18 Easy Cranberry Recipes for the Holidays
There’s something about cranberries that instantly makes me think of the holidays. I tend to associate them with cranberry sauce at first, but there’s actually so much more you can do with them. They work in everything from breads and cakes to appetizers, dinners and even festive drinks.
I’ve pulled together some of my favorite cranberry recipes here, and there’s a real mixture. Some are perfect for Thanksgiving or Christmas, some would be lovely for a holiday party, and others are just easy recipes to make when you’ve got cranberries that need using up. I particularly love recipes that have that sweet and savory combination going on.
If you’ve got a bag of fresh cranberries sitting in the fridge or some dried cranberries in the cupboard, this should give you plenty of ideas for using them. There are some really easy ones here too, so hopefully you’ll spot a few you fancy trying.
Why You’ll Love These Recipes
- I love how much variety there is here – When I think of cranberries I automatically think of sweet recipes, but they’re so good in savory dishes too. I’ve included everything from breads and desserts to chicken, pasta and appetizers.
- They’re perfect for this time of year – Cranberries just feel like the holidays to me. That gorgeous color makes even a really simple recipe feel a little more festive.
- There are plenty of easy recipes – I’m always drawn to recipes that look like you’ve made loads of effort without actually having to spend all day in the kitchen, and there are lots of those here.
- I love having options when people are coming over – There are little appetizers, cozy dinners, desserts and festive drinks, so you can pick a few recipes for a party or just make something nice at home.
- They’re a great way to use up cranberries – If you’ve bought cranberries for one recipe and now have the rest of the bag sitting there, there are plenty of ideas here for using them up instead of forgetting about them.
1. Cranberry Jalapeno Dip
I love the sweet and spicy flavors in this one, and it’s a nice easy appetizer for the holidays. It’s creamy, a little tangy and has just enough heat from the jalapenos.
GET THE RECIPE2. Crockpot Cranberry Meatballs
These are lovely and saucy, which makes them really versatile. You can serve them as an appetizer for the holidays or turn them into an easy dinner with rice or mashed potatoes.
GET THE RECIPE3. Cranberry Cream Cheese Bread
This is such a lovely bake for this time of year, with plenty of cranberries and a creamy swirl running through it. I’d happily have a slice with a cup of coffee, but it would be really nice for a holiday breakfast or brunch too.
GET THE RECIPE4. Cranberry Orange Muffins
Cranberry and orange is one of those combinations that just works so well, especially at this time of year. These are lovely for breakfast or brunch, or just with a cup of coffee when you fancy something sweet.
GET THE RECIPE5. Cranberry Pecan Mini Cheese Balls
I love making these little cheese balls for the holidays because they’re easy, but they still look really pretty on a platter. The creamy cheese, sweet cranberries and crunchy pecans are such a good combination too.
GET THE RECIPE6. Collard Greens Salad with Cranberries
I like having something a little fresher alongside all the heavier holiday food, and this is a really easy way to do that. The cranberries add a lovely bit of sweetness and color, so it still feels nice and festive too.
7. Roasted Cranberry Chicken Thighs
This is one of those dinners that feels a little bit special without being difficult to make. I love how the cranberries cook down with the chicken and give it that lovely sweet and savory flavor.
GET THE RECIPE8. Cranberry Sauce Poke Cake
If you’ve got cranberry sauce left over, this is a really good way to use some of it up. It soaks right down into the cake, making it lovely and moist with plenty of cranberry flavor.
GET THE RECIPE9. Crockpot Cranberry BBQ Turkey Sliders
These are really easy to throw together when you want something a bit different for the holidays. I love the cranberry and BBQ sauce together, and they’re great for feeding a few people without much fuss.
GET THE RECIPE10. Cranberry Orange Christmas Pies
I love how festive these little pies look, and they’re actually really simple to put together. The cranberry and orange filling works so well for Christmas, and the tree shape makes them a bit more fun too.
11. Cranberry White Cheddar Chicken Pasta
This is a bit different from the usual cranberry recipes, but that’s exactly why I like it. The sharp white cheddar works sooo well with the cranberries, and you end up with a creamy, cozy pasta that’s full of flavor.
GET THE RECIPE12. Mini Cranberry Pull-Apart Bread
This is such an easy one to make with refrigerated biscuits, and I love the little pockets of melted brie and cranberry sauce throughout. It’s lovely served warm and makes a really easy appetizer or side for the holidays.
Servings: 2-3
Ingredients:
- 1 can of refrigerated biscuits (8 biscuits)
- 1 wheel of brie
- 1/2 cup of whole cranberry sauce
- 1 tablespoon of butter
- Cooking spray
Instructions:
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Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a 6-inch bundt cake pan with cooking spray.
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Cut each biscuit into eight pieces, then roll the pieces into small balls with your hands.
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Add a layer of biscuit balls to the pan, followed by spoonfuls of cranberry sauce and cubes of brie.
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Continue layering biscuit pieces, cranberry sauce, and brie until the pan is filled.
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Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in the microwave.
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Drizzle the melted butter evenly over the layered ingredients.
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Bake for about 40 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown and cooked through.
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Let the bread cool in the pan for a few minutes after baking.
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Invert the bundt pan onto a serving plate and enjoy warm.
13. Orange Cranberry Walnut Sourdough
The orange and cranberry give this bread such a lovely flavor, with plenty of crunch from the walnuts too. I love a slice of this just as it is, but it’s even better toasted with a bit of butter.
GET THE RECIPE14. Sugared Cranberries
These are so simple to make but they look really pretty and festive once they’re covered in sugar. I love using them to decorate holiday desserts and drinks, although they’re quite nice for snacking on too.
GET THE RECIPE15. Double-Baked Cranberry Biscotti
There’s so much packed into these, with dried fruit, crunchy nuts, orange zest and a little white chocolate to finish them off. I love them with a cup of coffee, and they’re especially nice to have around over the holidays.
Servings: 24 biscotti
Ingredients:
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3 medium eggs
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp almond extract
- Zest of 1 orange
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup dried apricots, chopped
- 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
- 1/4 cup hazelnuts, chopped
- ¼ cup dates, pitted, chopped
- 1 cup white chocolate, chopped
Instructions:
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Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease and flour a baking sheet.
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In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
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In a separate bowl, beat the eggs, melted butter, vanilla extract, almond extract, and orange zest until smooth and well combined.
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Gradually add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients, stirring just until combined. Use a spatula to gently fold the batter together without overmixing.
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Fold in the dried cranberries, apricots, walnuts, and hazelnuts.
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Shape the dough into a log about 12 inches long and 3 inches wide, then place it on the prepared baking sheet.
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Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until lightly golden. Remove from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes.
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Reduce the oven temperature to 300°F (150°C).
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Using a serrated knife, carefully slice the log into ½-inch thick pieces.
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Arrange the slices cut-side down on the baking sheet and bake for 15–20 minutes, flipping halfway through, until crisp and golden.
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Allow the biscotti to cool completely.
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In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the white chocolate chips in 30-second intervals, stirring after each until smooth.
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Dip one end of each biscotti into the melted white chocolate and place on parchment paper to set.
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Let the chocolate harden fully before serving or storing.
16. Cranberry Lime Mocktail
This is a nice easy drink to make over the holidays when you fancy something without alcohol. It’s fruity and refreshing with a little bit of tang from the lime.
GET THE RECIPE17. Cranberry Spritzer Mocktail
This is one of those really simple drinks you can throw together in a few minutes. It’s fruity, fizzy and nice to have as a non-alcoholic option over Christmas.
18. Cranberry Mimosa
This is such an easy way to make a regular mimosa feel a bit more Christmassy. I like these for Christmas morning or brunch when you want something simple but still a little festive.
GET THE RECIPEI always seem to have cranberries around over the holidays, so it’s nice to have plenty of different ways to use them. Hopefully there are a few recipes here you fancy trying, and maybe a couple you wouldn’t have thought of using cranberries in before.
