Sometimes I will make sugared fruits to decorate a special roast or a big turkey during the holidays. See Fruit Garland for a Turkey.  The flowers look fantastic with desserts.   See below for another way to sugar fruits (Oct. 23, 2013 update).

• small red or green grape clusters, whole cranberries, key limes, edible flowers such as Johnny-Jump-Ups, rose petals, borage and so on
• egg whites or mix 2 tsp. meringue powder with 2 tbsp. water
• granulated sugar (superfine or baker’s sugar if you have it – see my recipe Vanilla Sugar)

Brush small grape clusters with beaten egg whites thoroughly; do not put too much egg white on or the sugar will clump up.   Dip the coated grapes in sugar turning to coat and use your fingers to sprinkle to cover the grapes.  Allow the fruit to dry thoroughly on waxed paper.  I make these the day before I need them so they will be dried and become hard;  turn every now and then.  They add a little ‘glitter’ to your special meal.

Grape clusters on the left, cranberries on the right using baker’s sugar (left side) and granulated sugar (right side of plate).

In a recent issue of Weight Watchers’ Magazine there was another way to sugar fruit which I liked a lot as your fingers do not get so sticky.  Mix 1/4 cup sugar and 2 tbsp. water in a small saucepan (add 1/8 tsp. ground cardamon) and cook until the sugar dissolves; boil for just 1 minute.  Remove the pan from the heat and add your fruit, maybe about 20 grapes/cranberries.  Turn to coat in the pan.  Cool for 5 minutes then remove with a slotted spoon to a piece of parchment paper and toss with more sugar to coat.  Let stand on a rack until dry.

2013 sugared fruit using very big red grapes!  Cut your grapes into small clusters, place in the beaten egg and coat with a paint brush.  Holding a stem of each cluster sprinkle the sugar all over the grapes.  If you need to cover some missed spots paint again with the beaten egg.

Candied flowers are also a pretty decoration and edible as long as you do not spray.  Follow the directions above and coat both sides of the flowers.  You can use tweezers to hold the flowers while you paint them.  Flowers are very delicate so you need to handle them with care.  Let them dry thoroughly for 2 to 4 days depending on the size.  Carefully pick them up and turn when needed.  They will keep for at least a month, just keep in a dry place, covered tightly.