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Festive Cranberry Jelly Candies Recipe

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These Festive Cranberry Jelly Candies are a delightful homemade treat combining sweet and tart cranberry flavors with a chewy, jelly-like texture. Coated in granulated sugar, these candies develop a crunchy exterior that perfectly complements their soft centers. Perfect for holiday celebrations or as a sweet gift, they require simple ingredients and patience to achieve the perfect consistency and flavor.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Candy:

  • 240 milliliters cold cranberry juice (1 cup)
  • 35 grams powdered gelatin (five 7-gram packets, or about 3 1/2 tablespoons)
  • 650 grams granulated sugar (about 3 1/4 cups, plus more for coating candies)
  • 180 milliliters boiling cranberry juice (3/4 cup)
  • Nonstick spray, for greasing tin and knife

Instructions

  1. Prepare the pan: Line an 8×8-inch square tin with parchment paper in a criss-cross pattern, allowing a 1-inch overhang on all sides. Generously grease the parchment with nonstick spray and set aside.
  2. Bloom gelatin: Pour the cold cranberry juice into a large stockpot. Sprinkle the powdered gelatin evenly over the juice and whisk gently to combine, allowing the gelatin to begin dissolving.
  3. Add sugar and hot juice: Add the boiling cranberry juice and granulated sugar to the gelatin mixture. Whisk continuously to combine the ingredients fully.
  4. Cook the mixture: Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat, which takes about 5 minutes. Then reduce the heat to medium and simmer while stirring occasionally with a heat-resistant spoon until the mixture reaches 107°C (225°F) on a digital thermometer. This simmering stage can take 20-25 minutes or longer, so patience is key.
  5. Remove bubbles: Take the pot off the heat. Use a skimmer or fine mesh strainer to gently remove any large bubbles that have formed on the surface of the mixture.
  6. Pour and set: Pour the hot jelly mixture into the prepared pan. Don’t worry about the presence of some bubbles, white streaks, or foam—they will not be visible after coating with sugar.
  7. Chill: Refrigerate the pan until the jelly is firm, which takes at least 4 hours or preferably overnight.
  8. Prepare work surface: Line a large tray with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Coat a large chopping board with 2 to 3 generous scoops of granulated sugar to prevent sticking.
  9. Unmold the jelly slab: Flip the cranberry jelly slab out of the pan onto the sugared chopping board. Carefully peel away the parchment paper from the candy.
  10. Coat the slab: Using your hands, spread granulated sugar over the entire surface of the slab, coating both sides evenly.
  11. Mark cutting lines: Lightly score the jelly slab’s surface with the back of your knife to create cutting guides. You can mark 7 by 7 rows for 49 candies or 8 by 8 rows for 64 candies.
  12. Cut the candies: Using a sharp chef’s knife well-oiled with nonstick spray for easier slicing, cut the slab along the scored lines to form individual squares.
  13. Roll candies in sugar: Roll each jelly candy square in granulated sugar so that all sticky sides are thoroughly coated.
  14. Arrange to dry: Place the sugared candies on the prepared tray, making sure they do not touch each other to avoid sticking.
  15. Allow to dry: Let the candies dry uncovered at room temperature for 1 to 2 days until the sugar crystallizes and they develop a pleasant crunchy coating.
  16. Store the candies: Layer the cranberry jelly candies between sheets of parchment paper and store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 month.

Notes

  • Use a digital thermometer to accurately monitor the mixture’s temperature for best results.
  • Oiling the knife helps achieve clean cuts and prevents sticking.
  • Patience during the simmering and drying stages is essential to get the perfect candy texture.
  • These candies make wonderful holiday gifts and add a festive touch to celebrations.
  • Keep candies separated during drying to avoid clumping.

Keywords: cranberry jelly candies, homemade candy, holiday candy recipe, gelatin candy, festive treats

Find it online: https://kitchenbyclara.com/festive-cranberry-jelly-candies-recipe/