Put your desserts in a party mood with a sparkling cranberry garnish. Here's how:

--Lightly brush dry fresh cranberries with beaten egg white or meringue powder. Then place them on a paper towel-lined plate and let them sit out several hours until they're dry. (Use raw egg whites only if the sugared canberries will not be placed on food or eaten.)

--Roll the cranberries in large crystallized sugar or sparkling sugar.

Sugared cranberries can be made up to 1 day ahead. Store them on a baking sheet, uncovered, on the counter. Meringue powder and special sugars can be found in the baking aisle of some grocery stores and in cake decorating supply stores.