh mint sprigs

 

 

sugared cranberries bites

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everyone will love these festive bites.

Published by Redawna

Garden & Food Writer/Educator/Photographer. NFT artist. Management Professional. Community Builder. Entrepreneurial spirit.

9 Replies on “Sugared Cranberry Bites

  1. These are so pretty, Redawna! I love the combination of tart and sweet that cranberry dishes offer. With the cream cheese and a crispy base, this is the perfect appetizer!

    1. They were really quite perfect. Many were commenting that they had never had a sweet appetizer before. I did not have one person that did not like them. It was a bigger hit then I ever had anticipated!

  2. It’s hard to go back to the canned stuff once you’ve had cranberry sauce made from scratch! My biggest problem with fresh cranberries is that I’m always tempted to bake with them and leave myself without enough to make sauce!

    1. Hi Carolyn,

      I don’t think the cranberries will fair very well.
      I think when they are thawing the covering will become very wet.

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