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Whether they’re sweet or savory, desserts or sides, cranberry recipes can totally change your holiday menu game. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering “What can you do with cranberries?” or “What do cranberries go with?” then this is the list for you!
❓ What’s So Great About Cranberries
Cranberries are a staple of the holiday season, front and center during both Thanksgiving and Christmas. No surprise there since early autumn is prime cranberry-harvesting season. These vibrant, tart little berries are super versatile – you can turn them into sauce, bake them into breads and cakes and pies, mash them into salsa, and sprinkle them over salads. Their juice is thought by some to help UTIs, and their high amount of antioxidants is thought to boost immunity while their phenolic compounds may aid in cancer prevention.
Whether you buy your cranberries fresh, frozen, or in a can, there’s no end to the number of cranberry recipes you can whip up to enhance your holiday meals. These are just a few of the ones we love!
Cranberry Cocktail Recipes
1. Cranberry Margaritas (By the Glass or By the Pitcher)
A little sweet, tart, and with a great kick, this cranberry margarita recipe is as easy to throw together as it is beautiful! Perfect for the holidays or anytime, really. Make one at a time or a pitcher!
get this cranberry margarita recipe
2. Cranberry-Elderflower Champagne Sparklers
A cocktail befitting the glitz and glamour of the holiday season! Cranberry-elderflower champagne sparklers combine tart cranberry, dry prosecco, and a dash of St. Germain liqueur, resulting in a festive drink that’s bubbly and bright, yet gentle and understated. Fruity, yet tart. Dry, yet smooth and sweet. The perfect Christmas or New Year’s Eve libation!
get this cranberry cocktail recipe
Cranberry Appetizer Recipes
1. The Best Ever Cranberry Brie Bites
Melty brie and sweet-tart cranberry sauce baked in buttery crescent dough or puff pastry cups then topped with a drizzle of honey. Dress them up with toasted pecans and a fresh rosemary garnish then watch them disappear in minutes!
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2. Spinach Salad with Apples, Cranberries, and Maple Vinaigrette
Crisp apples, crumbled feta or goat cheese, glazed pecans, and dried cranberries shine on a bed of vibrant, fresh spinach leaves. The simple homemade maple vinaigrette ties all the ingredients together beautifully for a light but delicious start to any fall or winter holiday meal!
get this spinach salad recipe
3. Cranberry Brie Dip
This cranberry brie dip is rich, melty, and perfectly sweet. Made with brie and cranberry sauce, it only takes a few minutes to prep but will be gone in a flash! It’s the perfect quick-and-easy, can’t-stop-eating appetizer on Thanksgiving or Christmas, using just a little of your cranberry sauce, served with slices of baguette or crackers.
get this cranberry brie dip recipe
4. Kale Salad with Cranberries
A bright and light raw kale salad tossed in a lemony honey vinaigrette and dotted with sweet, tart dried cranberries. The perfect side dish for a heavy holiday feast!
get this kale salad recipe
Recipes for Cranberry Sides & Cranberry Sauces
1. Cranberry Salsa
Cranberry salsa is such a deliciously fun and flavorful holiday appetizer or condiment, which we love spooned over cream cheese and served with crackers. This quick and easy recipe only takes about 5 minutes to make, and your friends and family will devour it!
get this cranberry salsa recipe
2. Cranberry Orange Relish
Deliciously full of flavor and only takes 5 minutes to make! Perfect on the Thanksgiving or Christmas table, this easy, sweet-tart side is also great with roast chicken or pork. Great to make ahead for Thanksgiving or Christmas, as well.
get this cranberry orange relish recipe
3. Cranberry Relish with Apple and Orange
Cranberry relish is quick and easy to make, and is packed with tons of tart and sweet flavor. Made with oranges, apples, fresh cranberries, and just the right amount of sweetness, this holiday side dish keeps well, too, so it’s great to make ahead.
get this cranberry relish recipe
4. Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce with Apples & Rosemary (Whole30, Paleo)
The perfect Whole30 cranberry sauce: sweet and tart with no added sweeteners at all! It’s the perfect addition to any Whole30 Thanksgiving table and goes beautifully with my compliant green bean casserole. Easy and quick yet tastes gourmet!
get this Whole30 cranberry sauce recipe
5. Keto Cranberry Sauce
from easyhealthyrecipes.com
With only 1g net carb per serving, this simple yet delicious keto cranberry sauce belongs on your low carb or reduced sugar holiday table! Made with fresh whole cranberries, a keto-friendly sweetener, and a little optional orange zest, no one would ever guess this homemade cranberry sauce is also sugar free!
get this keto cranberry sauce recipe
6. Brussels Sprouts Salad (Whole30, Paleo)
from easyhealthyrecipes.com
This Brussels Sprouts Salad with apples and cranberries is raw and super fresh! So easy to make, this recipe is perfect as an appetizer or side dish.
get this brussels sprouts recipe
7. Homemade Cranberry Sauce With Rosemary And Orange
This simple recipe for homemade cranberry sauce uses a handful of fresh ingredients to put an elevated spin on a classic holiday recipe. Fresh rosemary and tangy orange juice add a depth of flavor to the sweet and tart cranberry sauce, creating a beautiful whole berry sauce even the most steadfast lovers of jellied cranberry sauce will enjoy.
get this cranberry sauce recipe
Entrée Recipes Featuring Cranberries
1. One-Pan Cranberry Rosemary Chicken
Our reader-favorite cranberry rosemary chicken is an easy one-pan chicken dish that’s full of vibrant, wintery flavor. Tart cranberries married with heady rosemary and sweet maple syrup, grounded by a rich white wine sauce. Made paleo-friendly or Whole30-compliant with simple ingredient swaps, this chicken recipe is perfect for holiday dinners and hurried weekday meals alike.
get this cranberry chicken recipe
2. Paleo Cranberry Apple Chicken Thighs With Rosemary (Whole30)
These paleo cranberry apple chicken thighs with rosemary are such a delicious paleo fall recipe. With organic cranberry juice and dried cranberries, these paleo cranberry apple chicken thighs are an easy and quick paleo dinner that’s elegant enough for company.
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3. Paleo Chicken + Stuffing Bake [Member Exclusive Recipe]
A simple, whole-foods approach to classic, comforting chicken and stuffing. Pair this bake with a side of cranberry sauce for a homey, filling meal.Note: This recipe is available exclusively to our 40 Aprons Premium members. You must be logged in to your 40 Aprons Premium account to access it. Not a member yet? Get all the information here.
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4. Turkey Salad with Cranberries and Apples
Planning on turkey for your holiday meal? This recipe for turkey salad will have you super excited about the leftovers! It's a mix of turkey, cranberries, pecans, apples, celery, and a creamy mayo blend for a seasonal spin on classic chicken salad.
get this turkey salad recipe
5. Cranberry Chicken Salad
from easyhealthyrecipes.com
Light and creamy cranberry chicken salad uses 6 ingredients to create a dish filled with sweet and tangy flavors. Enjoy it on a bed of fresh greens, stuffed between two croissant halves, or just by the spoonful.
get this cranberry chicken salad recipe
6. Whole30 & Paleo Cranberry Chicken
The recipe starts with my perfect chicken thighs: seared until golden on top then finished in the oven until they’re juicy and tender, with a deliciously crispy skin. They’re roasted with fresh cranberries that char just a bit to be soft and striking, then served with a pan sauce infused with more cranberries, shallot, fresh thyme.
get this cranberry chicken recipe
7. Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad
This easy cranberry walnut chicken salad is delicious and so fun to eat. Healthy and full of protein, this savory, but sweet recipe is a breeze to make and includes an option for the paleo lifestyle.
get this cranberry walnut chicken salad recipe
Cranberry Dessert Recipes
1. Easy Cranberry Cake with White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
This cranberry white chocolate cake is incredibly stunning, moist, and best of all, super easy! Absolutely perfect for the holidays, I started making this cake years ago as a quick but impressive Christmas dessert, and the tartness of the cranberries is just delicious with the easy white chocolate cream cheese frosting. Made using a box mix to keep it simple, or use your favorite white cake recipe.
get this cranberry cake recipe
2. Paleo Cranberry Bliss Bars
These paleo cranberry bliss bars are just that: bliss! These vegan cranberry bliss bars are a grain-, gluten-, and dairy-free paleo Starbucks copycat recipe that’s perfect for the holidays. Blondies, layered with “cream cheese” frosting, topped with dried cranberries, these paleo cranberry bliss bars are so delicious. You’ll love these vegan cranberry bliss bars because they’re a holiday treat that are totally guilt-free!
3. Paleo Cranberry Orange Pound Cake
This paleo cranberry orange pound cake is such a wonderful paleo fall recipe! With fresh orange flavor and sweet-tart dried cranberries, this paleo cranberry orange pound cake is tender, moist, and full of flavor. This paleo cranberry orange pound cake takes full advantage of such a fantastic flavor combo and uses all healthier ingredients to make a lovely paleo fall recipe!
get this cranberry pound cake recipe
4. Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies (Gluten Free)
from easyhealthyrecipes.com
Equal parts stunning and delicious, these oatmeal cranberry cookies are full of warm holiday flavors, all from a handful of pantry-staple ingredients. Bake them right away or freeze the dough for small-batch cookies whenever a craving strikes.
get this oatmeal cranberry cookies recipe
5. Easy Cranberry White Chocolate Cookie Bars
A sweet, simple sugar cookie layer, dotted with chewy, tart dried cranberries and topped with a creamy, rich white chocolate "ganache" and dotted with white sugar pearls. Using refrigerated cookie dough makes these so easy and the perfect holiday treats.
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had no idea that there could be such creative cranberry recipes, cranberry orange relish, love it, sweet and sour-ish, nice pairing and love having all of these recipes, thank you
Yes, Sabrina! So many delicious ways to use this gorgeous fruit. Glad you enjoyed it!