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These cranberry recipes highlight the best ways to use this sweet tart fruit: dried, fresh and frozen! Try appetizers, muffins, cakes, and more.
Got cranberries on hand? You’re in luck. This sweet tart berry is incredibly versatile: and it’s not just for cranberry sauce. Bake up this berry into quick breads and muffins, blend it into smoothies, or even make it into tasty appetizer recipes like salsa and brie bites. This list features both dried, frozen, and fresh cranberry recipes. Below you’ll see favorites from this website and selections from top recipe developers around the web. Let’s get started!
And now…20 tasty cranberry recipes!
Cranberries and salsa aren’t the most likely pair: until you’ve tried this Cranberry Salsa recipe! This fun fall appetizer is zingy and bright, pairing tart berries with fresh cilantro, onion, and jalapeno for a sweet tart dip. Trust us: once you try it, you’ll fall head over heels! Sugar balances out the tart flavor, and the hint of heat from jalapeno is just right for pairing with the berries.
Did you know cranberry sauce is beyond easy to make homemade? Turns out, all you need is a handful of ingredients and 10 minutes to make this side dish. There’s really no need for canned! This easy fresh cranberry sauce recipe comes together quickly with the flavors of brown sugar, orange, and cinnamon.
Here’s a cranberry recipe that shot to the top of our favorites list: these Cranberry Orange Muffins! They’re soft and fluffy, scented with zingy orange zest and pops of sweet tart cranberries. The best part? A sweet orange icing glaze brings in just the right extra pop of sweetness to balance the berries.
This apple cranberry crisp is a fun way to use cranberries! The tartness of fresh cberries melds with sweet, comforting crisp apples in a cinnamon-spiced fruit layer. The berries add a zingy flavor and a bright red hue to the fruit, which shines topped with golden buttery crisp crumbles.
Looking for a cranberry recipe that's a quick and easy appetizer? Try Cranberry Goat Cheese! This festive appetizer is perfect for parties, pairing the flavors of cranberry, pistachio and fresh rosemary with the tangy cheese. Drizzle honey over the top before serving for a sweet pop. It’s fast to put together and ideal for snack tables, scooped up with crackers or crostini.
Got frozen cranberries? Here’s a great way to use them: a Cranberry Smoothie! This bright crimson puree is frosty and tangy, with bold berry flavor. Sweeten it to taste with maple syrup or honey, so this drink can range from very tart to mildly sweet.
Need a simple appetizer to wow at parties? Try this easy cranberry cream cheese dip! The homemade sauce bursts with sweet and tart cranberries, orange juice, and if you’d like, a little jalapeno for a tang. Spoon it over cream cheese and it’s perfect for dipping crackers or even apple slices. It comes together in minutes with minimal effort.
What’s more classic in the winter than a good Cranberry Orange Bread? This cozy quick bread has everything going for it: it’s moist and citrusy, studded with orange zest and pops of tangy berries. It’s simple and sweet, drizzled with a tasty sweet orange glaze. Every time we make this, it goes over incredibly well!
Cranberry clusters are a fun and easy treat! Melt dark chocolate, add dried cranberries and pistachios, and cool in refrigerator. The result is so so delicious, especially with a quality dark chocolate. With the contrasting red and green of the pistachios, they’re fun and festive looking too.
Need a great cranberry punch recipe? Try this Cranberry Punch! The flavor is fruity and delicious, with a little sparkle from ginger ale. You can make it with rum for a punch with alcohol, or omit it for non alcoholic. Either way, it tastes incredible! The best part? Garnish it up with sliced citrus, rosemary branches and fresh cranberries.
This apple and cranberry appetizer recipe are a wonderful blend of sweet and savory. Apples and cranberries are sauteed with red onion, fresh sage, and for some complexity: a little brandy! Top it off with Parmesan shavings for a uniquely delicious snack or appetizer.
This classic cranberry pudding is a stunner! Top this bittersweet spongy pudding in a dreamy, creamy butter sauce and prepare to be amazed. It's 100 percent worth the effort and the perfect dessert to impress everyone around the table.
Got fresh cranberries? Bake them into this cake recipe! It's deliciously moist and flavorful, studded with berries and topped with a zingy orange glaze. via Grandbaby Cakes
Want a breakfast cranberry recipe? Try Orange Cranberry Waffles! They're speckled with a beautiful burst cranberries and a subtle hint of orange for a flavor that tastes like sunshine. Top it off with a zingy maple cranberry compote. via Jessica in the Kitchen
One of our favorite baked cranberry recipes? Scones! These sweet tart, melt-in-your-mouth scones are the perfect breakfast or snack. Cranberries and orange zest get together for an unforgettable flavor that everyone will love. via Immaculate Bites
Looking for cranberry appetizers? These cranberry brie puff pastry tarts are sweet, savory, salty, buttery, and flaky. Finished with a sparkle of coarse sugar and flaky sea salt, they'll steal the show at any gathering. via Sally's Baking Addiction
These white chocolate chip cranberry cookies are soft-baked and wonderfully chewy! They star the classic combination of sweet white chocolate morsels with tart dried cranberries. via Sally's Baking Addiction
Looking for a cranberry recipe that works at dinner or at brunch? This cranberry pecan cake is tender and buttery with brown sugar cinnamon pecan crumble blanketing each bite. via Sally's Baking Addiction
These cranberry crumble pie bars combine a buttery flaky shortbread crust, jammy cranberry filling, and crumbly almond topping. They're easy to eat and transport, and perfect for parties! via Sally's Baking Addiction
Last up in our cranberry recipes: cranberry cheesecake bites! This lighter dessert is made with Greek yogurt, cream cheese, homemade cranberry sauce, and a delicious crispy crust. via Fit Foodie Finds
20 Tasty Cranberry Recipes
This cranberry salsa recipe is fresh, zingy and spicy! It’s a fun fall and winter appetizer everyone will love.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 2 cups 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 10 ounces (2 ½ cups) cranberries (frozen or fresh)
- 1/4 red onion
- 1 jalapeño pepper
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup cilantro leaves and tender stems, packed
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- If the cranberries are frozen, bring them to room temperature.
- Cut the red onion into rough chunks. Slice the jalapeño pepper in half, remove the ribs and seeds, and chop the pepper into a few pieces. (You can add back some seeds if you’d like it spicy.) Place both in the bowl of a food processor and pulse several times to chop.
- Add the cranberries, lime juice, sugar, cilantro, and salt. Pulse several times until a roughly chopped texture forms.
- Taste and adjust flavors as necessary (add more seeds if you’d like it spicier). Before placing in a bowl, strain off any excess liquid. Serve with crackers, chips, pita, or bread. If desired, you can also serve over cream cheese. Stores refrigerated for up to 1 week.
Let us know if you have any questions!