Cranberry Syrup

Oct 9, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Pantry Sauces syrups glazes Vanilla: Extract Easy

A small glass bottle of cranberry syrup with a pour spout, beside an iced latte sweetened with it

Fresh cranberries simmered until they burst, with a strip of orange peel, then strained into a tart, deep pink syrup for spritzers, holiday lattes and lemonade.

Prep 5 min

Cook 12 min

Cooling 15 min

Total 32 min

Servings 12

Diet Dairy free, Gluten free, Vegan

Ingredients

Adjust yield

servings

1.0 cup (240.0 ml)water
1.0 cup (200.0 g)granulated sugar
1 ½ cups (150.0 g)fresh or frozen cranberries
2.0 (4.0 g)strips orange peel (no white pith)
½ tsp (2.5 ml)pure vanilla extract

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Instructions

Combine the water and sugar in a small saucepan and heat over medium, stirring, until the sugar dissolves.
Add the cranberries and orange peel and bring to a simmer.
Simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, until the berries burst and the syrup turns deep pink.
Remove from the heat and let stand for 15 minutes.
Strain through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing only gently; cranberries are high in pectin and can make the syrup cloudy or jelly-like.
Stir in the vanilla, cool and refrigerate in a clean bottle.

Tips

Add a cinnamon stick or a few allspice berries with the cranberries for a mulled version.
The strained berries make a quick sauce for toast or yogurt.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make cranberry syrup?

Plan on 5 minutes of prep and 12 minutes of cooking, plus 15 minutes to rest. The recipe makes about 1 1/2 cups (12 servings).

How should I store cranberry syrup?

Refrigerate in a clean, airtight bottle for up to 2 weeks, or freeze in an ice-cube tray for up to 3 months.

Can I make cranberry syrup ahead?

Make it up to 2 weeks ahead.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

Yes. This recipe uses 0.5 tsp pure vanilla extract (2.5 ml). Each teaspoon of pure vanilla extract can be swapped for 1 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste, the seeds of half a vanilla bean, or 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla powder. Paste and seeds add the classic dark specks.

Is this recipe vegan?

Yes, as written. Check that packaged ingredients such as chocolate, sprinkles and plant butter are labeled vegan.

Fresh cranberries simmered until they burst, with a strip of orange peel, then strained into a tart, deep pink syrup for spritzers, holiday lattes and lemonade.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 12 servings this recipe makes.

71 Calories / serving

0.0g Fat

18.2g Carbs

0.1g Protein

17.2g Sugar

Whole recipe (12 servings): ~852 cal · 0g fat · 218g carbs · 1g protein · 206g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.

Per serving · 71 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 13 min·0.8 mi·~1500 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 10 min·0.5 mi·~1000 steps
Moderate cycling 7 min·1.4 mi
Swimming laps 10 min
Jogging 7 min·0.6 mi·~1100 steps
Stair climbing 7 min·~650 steps
Dancing 12 min
Bodyweight circuit training 7 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 16 min

Rough estimates for one serving, based on standard MET values at about 155 lb. Your own burn depends on body size, effort, and fitness. Shown for context only — food is not something you have to earn.

Made with VanillaGoods

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