25 Amazing Cranberry Recipes (2024)

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Cranberry recipes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner; there is more to cranberries than just traditional sauce. Try one of these 25 Amazing Cranberry Recipes this holiday season!

Cranberries aren’t just for Thanksgiving dinner! Try one of these delicious cranberry recipes anytime they are in season. From co*cktails to cheesecake, from cookies to side dishes, there is a tasty and easy-to-make cranberry recipe your whole family will enjoy.

25 Amazing Cranberry Recipes

From wiki: Cranberries are low, creeping shrubs or vines up to 2 meters (7 ft) long and 5 to 20 centimeters (2 to 8 in) in height;[5] they have slender, wiry stems that are not thickly woody and have small evergreen leaves. The flowers are dark pink, with very distinct reflexed petals, leaving the style and stamens fully exposed and pointing forward. They are pollinated by bees. The fruit is a berry that is larger than the leaves of the plant; it is initially light green, turning red when ripe. It is edible but with an acidic taste that usually overwhelms its sweetness.

In 2020, the United States, Canada, and Chile accounted for 97% of the world’s production of cranberries.

The Best Cranberry Sauce Recipe – ever! This super easy-to-make fresh cranberry sauce is simply delicious. If you ever thought that making your own cranberry sauce was difficult, disabuse yourself of that notion as nothing could be further from the truth. I was shocked at not only how easy cranberry sauce is to make but how much better it tastes than pre-made or canned cranberry sauce. If you are looking for an easy, delicious cranberry recipe, this is it!

Apple Apricot Beet Cranberry Sauce Recipe | Farm Fresh Feasts
A colorful side dish of cranberries with roasted beets and dried apricots simmered in a sweetened apple cider/orange juice broth.

Sugared Cranberries Recipe – These sugared cranberries are amazingly addictive. Use these easy-to-follow instructions to make your own sugared cranberries which are perfect for recipe garnishes, co*cktails, gifts, or simply eating as candied fruit.

Apple Cranberry Crisp Recipe | The Farm Girl Gabs
This apple cranberry crisp is the perfect blend of sweet and tart. It’s a perfect fall dessert, especially when topped with vanilla ice cream.

Vintage Cranberry Jello Recipe – Whip up a tried and true classic Jello recipe and make this vintage cranberry jello for dinner tonight! Layers of tart pineapple, cranberry, cream cheese, and walnuts combine to make the perfect cranberry dessert or side dish. Take your friends and family back a few decades and bring this terrific cranberry Jello recipe to your next get-together or holiday dinner.

Cranberry and Dried Cherry Relish Recipe | Savoring Time in the Kitchen
If regular cranberry sauce is a little too tart for you, give this recipe a try – it’s delicious! This is easy to make and can be made ahead of time too.

Cranberry Bliss co*cktail | The Cranberry Bliss co*cktail is the perfect drink to serve at your holiday parties and get-togethers. Enjoy the sweet-tart taste of cranberry this holiday season with this delicious holiday beverage.

Cranberry Breakfast Cookies Recipe | Tried and Tasty
Cranberry Breakfast Cookies – cookies for breakfast, it’s true! These cookies have healthy ingredients that will get you through until lunch.

Cranberry Noels Cookie Recipe – Slightly chewy, slightly crunchy and totally delicious, these Cranberry Noels Cookies are a wonderful holiday cookie, perfect for a snack, after dinner dessert or as a welcome addition to a holiday cookie tray.

Cranberry Honey Butter Recipe | Farm Fresh Feasts
This compound butter is tangy and slightly sweet, terrific on seasonal veggies, desserts, or bread. It’s a terrific last-minute homemade addition to a Thanksgiving or holiday meal.

Easy Carrot Cranberry Salad Recipe – This is one of the easiest holiday salads you can make! When you are looking for a simple-to-make side dish to serve, give this wonderful Easy Carrot Cranberry Salad Recipe a try!

Cranberry Brie Brushetta Recipe | Mama Likes to Cook
Whether you get it out of a can or make it from scratch, this super easy recipe makes it easy to finish off that last bit of cranberry sauce in a delicious way.

Cranberry Orange Cupcakes with Peppermint Frosting – Jazz up a plain boxed cake mix for a festive holiday treat! These easy-to-make cupcakes and simple peppermint frosting recipe will make people think you slaved all day in the kitchen instead of just minutes. These fun and delicious Cranberry Orange Cupcakes with Peppermint Frosting are a wonderful holiday dessert.

Fresh Cranberry Scones Recipe – Two Peas and Their Pod
If you are looking for a special breakfast treat, try these fresh cranberry scones on for your holiday morning repast.

Mini Cranberry Orange Cake Recipe – This festive holiday dessert recipe is so easy to make! Only you will know the base is a boxed cake mix; your friends and family will marvel at your creativity while devouring these delicious Mini Cranberry Orange Cakes.

Cranberry Orange Bundt Cake Recipe | Suburbia Unwrapped
A cranberry and orange bundt cake that is perfect for your holiday dessert table.

No-Bake Cranberry Cheesecake Parfait Recipe – A delicious, no muss, no fuss cheesecake parfait the whole family will enjoy. For special occasions, holidays, or after-dinner desserts, this No-Bake Cranberry Cheesecake Parfait is sure to hit the spot when you are craving an easy-to-make sweet.

Cranberry Pear Turnovers Recipe – Fork, Knife, Swoon
A generous dollop of cranberry pear sauce is tucked inside light, buttery layers of puff pastry, baked to golden oblivion, and dusted with feathery powdered sugar. It’s sweet and tart pastry heaven.

Orange and Cranberry Steamed Carrots Recipe – This simple to make side dish recipe dresses up fresh carrots to perfection. Whether you make it for the holidays or for a family dinner, this Orange and Cranberry Steamed Carrots Recipe pairs well with turkey, pork, chicken, and beef – a wonderful accompaniment to your dinner entrée!

Pork and Cranberry Stuffing Recipe – A scrumptious, easy to make holiday stuffing your family and guests are sure to enjoy. Mixing the great taste of pork and cranberry, this slightly sweet dressing is a great compliment to your ham or turkey dinner.

Spiced Cranberry Butternut Squash Recipe – Spice up your butternut squash with this delicious, easy to make cranberry and butternut squash recipe. A nice autumn side dish that is perfect for pairing with pork, turkey, or chicken. This would be a great recipe for Thanksgiving or for a family dinner.

Cranberry Orange Fudge Recipe Cranberry and orange is a terrific pairing, and this sweet, creamy, and delicious fudge recipe incorporates that fantastic taste combination for a perfect holiday fudge recipe. Using just five ingredients, this fabulous cranberry orange fudge recipe comes together quickly. This is a wonderful holiday sweet treat.

Cranberry Sauce Cheesecake Recipe – This delicious cheesecake is perfect for holiday dinners, parties, and get-togethers. It is a creamy and delectable cheesecake with just a touch of tartness and spice from the gingerbread crust. Go ahead, and delight your taste buds with this Cranberry Sauce Cheesecake this holiday season!

Cranberry Mimosa Drink Recipe – This cranberry mimosa drink is a festive holiday beverage. This is a perfect holiday drink for your holiday brunch, it can also be served at co*cktail parties, to ring in the New Year, or for any other holiday celebration you may have.

Holiday Cranberry Sangria Recipe – Need a fantastic sangria recipe for a holiday get-together or party? This holiday cranberry sangria recipe is light and refreshing yet packed with flavor and oh-so-easy to make! It is the best sangria recipe for holiday celebrations; a real crowd-pleaser.

First Published: October 30, 2014

Last Updated: November 15, 2022

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25 Amazing Cranberry Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What takes the bitterness out of cranberry sauce? ›

"Instead, start by stirring in one tablespoon maple syrup and one teaspoon of a sweet drink like apple juice, orange juice, or fruity white or red wine. Add more to taste. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt (in small amounts, it intensifies sweetness)."

What do cranberries do for the body? ›

Consuming cranberries can prevent tooth decay and gum disease, inhibit urinary tract infections, reduce inflammation in the body, maintain a healthy digestion system, and decrease cholesterol levels [2,5,9,10].

How many cranberries are needed to make one can? ›

The average number of cranberries used per can of sauce is 200. If you lay out all the cans of sauce consumed in a year from end to end, it would stretch 3,385 miles.

How many cranberries should I eat a day? ›

HOW MUCH CRANBERRIES TO EAT DAILY? Studies confirming the health-promoting properties of cranberries have typically used doses of 100-300 g of fresh cranberries, equivalent to 7-10 g of dried cranberries, and 100-150 ml of 100% cranberry juice.

How to make cranberry taste better? ›

In lieu of granulated sugar, try genuine maple syrup. It's already liquid so it will stir right into the cranberry sauce, lending it a gentle sweetness. If you don't have maple syrup (pancake syrup WILL NOT do, y'all), try honey or a more neutral sweetener like agave syrup, brown rice syrup, or even simple syrup.

How to jazz up cranberry sauce? ›

Adding a teaspoon or two of fresh lemon or orange zest, a tablespoon of chopped candied peel, or even a splash of juice to your canned sauce will brighten flavors and bring in some homemade flavor.

What medications cannot be taken with cranberry juice? ›

Possible Interactions
  • Warfarin (Coumadin): Cranberry may raise the risk of bleeding, especially if you already take medications to thin the blood such as warfarin. ...
  • Aspirin: Like aspirin, cranberries contain salicylic acid. ...
  • Other medications: Cranberry may interact with medications that are broken down by the liver.

What organ is cranberry good for? ›

Cranberries have two big benefits for heart health: lowering blood pressure and improving cholesterol. Some studies suggest that drinking low-calorie cranberry juice regularly can raise HDL (good) cholesterol and lower LDL (bad) cholesterol.

Are cranberries good or bad for kidneys? ›

4. Cranberries. Cranberries are low in potassium and high in vitamin C, making them another great choice for people with kidney disease. Cranberry juice has also been shown to help prevent urinary tract infections, which are typical for people with kidney disease.

Do cranberries go bad in the fridge? ›

Fresh cranberries are usually good stored in the refrigerator for two weeks. If kept longer, you will find a gradual deterioration of quality with more soft or bruised berries. Berries can be stored in the original packaging in the refrigerator crisper for up to four weeks.

Can you eat too many raw cranberries? ›

There's little health risk to consuming them raw, but consuming them cooked is certainly preferable in terms of taste, texture, and flavor. "I have seen that consuming too much of them can cause stomach upset, but I do not think very many people are over consuming them raw," notes Keyser.

Can I freeze a bag of cranberries? ›

Cranberries freeze well when properly stored. They retain their color, good flavor and quality for eight to 12 months. Maintaining a temperature of zero degrees Fahrenheit or below is recommended by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Why should cranberries not be eaten raw? ›

Is it safe to eat cranberries raw? Cranberries are generally considered safe whether they are cooked or raw. However, because of their notoriously bitter, sharp taste, most people prefer not to eat them raw or unsweetened. This bitterness is due to the high tannin content of cranberries.

Are cranberries healthier than blueberries? ›

The cranberry is also a contender when it comes to antioxidant content. While wild blueberries outperform them when it comes to measuring both antioxidant capacity and cellular antioxidant activity, cranberries pack their own health punch.

What is the healthiest way to eat cranberries? ›

Cranberry juice that is 100% juice (which is very bitter) or a 100% juice blend is one option for getting the benefits of cranberries without added sugar. Another option is to eat cranberries and forgo a supplement. It does not take very many cranberries to reap health benefits and they are very versatile in recipes.

How do you fix a sauce that is too bitter? ›

Try a pinch of baking soda.

Baking soda is very alkaline, which is a good way to correct overly bitter dishes. Sprinkle just a pinch into your food and mix it in well to see if that helps.

How do you neutralize bitterness? ›

The Fix: Balance bitter flavors by introducing something salty, sweet, or sour. For naturally bitter foods such as kale, you can soften the flavor by add a lemony vinaigrette, Parmesan cheese, and pomegranate seeds. You can also elevate kale by tossing it olive oil and salt, then roasting it in the oven until crispy.

How do you get the bitter taste out of cranberry juice? ›

Add 1/4-1/3 cup sugar depending on preference.

Why are my cranberry bitter? ›

Cranberries are generally considered safe whether they are cooked or raw. However, because of their notoriously bitter, sharp taste, most people prefer not to eat them raw or unsweetened. This bitterness is due to the high tannin content of cranberries.

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