There is no snow; the weather is making it difficult to imagine that Christmas is next week. I have no decorations, (thanks mice) and no tree. It seems this holiday will pass in a very weird way. For the first time in many years I have my girls here and there is love and family; an odd juxtaposition to past years of flagrantly over decorating and no one to share with.
The one tradition I have upheld is my Sparking Cranberries. I tell myself, and anyone who will stand still long enough and listen, that eating these nuggets will ward off colds for the rest of the season. I am pleased when not one, but several, customers have requested them this year. Others who are new to my treat, painstakingly write out the recipe. Simple gifts…
2 cups of water
2 cups of grainy brown sugar (Sugar in the Raw if you can find it)
2 cups of fresh cranberries.
Bring the water to a boil and stir in the sugar until it dissolves. Pour the syrup into a glass bowl and allow it to cool. If it is too hot the cranberries will burst.
Put the clean cranberries in the sugar syrup and refrigerate for 24 hours turning with a slotted spoon every few hours, or when you just happen to open the fridge.
Here’s the part that has taken me years to perfect. You want to coast the sticky berries but not waste a lot of sugar and have a gloppy mess. I set up two bowls, one with large grain sugar and one with regular white sugar. I have two slotted spoons ready.
Drain the cranberries. I reserve the sugar syrup for the next batch, trust me, you WILL want more.
In small batches, one or maybe two slotted spoonfuls, transfer the berries to the first bowl of large grain sugar. Coat them liberally by shaking and carefully stirring.
Spread in a single layer on a cookie sheet, shaking occasionally. Allow to dry for about 30 minutes, while you wander off on some other chore.
Transfer to the second bowl of white, smaller grained sugar. Repeat coating process, and spread once again on the cookie sheet.
I find they only get better from being out in the open. If you plan on gifting them, I suggest waiting until the last-minute to close them up in a jar or whatever.
Simple gifts…
Therapeutic Misadventures 
Thank you Dr. Bunyan! Perfect prescription for the cold season! Cant wait to try it!
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I should have sent you some, Doppleganger!
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Sounds delish!!
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And festive, Julie!! Merry Christmas to you!
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What a thoughtful gift you gave all of us readers. I am on my way to the store to buy cranberries.
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Thank you Susan, enjoy!!
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Oh, thanks so much. This is a new one for us – and I can manage this. (time crunch for all. and you feel like you should take something no matter what they say.)
I remember people talking about the snowless winters on the eastern ski slope growing up. Guess we’re in that cycle this year. Just consider it a present from mother nature allowing everyone to get outside more – and get the benefits of that? Merry on!
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Give them a try Phil! First dusting of snow this morning. I was shocked when I opened the curtains, it looked lovely and was gone by noon.
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Oh, those sound so good! I’m definitely going to have to try making some.
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Or I could just give you some!!
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Thank you in advance!
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They sound like a great snack!
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Not sure the sugar is great for everyone but I can’t stop eating them!
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That looks amazing! I hope I get some free time to try it 🙂
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Thanks Faith! They are easy and quick if you get all set up correctly. Enjoy!
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Martha – Just finished the first batch. I can’t stop eating these wonderful sparkling cranberries. Thanks so much for the recipe.
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Aww, so happy to see your note, Susan. They are addictive and festive!
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I so want to try this!!!!!
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Thanks Chellechellelovely. They are really easy!
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I wondered what people were talking about on various blogs, now I know! Very pretty.
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Thanks Cheryl! Yummy and pretty!
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That sound lovely. I love cranberries. Just made some cranberry cookies
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Swap recipes?
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I made mine up as I went along. Just added fresh cranberries and candied orange peel to a basic cookie dough and drizzled with orange icing. They were nice though.
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The sparkling cranberries sound great but probably not suitable for an Australian Christmas! It was 35 Celsius (100 degrees) on Xmas day and today (new year’s eve) it is over 40 Celsius (110 degrees) and bushfires are raging along our coastline (lost 120+ homes I think). Hope you had a great Xmas on the back of your mountain with your girls and Alice! We are holidaying at the beach in a town called Sorrento near Melbourne that I have spent nearly every summer that I can remember. Might write a post about it soon!
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It is all good here, Mark. Your holidays are “backwards” for me with summer fun instead of winter chill. Hope you are having a wonderful time with family and friends. Peace and Joy to you for the new year!!
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