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    Home / Recipes / How Tos

    How to Make Sugared Berries

    Dec 30, 2020 · Updated: May 9, 2023 by Dee Dine · Affliate links disclosure.

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    sugared berries in a bowl and on a slice of chocolate pie

    How to make sugared berries with just water and sugar for a beautiful sparkling garnish for desserts, platters, pies and drinks, made with blueberries, cranberries, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries and more.
    overhead of sugared berries on a chocolate pie slice

    How to make sugared berries, also called frosted berries or candied berries. Sugared blueberries, sugared cranberries, sugared raspberries, they all make the easiest prettiest healthy garnish.

    Sugared berries can be dazzling and they couldn't be easier to make. They require 2 ingredients, just sugar and water. My recipe is egg-free and use it to dress up your favorite pies such as my chocolate cream pie or my peanut butter pie or top your charcuterie platters or dessert presentations at brunch.

    Why You'll Love This

    Simple syrup is just 2 ingredients. The sugar syrup used to make these crystal berries is made by a simple ratio of 1 to 1 water and sugar. And it can be heated in the microwave, no pan or stove needed.

    Use any berries and fruit. This process to make sugared berries applies to any berry, such as blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, cranberries, strawberries and even chopped fruit such as kiwi and even herbs.

    Egg-free and no waiting to dip. Traditional recipes for candied cranberries have you dipping berries in egg white - not safe and not necessary because a water sugar syrup works perfectly. Similarly other candied berry recipes also have you waiting an hour for the dipped berries to become sticky before rolling them into sugar. My way is much quicker, and double dipping gives a heavy coating.

    candied berry ingredients

    Ingredients

    • Fresh Berries. Use any sturdy berry such as cranberries, blueberries, raspberries and others. Use them fresh and not frozen.
    • Cane sugar. I use organic cane sugar because it tastes better and works best for the coating because the granules are larger and sparkle more as a coating, but any sugar works for both the sugar syrup and the coating. 

    Tools Needed

    • 2 small bowls, one for cane sugar for coating, one for sugar syrup
    • A slotted spoon to dip berries in sugar.
    • A glass measuring cup to heat the sugar and water in the microwave.
    • Cooling rack, parchment paper

    Step by Step Instructions

    Visit the recipe card on the bottom of this post for detailed steps. Here are general instructions.

    1. Make a simple sugar syrup by microwaving sugar and water together for one minute. Let it cool for ten minutes or until it is cool to touch. Then dip each berry by lowering a few at a time using a spoon.

    2. Roll the berries in sugar and let them dry. That's it! You can apply two coats, directions are in the recipe card below.

    Expert tip: Be sure to cool the sugar syrup before dipping the berries. If used too warm, it will pop the berries.

    steps for sugared berries

    Storage

    Store sugared cranberries or sugared blueberries or any berry you sugar coat in a sealed container at room temperature for up to two days.

    You can refrigerate for longer, up to 4 days, but spots where the sugar melted may appear. If that happens, just reroll the berries in fresh sugar to repair the bare spots.

    Freezing will not work as the berries will collapse.

    Variations & Substitutions

    Strawberries. You can use fresh strawberries for this recipe to make candied strawberries. Just chop them into somewhat uniform sizes first.

    Raspberries. Fresh raspberries are tricky to coat in sugar because they are so fragile. Try putting them in the freezer for five minutes just prior to dipping in syrup to firm them up. Use light pink raspberries that are firm. Squishy overripe raspberries will not work.

    Blackberries & blueberries. To make sugared blackberries and blueberries, just be sure they are firm and dry.

    Candy coat herbs. You can also coat rosemary needles, mint leaves, even sage leaves and rose petals to use as garnishes along with your candied berries.

    Ways to Use

    I put them on my chocolate cream pie here, but you can do so many things with sugared berries. Here are a few ideas you can add them to:

    • Cakes and pies and tarts
    • Ice cream and pudding dessert bowls
    • Charcuterie platters for splashes of color and sweet
    • Speared on tooth picks for cocktail garnishes
    • On their own as a dessert

    Sugared Cranberries | Sugared Blueberries

    FAQS

    Can You Eat Sugared Fruit?

    You can eat these straight instead of using as a garnish. Of course the berries are nutritious but the sugar isn’t so I’d pop a few but not have a bowl of sugared berries for my breakfast lol.

    How Do You Sweeten Blueberries?

    Easy, just use my sugared berries recipe right here. Blueberries are a bit sour so they are the perfect berry, just like cranberries, to coat in sugar.

    Can You Use Frozen Berries To Decorate A Cake?

    Of course, but sugared berries are even prettier.

    Can You Eat Raw Cranberries?

    Yep! Sugared cranberries cut the sourness however.

    Are Cranberries High in Sugar?

    No, quite low, so are blueberries. That's what makes them the perfect candidate for sugared berries.

    Desserts To Garnish

    Chocolate Cream Pie
    Dairy Free Chocolate Cake
    Vanilla Cake
    Sweet Potato Ice Cream

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    📖 Recipe

    overhead of sugared berries on a chocolate pie slice

    How to Make Sugared Berries

    Created by Dee Dine
    How to make sugared berries with just water and sugar for a beautiful sparkling garnish for desserts, platters, pies and drinks, made with blueberries, cranberries, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries and more.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe SaveSaved! Rate Recipe
    Prep Time 11 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 26 minutes mins
    Course Dessert, Side Dish, Snack
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8
    Calories 113 kcal

    Equipment

    • glass measuring cup
    • slotted spoon
    • 2 small bowls
    • Cooling rack
    • parchment paper

    Ingredients
      

    Sugar Syrup

    • ½ cup organic cane sugar
    • ½ cup water

    Berries

    • 1 cup blueberries
    • 1 cup cranberries

    Sugar for coating

    • ½ cup organic cane sugar
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    Prep

    • Rinse and pat dry fresh berries. Remove any soft berries or those that are gone. Set aside.
    • Set out a cooling rack with a protective paper or cookie sheet beneath to catch loose sugar.
    • Pour ½ cup sugar to a bowl to prepare for rolling the berries to coat.
      ½ cup organic cane sugar

    Make Sugared Berries

    • First, make the simple sugar syrup by adding ½ cup of sugar to ½ cup of water and set into microwave for 1 minute. Remove cup and stir until all sugar is melted. Microwave another 15 seconds if you need to dissolve any further.
      ½ cup organic cane sugar, ½ cup water
    • Set the syrup aside to cool, about 20-30 minutes. Don't use it warm or it will pop the berries.
    • 1st coating: When the syrup is at room temperature, dip each berry using a slotted spoon or fork to coat it completely. Lift the berry out and let excess syrup drip off.
    • Then roll in the sugar in the bowl. Set coated berry on cooling rack to dry. Do this until all berries are coated.
      1 cup blueberries, 1 cup cranberries, ½ cup organic cane sugar
    • 2nd coating (optional): If you want to apply a second coat, dip each freshly coated berry once more in the bowl of sugar.
      Pro-tip: For second coating, there is no need to dip in syrup again.
      ½ cup organic cane sugar

    Dry the Coated Berries

    • Whether dipped once or twice, line the berries on the rack to dry.
      Drying takes 30 minutes at room temperature to dry the berries well enough to be able to work with them.

    Store Sugared Berries

    • Store them uncovered in the refrigerator for 4 days. If they get wet and the sugar coating seems to dissolve, simply roll them in sugar to refresh the coating.

    Video

    Notes

    Strawberries. If you use strawberries, chop them into similar sizes first.
    Other berries. Use very unripe and firm berries. Over-ripe berries will not work.
    Herbed candied berries. As you make any candied berry, add herbs such as rosemary needles, mint leaves, even sage leaves in with the liquid syrup, and sugar coat those along with the berries. Use the candied herbs to garnish the candied berries.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 113kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 1mgPotassium: 25mgFiber: 1gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 17IUVitamin C: 3mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword candied berries, candied cranberries, egg-free sugared berries, frosted berries, sugared berries, sugared blueberries, sugared cranberries
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jennifer Hewitt

      July 24, 2022 at 9:27 am

      Hi. I’m giving this recipe a try to decorate my blueberry cupcakes. In the ingredient list you have listed 1/2 cup water, however in the instructions you say to use 1/4 cup water mixed with the sugar but don’t mention what to do with the remaining 1/4 cup of water. Thank you for clarification. The pictures look so pretty I want to make sure I get it right.

      Reply
      • Dee Dine

        July 24, 2022 at 5:40 pm

        I updated the ingredients to clarify! Thank you!

        Reply
        • Jennifer Hewitt

          July 24, 2022 at 7:44 pm

          5 stars
          Thank you. They came out perfect and look so nice decorating the tops of my cupcakes!

        • Dee Dine

          July 25, 2022 at 7:41 am

          That's the terrific, thanks for your comment!

    2. E

      March 20, 2022 at 12:51 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you for this recipe! I was looking for something that didn’t include egg white as I’m pregnant! This worked perfectly and the sugared blueberries decorating my lemon cake look AMAZING!

      Reply
      • Dee Dine

        March 21, 2022 at 12:51 pm

        I am so glad to hear that! I never use eggs, even in cakes and cookies! Congratulations on your pregnancy!

        Reply
    3. Pam

      December 16, 2021 at 8:11 am

      Set aside after coating in syrup or not?

      Reply
      • Dee Dine

        December 16, 2021 at 10:54 am

        Hi Pam, you do not need to set aside the berries after coating them in syrup. You can dip them in sugar right away.

        Reply

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    dee dine

    I'm Dee! Welcome to GSG! Eating healthier and lighter, with plenty of fruits and veggies, can be fun, especially when chocolate and desserts are involved. Here you'll find plant-based recipes that everyone will love. About Dee →

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