Cranberry Clusters with White Chocolate

Makes about 18 ounces or 30 pieces

Cranberry Clusters

Dried cranberries, white morsels, candy mold, and foil wrappers

   In spite of its simplicity, this is one of the most popular candies that we create. This recipe uses only two ingredients; dried cranberries and Nestlé white morsels. Here are the instructions for making these cranberry clusters in three different shapes.

Ingredients:

Utensils:

Double boiler
Plastic mold(s) for candy (optional)
Colored foil wrappers for candy (optional)

Instructions:
1.  Fill the bottom pan of a double boiler about half full of water. Put the 12 ounce package white morsels (about 2 cups) in the top of the double boiler and place over medium heat. If you are using a stainless steel bowl over hot water, then fill your saucepan about half full of water and bring to a simmer.
2.  Remove pan from heat as soon as it reaches a gentle simmer. Stir the white chocolate morsels until they have all melted.
3.  Add the 1 cup dried cranberries (about 6 ounces) to the melted chocolate. If you have  thermometer, it is helpful to not let the temperature of the melted morsels rise above 110°.
4.  Stir in the dried cranberries until evenly coated.

Place the white morsels in the top of a double boiler over medium heat.

Remove from heat and stir the morsels until melted.

Add the dried cranberries to the melted morsels.

Stir in the dried cranberries until evenly coated.

​6.  If you like, you can place the candy in a freezer for 5 to 10 minutes to speed up the hardening process

Drop by heaping teaspoons onto wax paper.

Place the candy in freezer for 5 to 10 minutes to speed up the hardening process. Serve.

Using a Candy Mold

Candy molds, candy jar, and candy foil wrappers

How to Use the Cherry Flip Chocolate Mold

Instructions:
Using the candy molds is fairly easy. The pictures below show the procedure for using the 1-inch Cherry Flip Chocolate Mold.
1.  Fill each cavity in the mold with the melted white morsel/cranberry mixture from above. Gently press the mixture into the cavities of the mold to help remove any air pockets. Make the top of the filling as flat as possible.
2.  Place the mold in the freezer for 10 to 15 minutes or until the candy has hardened. Candy that has not hardened will be difficult to remove from the mold. Flip the mold over onto a cookie sheet lined with wax paper to remove all of the candy. If the candy is stubborn and does not want to come out of the mold, then return it to the freezer for another 5 to 10 minutes and try again.
3.  Trim the edge of the candy with a paring knife to remove any rough edges.
​4.  You can serve the cranberry clusters as is or wrap in “wild berry” colored foil.

Fill each cavity in the mold with the melted white morsel/cranberry mixture.

Place mold in freezer for 10 to 15. Flip the mold over onto wax paper to remove all of the candy.

Trim the edges of the candy with a paring knife to remove any rough edges.

Serve the cranberry clusters as is or wrap in colored foil.

Notes about white chocolate: Nestlé Premier White Morsels were used in this recipe because they are readily available at most supermarkets. I would not recommend any generic or store brand white morsels. I have used them in the past with other recipes and the results were disappointing. However, you can use the white chocolate made by well known chocolate companies like Lindt. You can also use white chocolate candy making wafers or coatings. Since white streaks will not show up on this candy, you do not need to be too fussy about how you melt the chocolate. Just try to make sure that the temperature of the candy does not go above 110°. Use the morsels as soon as they have been melted. The melted white morsels have a tendency to thicken and get stiff when left in the double boiler for a long period of time.

Note:

If you are a real fan of dried cranberries (Craisins), you may also want to try our Trail Mix with Fruits and Nuts.

Print

Cranberry Clusters

With only two ingredients, dried cranberries and white chocolate, this candy is very easy to make. Still, it is one of the most popular candies that we prepare.

Course Snack

Cuisine American

Keyword candy mold, chocolate, Craisins, dried cranberries, foil wrappers, Nestle morsels, simple, very easy, white chocolate

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

Servings 30 pieces

Calories 73 kcal

Ingredients

• 1 package Nestlé Premier White Morsels (12 ounce package)
• 6 ounce dried cranberries (about 1 cup)
• double boiler
• wax paper

Instructions

1. Fill the bottom pan of a double boiler about half full of water. Put the white morsels in the top of the double boiler and place over medium heat. If you are using a stainless steel bowl over hot water, then fill your saucepan about half full of water and bring to a simmer.

2. Remove pan from heat as soon as it reaches a gentle simmer. Stir the white morsels until they have all melted.

3.  Add the dried cranberries to the melted white morsels.

4.   Stir in the dried cranberries until evenly coated.

5. Drop the mixture by heaping teaspoons onto a cookie sheet lined with wax paper. Repeat until all of the cranberry mixture has been used.

6. Feel free to place the candy in a freezer for 5 to 10 minutes to speed up the hardening process if you like.

Using a candy mold:

1. Using the candy molds is fairly easy.  The detailed instructions above explain how to use a Cherry Flip Chocolate Mold or a Peanut Butter Cup mold. 

2. Fill each cavity in a mold with the melted white morsel/cranberry mixture from above. Gently press the mixture into the cavities of the mold to help remove any air pockets. Make the top of the filling as flat as possible.
   

3. Place the mold in the freezer for 10 to 15 minutes or until the candy has hardened. Flip the mold over onto a cookie sheet lined with wax paper to remove all of the candy.

4. Trim the edge of each piece of candy with a paring knife to remove any rough edges.
   

5. You can serve the cranberry clusters as is or wrap in colored foil.