Home Baked Holidays: Sparkly Pomegranate Cranberries
by Dec 3rd, 2010 // Desserts, Giveaway, Healthy, Holiday, Recipes, Snacks
Home Baked Holidays: Sparkly Pomegranate Cranberries
Every time I’ve seen sugared cranberries I’ve wanted to make them. Especially because of the promise of a burst of tart cranberry surrounded by a sweet sugary coating. They’re also pretty low in calories as holiday gifts go. (100 calories for 1/3 cup!) They are also unbelievably beautiful and can be stored in cool dry place for up to a week. It doesn’t get much more festive than this.
Or maybe it does? A small bottle of the reserved pomegranate cranberry cooking syrup makes for an excellent cocktail mixer. Or a fun sparkly drink when mixed with bubbly water for the kiddos. These really do make for the best homemade Christmas gifts ever.
My kid was fascinated by the cranberries but not very into helping today because he’s obsessed with his Hanukkah present from last night. How adorable is this snack shop?
We think the cranberries and syrup are a nice gift set. We put both in these mason jars from the Container Store. Then we affixed these Happy Holidays tags on top. You can download them here. Now for the recipe…
Sparkly Pom-Cranberries Recipe
adapted from this Sugared Cranberry Recipe
Prep Time: 1 night prior Cooking Time: 5 to 10 mins
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 cups water
1/2 cup pomegranate juice
2 cups fresh cranberries
3/4 cup super fine sugar (this is sometimes called castor sugar and can be found in the same aisle at the grocery store)
Combine granulated sugar, pomegranate juice and water in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring mixture until sugar dissolves. Bring to a boil and then turn down to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes. Let cool a bit and then stir in 1 cranberry while still warm. If the cranberry doesn’t pop, you should be OK to put the rest in. (You need the liquid to be warm but not hot. Too hot and the cranberries will pop. Transfer to a bowl, cover and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.
Drain cranberries in a colander over a bowl, reserving steeping liquid. Place superfine sugar in a shallow dish. Working in small batches, roll the cranberries in sugar and spread in a single layer on a cookie sheet to dry. Let stand for 1 hour at room temp and re-roll any cranberries that are still wet. Let dry again and transfer to container for gifting . Pour liquid into a jar and store in the fridge. Note: If you are storing for more than two days I highly recommend storing them in a parchment lined tin rather than a glass jar. They should last up to a week in the tin.
Sounds yummy! I love pomegranates.
Sounds wonderful. I'm also envisioning them as some kind of cake decoration? Maybe one (or a few) on top of vanilla cupcakes?
So lovely! I wonder if I could use some leftover pomegranate molasses instead of cooking down more pom juice?
I have never heard or seen sugared cranberries. Wow! They look amazing and think the sweet/tart flavor must be fantastic.
Sounds very yummy
Sounds great!!
I want these! Kiddo and I may have to make them!
These are beautiful! I cannot wait to make them with Sylvie!
sounds yummy
I love this Idea! Never heard of them but we love cranberries!
Yummy! I am going to make these for sure! Thank you!
I was just thinking about what to do with the bag of cranberries in my fridge. These are perfect!
While those treats look so yummy, I can't get over how cute your son is with his treat shop
I could have spent hours playing with that as a kid, I think I could still spend hours playing with it now!!
This looks really yummy and easy to make. I may try this for a few little gifts around the office!
Excellent idea!
This would be yummy on pancakes.
I love the whole "goodies in a jar" idea. Think I'll be making a trip to the Container Store!
These look beautiful! What a great project!
What type of paper do you print your labels on?
as always, my favorite part is the snack shop proprietor…
that looks like the kindf Chanukah present I would have loved ! Cranberries look good too!
I would love to add this to french toast and
I've never had these. They sound wonderful, and I think I'll be making them for a holiday party in a couple weeks. Thanks!
This sounds great! I may try them in place of my usual cookies this year.
Wow! Both look gorgeous in the jars. I am going to try it! Thanks for sharing.
What a great combination!
looks interesting!!
What a great idea! Thanks!
My children, who love raw cranberries, are going to love these!
Homemade cranberry sauce is my favorite part of Thanksgiving. I can't wait to give both of these a try.
brilliant idea, and i just happen to have cranberries on hand, can't wait to try this!
Super yummy looking!
You have such great ideas,thank you !!
Ps-where did you find that adorable snack shop ?
What a great, relatively healthy treat!
oooooh!! another easy, beautiful gift for the holidays!!
Interesting, sounds tasty!
I've never seen anythign like this but think it would be a great addition to the usual goddies I make at this time of year. Thanks!
How have I never heard of these! They are beautiful and I want to eat some now!
Sounds delicious!
Those look so festive
these are lovely!
These are beautiful and I love the addition of pom juice. Right up my alley with the tart/sweet combination!
I'd never seen sugared cranberries before, but now I need to make some! They're beautiful and delicious-looking. My mom is a big cranberry fan, so these will be an A+ gift idea for her.
Great for Holidays !!!!
These look so lovely and festive – can't wait to try them out!
That sounds great
I saw these on foodgawker the other day and thought that they looked interesting … might just have to try these!
That sounds perfect.
yum!
Would love to know if this works!
it's so awesome!
it's cute and educational. it comes with plastic money in the shapes of quarters, nickles, dimes and pennies. love it!
i got a box of sticker paper and another box of glossy paper.
he's my fave too!
we ordered it on amazon. it's by learning resources.
I've never heard of sugared cranberries but these sound fabulous. Is it wrong that I want to make a batch just for myself?
What a neat idea. That would make a great gift!
Fantastic looking treat!
I super want to try this.
I have never heard of these before? They would be great for adding color to a plate of turkey slices or with fruit. I have rarely worked with fresh cranberries. Inspired by this recipe idea now though!
Being from a cranberry bog town in MA, I love everything cranberry. What a great idea. Oh and the low cal factor is always a plus
I have never heard of these I'll have to give them a try.
Gorgeous! Thanks for the inspiration.
Those are so beautiful. I'd like someone to make these for me. But I guess I'll just have to make them myself.
Oh wow those are beautiful. Added to my to do list!
Oh my. Another thing to add to my list of things I want to try.
I think I'll try this out!
Must make these!! I bought some MS boxes and they would look so cute in there.
This is brilliant! I'm going to a superfood-themed party and this is perfect.
Ooooh, I like the cooking syrup…
[...] gifts are always a hit around the holidays, especially if you can make them in big batches. These sparkly pomegranate cranberries from Cooking With My Kid look like a perfect food gift to make this holiday season, though [...]
wow two supercute gift ideas in one!!!
[...] gifts are always a hit around the holidays, especially if you can make them in big batches. These sparkly pomegranate cranberries from Cooking With My Kid look like a perfect food gift to make this holiday season, though [...]
Going to try these for some holiday gifts for the people who have everything.
I made these and have had so many people ask for the recipe. These are a definite staple in our house now, thanks a million!
My cranberries are drying, but my syrup is not very "syrup-y." It's more like a sweet liquid, but it didn't thicken. Is that normal?
yes! yes! its like simple syrup which is just sugar melted into water. have you tasted it? it's crazy sweet and just a wee bit tart. makes an awesome cocktail and/or flavored soda. don't use too much or it will be too sweet.
yay! i LOVE them too.
Thanks! I love that this is a "two for one" gift. The cranberries are dangerously addictive, and the simple syrup will make great pomegranate martinis.
[...] still had some of the Pom Cranberry Syrup in our fridge so we decided to make our own New Years eve mocktail. Don’t worry, if you [...]