Frozen Cranberries with Hot Caramel Sauce
This simple dessert combines tart frozen cranberries with hot homemade caramel sauce. I first tried it during a winter trip to Finnish Lapland and couldn’t believe how well something so simple worked.
We visited Finland just after Christmas several years ago. You can hear all the details on TheGetAwayZ podcast. It was an amazing trip. One day after spending the morning tobogganing down the longest run in Finland, we set out for lunch. It was a casual café and we had a lovely local lunch. We had yet to try any local desserts so thought we would try something there. Now, it was absolutely freezing outside so my main goal with to have something hot and hearty to help keep me warm. To be honest, I was a bit disappointed to find that the dessert our server recommended was frozen cranberries with caramel sauce. Frozen? I already was frozen. I wanted something cozy and warm but decided to trust her and we got the cranberries.
The cranberries were frozen but softening up quickly because the caramel was hot. It was perfect. The tartness of the cranberries contrasted with the sweetness of the caramel. The hot and cold balanced out perfectly. The crisp of the cranberries was a match for the creaminess of the caramel. This dessert, in my mind, a was picture perfect example of balance.
To think, I almost missed out on this! Thank goodness we decided to give it a try. If I am being honest, I think about it sometimes but worry that it won’t be as good as I remember. But it is and I had to share it with you.
Who knew something so simple and easy could be so special. Now, if you want to give this try but are not up to making the caramel, have no fear. You can always buy a jar of caramel sauce and heat it up either on the stove or in the microwave. Just make sure the sauce is good and hot, and the cranberries are frozen. You can chop them if you like, but I prefer the whole cranberry so that snap is preserved.
This is the perfect dessert anytime. You could have it after a weekend dinner since it takes no time. You could serve it at a fancy dinner party because it is so unique and special. There is no bad time to make or eat this dish.
I cannot wait for you try this. You can thank me later.
Ingredients
- 2 cups of frozen cranberries
- 1 cup sugar
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter room temperature
- 1/2 cup cream
- 1/2 to 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- With a pan on medium low heat, cook the sugar until fully melted. It will clump and then melt. Be patient. It takes a minute. Keep it moving to prevent burning.
- When the sugar is completely melted, remove from heat
- Add the butter. It will boil be careful.
- Stir until butter is melted
- Add cream and stir
- Add salt and mix
- Divide cranberries into serving dishes
- Pour caramel on cranberries
Notes
Watch the Recipe
See exactly how I make frozen cranberries with hot caramel sauce. The cranberries stay frozen until the last minute, then I pour the hot homemade caramel right over the top.
Tips for the Best Frozen Cranberries with Caramel
This recipe is incredibly simple, but the temperature difference is a big part of what makes it so good.
- Keep the cranberries frozen until you’re ready to serve them. You don’t want them thawing while you make the caramel.
- Be patient with the sugar. It will clump before it completely melts.
- Once the sugar has melted, take the pan off the heat before adding the butter. Be careful because it will bubble.
- Start with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and taste the caramel before adding more.
- Make sure the caramel is still hot when you pour it over the frozen cranberries.
- I like to leave the cranberries whole because I love the little snap they still have when you bite into them.
Can I Use Store-Bought Caramel Sauce?
Absolutely. If you don’t want to make the caramel from scratch, use a good-quality jarred caramel sauce.
Just heat it before serving. You still want the cranberries frozen and the caramel hot so you get the same contrast that made me love this dessert in Finland.
Can I Make This Dessert Ahead of Time?
I wouldn’t assemble the dessert ahead of time because the cranberries will begin to thaw as soon as the hot caramel hits them.
You can make the caramel in advance, though. Let it cool and store it in a glass container in the refrigerator. When you’re ready for dessert, reheat the caramel and pour it over cranberries straight from the freezer.
What to Serve with Frozen Cranberries and Caramel
I think this works especially well after a heavier dinner because the tart cranberries keep the dessert from feeling overly sweet.
You could also serve smaller portions after a holiday meal or dinner party. It looks much more impressive than the amount of work involved, especially when the hot caramel is poured over the cranberries right before serving.
I wouldn’t add ice cream or another sauce. The whole reason I loved this in Finland was the contrast between the frozen tart cranberries and the hot, sweet caramel.
More Dessert Recipes You Will Love
Here are a few more sweet recipes I’ve made at home and brought back from our travels:
Planning a Trip to Finnish Lapland?
I first tried this dessert during our winter trip to Saariselkä in Finnish Lapland. We spent three nights there just after Christmas, and the frozen cranberries with hot caramel ended up being one of the foods I still remembered years later.
If you’re planning your own trip, read our Saariselkä Travel Guide for everything we did while we were there. If you’re deciding when to go, our Best Time to Visit Saariselkä guide compares our late-December experience with other times of year.
Only have a short time in Lapland? Our One Day in Saariselkä itinerary shows how we’d plan it now.
And you can hear the full story from our trip in our Finnish Lapland Travel Guide podcast episode.
