Grandma Lillian’s 3-Ingredient Candied Cranberries Have Taken the Internet by Storm

I have to admit, when I first saw a recipe for candied cranberries trending on TikTok, I was skeptical. Content creators (and mother-daughter duo!) Erica and Morgan of Cook It Erica first posted their Grandma Lillian’s candied cranberries recipe way back in 2020. The unique snack went mega viral, and has continued to do so year after year, with various versions popping up in social feeds as the holidays roll around.

While I had my doubts, it turns out Grandma Lillian was really onto something! A sweet, lightly crisp powdered sugar coating perfectly contrasts the tart, fresh cranberry inside this craveable treat. And the startling “pop” the cranberry makes when you bite into it is a literal burst of joy.

Our Take on Grandma’s Recipe

With all respect to Grandma Lillian (we stan a legend!), we did make a couple of tweaks to this recipe in our test kitchen to make this wonderful treat even easier and to put our own spin on it:

• Save your champagne: Grandma Lillian’s original recipe called for soaking fresh cranberries in a mix of champagne and orange juice, but we found that OJ on its own was just fine for giving the berries a nice sticky texture for the sugar to adhere to. Save your champagne for ringing in the New Year or making yourself a Kir Royale. 
• A quick soak is okay: While the original recipe called for an overnight soak of the cranberries, we found that a stint as short as 30 minutes in the fridge did the trick, too. Weighing the berries down with a plate helped to keep them submerged in the bowl.
• Grab a zip-top bag: After draining, coating the cranberries in powdered sugar in a zip-top bag proved to be the least messy option to keep everything contained.
• A long dry time is ideal: While air drying for just half an hour after baking is enough to enjoy these treats, we totally agree with Grandma Lillian here that letting them sit for longer helps the coating set for the best possible pop.

How to Make These 3-Ingredient Candied Cranberries 

This recipe was developed by Renu Dhar and inspired by TikTok creator cookiterica. To make 8 servings, you’ll need:

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 5 minutes
Soaking and drying time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Total time: 1 hour 45 minutes 

• 1 (12-ounce) bag fresh cranberries (about 3 cups)
• 2 1/2 cups pulp-free orange juice
• 1 cup (4 ounces) powdered sugar

Empty the cranberries into a colander and pick through them, discarding any soft or mushy berries. Only the freshest, firmest cranberries will give you that signature pop! Rinse with cold water and shake the colander to dry. 

In a large bowl, combine the cranberries and the orange juice. Place a small plate directly on the cranberries to keep them submerged, and let soak in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight.

Preheat the oven to 200°F and line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Set a fine-mesh strainer over a bowl or large liquid measuring cup. Pour the cranberries into the strainer and let stand until all of the excess liquid drains, about 2 minutes. Shake the strainer gently to remove any remaining liquid.

Transfer the cranberries to a large zip-top bag. Add the powdered sugar, seal the bag, and gently shake in short bursts until all of the cranberries are well coated, about 20 seconds. 

Arrange the coated cranberries on the prepared baking sheet in a single layer. Bake until the sugar coating is firm, about 5 minutes. Let the cranberries cool at room temperature until the sugar dries completely, at least 30 minutes and up to 6 hours. Serve, or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. 

Tips and Serving Suggestions

• Don’t sub in frozen cranberries here! They won’t be firm enough to give you that crunchy-crisp texture when you bite into them.
• To change things up, you can soak the cranberries in any juice of your choice or in lemon-lime soda.
• Serve these candied cranberries on cheese or charcuterie boards or sprinkled onto a pavlova or citrusy dessert.