Hello Friends,

About this time last year, I demoed how to make cheese sticks and candied pepitas at the Vischer Ferry General Store. It was "Charcuterie Night," and during the class, with our freshly made cheese sticks and pepitas, we assembled a small charcuterie board together.

This was just after Thanksgiving and visions of the holiday were still on my mind, namely a stunning photo of a pumpkin pie, which had been garnished with sugared cranberries. Arranged sparingly but artfully over the pie, the frosted berries not only added a pop of color so complementary to the pie's burnt orange hue but also (perhaps) covered any unsightly cracks in the pie's surface.

I hadn't had time to make the cranberries before Thanksgiving so I decided to make them for the event, thinking they would be a festive addition to the store's communal table where the large charcuterie boards would be assembled before everyone arrived. Louise, the owner of the store, and Genny, the events coordinator, worked their magic, placing the cranberries in pretty bowls, nestling in sprigs of rosemary, and distributing the bowls among the platters and empty spaces along the table.

Once class began, I couldn't help but notice the attendees' enthusiasm for the cranberries. They were dropping them in their glasses of prosecco and sparkling water, and they were loading their little plates with them to enjoy with their cheese, meats, and crackers.

After the demo ended, no one cared about the cheese sticks or the pepitas. They wanted to know about the cranberries. How did you make these? Can you share the recipe?

I thought this was so interesting because the cranberries, despite being coated with sugar, are still so tart! You can eat them, of course, but their purpose is primarily decorative, a festive flourish for the entertaining season, something, as noted, to set on your cheese boards or holiday table or to wrap up in pretty jars to gift to your friends and family.

Having made these several times now, I've adapted the recipes I've followed slightly. Read on for the details. As always, I hope you love them 🎉

3-Ingredient Sugared Cranberries

A cheese board loaded with cheese, crackers, grapes, and sugared cranberries.

Review of the Week

Freshly baked buttermilk currant scones.

Lemony Buttermilk Currant Scones

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"Just love this recipe. I use dried blueberries. I make them over and over and my husband pulls them out of freezer one by one and enjoys them reheated on a pizza pan (with the holes). They turn out nice and crispy this way, and that’s what he wants. Thanks so much!"

— Cathy