By Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff | Published on June 14, 2026
Serves 4
34 cal · 30 min
Homemade Cranberry Syrup
Recipe GLPR0c269a89b8f8c2
A bright, tart-sweet syrup made by simmering fresh cranberries with sugar and water until they burst and release their vibrant color and flavor. This versatile condiment is perfect for drizzling over pancakes, waffles, yogurt, or desserts, and captures the essence of fresh cranberries in every spoonful.
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Ingredients
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
2 cups fresh cranberries, roughly chopped
Directions
In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar and water. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar dissolves completely, about 2 minutes.
Add the chopped cranberries to the boiling syrup. Stir well to combine and return to a boil.
Reduce the heat to medium and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 15–20 minutes until most of the cranberries burst and the mixture thickens into a syrup consistency. The berries should break down and the liquid should reduce by about half.
Remove from heat and let cool slightly. If a smoother syrup is desired, strain through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing gently on the berries to release all the syrup. If you prefer a chunkier texture, skip this step.
Transfer to a clean glass jar or container and cool completely to room temperature. The syrup will continue to thicken as it cools. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.
Comments
This three-ingredient syrup is genuinely cheap—cranberries, sugar, and water total roughly $2 to $3 per batch, or about 50 to 75 cents per serving. All three ingredients are stocked year-round at every Charlotte chain, and fresh cranberries are especially abundant and affordable from October through December. The stated 30 minutes is honest; active time is about 5 minutes and the rest is simmering and cooling. It keeps for weeks refrigerated and reheats perfectly, making it a true pantry win for pancakes, yogurt, or desserts.
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