20+ Cranberry Recipes You Have to Try This Holiday Season

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!

Main Dishes with Cranberries

1. Cranberry Rosemary One-Pan Chicken

This Cranberry Rosemary One-Pan Chicken features tender chicken thighs with a festive sweet-tart cranberry pan sauce infused with fresh rosemary for an elegant holiday dinner that’s surprisingly easy.

2. Whole30 Cranberry Chicken

This Whole30 Cranberry Chicken delivers juicy chicken thighs in a tangy cranberry sauce that’s naturally sweetened, making it perfect for health-conscious holiday guests.

3. Paleo Cranberry Apple Chicken

This Cranberry Apple Chicken combines tender chicken with seasonal cranberries and sweet apples for a Whole30-friendly main dish that brings festive flavors to your holiday table.

4. Turkey Salad

This Turkey Salad transforms Thanksgiving leftovers into a delicious next-day meal with crisp apples, sweet dried cranberries, crunchy pecans, and a creamy, tangy dressing.

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Cranberry Appetizers

5. Cranberry Jalapeño Dip

This Cranberry Jalapeño Dip brings together sweet-tart cranberries and spicy jalapeños for a festive holiday appetizer that disappears fast at Christmas parties.

6. Cranberry Brie Bites

These Cranberry Brie Bites feature flaky phyllo cups filled with melty brie and topped with tangy cranberry sauce for an elegant holiday finger food.

7. Cranberry Salsa

This Cranberry Salsa is a sweet and spicy festive twist on traditional salsa that adds holiday flair to your appetizer spread.

8. Cranberry Brie Dip

This Cranberry Brie Dip is an incredibly easy hot dip that combines creamy brie with sweet-tart cranberries for the ultimate holiday crowd-pleaser.

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Cranberry Sides and Sauces

9. Rosemary Cranberry Sauce with Orange

So yummy, our Rosemary Cranberry Sauce with Orange features fresh cranberries, bright orange zest, and aromatic rosemary for a sophisticated upgrade to your Thanksgiving table.

10. Cranberry Relish

So easy to make, this Cranberry Relish is a fresh, uncooked holiday condiment that’s bright, tangy, and ready in minutes for your festive feast.

11. Cranberry Orange Relish

Cranberry Orange Relish combines raw cranberries with fresh orange for a vibrant, citrusy Thanksgiving side that complements turkey perfectly.

12. Instant Pot Whole30 Cranberry Sauce

This Instant Pot Whole30 Cranberry Sauce is quick, easy, and naturally sweetened for a compliant holiday side dish that’s ready in minutes.

13. Best Spinach Salad

For a really healthy side, this Spinach Salad features fresh spinach, crisp apples, festive dried cranberries, glazed pecans, and crumbled goat cheese, making it a gorgeous holiday dish.

14. Kale Salad with Cranberries

Healthy can be tasty! Our Kale Salad is full of bright, colorful kale, tossed in a lemony-honey vinaigrette and dotted with sweet-tart cranberries—perfect for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner.

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Cranberry Cocktails and Drinks

15. Cranberry Margarita

So refreshing, Cranberry Margaritas are a festive twist on the classic cocktail with tart cranberry juice, tequila, and fresh lime for lively holiday celebrations.

16, Cranberry Elderflower Champagne Sparkler

Go classy with this Cranberry Elderflower Champagne Sparkler. It’s an elegant holiday cocktail featuring cranberry juice, elderflower liqueur, and bubbly champagne for New Year’s Eve or Christmas toasts.

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Cranberry Dessert Recipes

17. Cranberry Orange Bread

This Cranberry Orange Bread is a moist, quick sweet bread studded with tart cranberries and brightened with fresh orange zest—perfect for holiday gift-giving or serving at your Thanksgiving or Christmas table. (That orange glaze is to-die-for!)

18. Cranberry White Chocolate Cookie Bars

These Easy Cranberry White Chocolate Cookie Bars feature chewy bars loaded with festive cranberries and sweet white chocolate chips for holiday cookie platters.

19. Cranberry Bliss Bars

These Cranberry Bliss Bars are a copycat of the Starbucks holiday favorite with soft blondies, dried cranberries, white chocolate, and cream cheese frosting.

20. Cranberry Cinnamon Rolls

Incredibly delicious, these Cranberry Cinnamon Rolls feature soft, fluffy rolls swirled with cinnamon and studded with tart cranberries for a festive Christmas morning breakfast.

21. Cranberry Cake with White Chocolate Frosting

This rich and decadent Cranberry Cake is tender and moist, dotted with seasonal cranberries and topped with rich white chocolate cream cheese frosting for holiday dessert tables.