Food & Cooking Recipes Quick & Easy Recipes Cranberry Simple Syrup 3.5 (91) Close Yield: Makes 1 1/2 cups Use this cranberry simple syrup to create cranberry cocktails to serve at any holiday gathering. Directions In a medium saucepan, bring cranberries, sugar, and water to a simmer over medium. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook until cranberries are tender but haven't burst, 10 minutes. Let cool, then strain through a fine-mesh sieve. Discard cranberries.