These cranberry favorite recipes are bursting with tangy, zesty, and sweet flavors. Guaranteed you will find something you have never tried before and fall in love! These cranberry recipes are the best of the best and the perfect way to incorporate this antioxidant rich berry in your cooking and baking!

A collage of images of cranberry recipes.


Cranberries are harvested mid September to November so naturally they fit in so well with the holiday season, but you can truly enjoy these recipes year round! These recipes are so good it would be a shame to only enjoy them a couple of months of the year.

Whenever I am at the store and see cranberries, I always buy two bags so I have extra on hand. They freeze so well and you never know when you might have a hankering for Cranberry Shortbread Bars or my favorite Cranberry Salsa with Cream Cheese. While cranberries eaten plain are rather tart and bitter, they add a nice punch and help balance sweetness to many dessert recipes.

A good cranberry dish adds such a nice pop of color to the table and any cranberry dessert can be dressed up to fit the current mood of the holiday or party. This wide range of recipes shows how versatile cranberries are and what a wonderful addition they make to any dish.

A side angle view of a cranberry cheesecake with a few slices removed.
Cranberry Cheesecake
This Cranberry Cheesecake is a showstopping dessert guaranteed to get wild praise and requests for you to be in charge of dessert every year. It's got a few components, but it's well worth the effort when you present this stunning Christmas cheesecake piled high with sugared cranberries and hear the oohs and ahhs from your friends & loved ones.
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  1. Cranberry Cheesecake

This Cranberry Cheesecake is not only an absolute showstopper but tastes uh-mazing. It seriously is so beautiful with the sugared cranberries on top and the bits of tart cranberries with the sweet cream cheese makes this just as good as it looks. You will not regret making this delectable dessert.

An image of cranberry salsa with cream cheese on a plate.
Cranberry Salsa with Cream Cheese
Fresh Cranberry Salsa with cream cheese and crackers is a spicy and sweet, quick and easy appetizer that is perfect for entertaining during the holidays!
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  1. Cranberry Salsa with Cream Cheese

I don’t like to play favorites but this Cranberry Salsa with Cream Cheese is high on my list for using up those delicious cranberries. It is SO EASY to make, doesn’t involve any baking and cooking, and is always a party favorite. It’s kind of become my “signature dish” and people have started requesting this dish when I go to holiday parties.

Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe
Skip the canned stuff and make this deliciously fresh and easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce recipe. Loaded with fresh cranberries, mixed with cinnamon, orange, and a hint of vanilla, it is the perfect combination of sweet, citrus, and spice for a warming holiday treat.
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  1. Best Cranberry Sauce Recipe

I used to think cranberry sauce was kind of gross, until I found out I was eating the wrong kind of cranberry sauce. I am never going back to canned again. I really don’t think people realize just how easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce is and also how much better it tastes. I have converted everyone I come in contact with to make their own cranberry sauce. The smart ones listen and I always get a report back on how delicious this sweet and citrusy cranberry sauce is vs. the canned version.

A pile of cranberry orange muffins.
Cranberry Orange Muffins
These festive Cranberry Orange Muffins are a year-round favorite, but especially delicious during cranberry season. They are moist, fluffy, and full of flavor thanks to the addition of fresh orange zest and juicy cranberries.
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  1. Cranberry Orange Muffins

There are some flavors in the food world that just make sense. Like cranberry and orange. These Cranberry Orange Muffins are bursting with holiday flavor and the juicy cranberries taste so good with the zesty orange. Perfect for a morning snack or anytime treat.

A bowl full of squares of white chocolate fudge.
White Chocolate Cranberry Pecan Fudge
This delicious White Chocolate Cranberry Pecan Fudge is perfectly festive with dried cranberries and toasted pecans that give it a holiday feel as well as wonderful texture and flavor. It's a great addition to any Christmas party or for gifting to friends and neighbors!
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  1. White Chocolate Cranberry Pecan Fudge

Fudge is top of my list for neighbor treats. I love making, giving, and receiving a good fudge. This White Chocolate Cranberry Pecan Fudge is always highly received and adds a perfect holiday touch to any party. It’s so so easy to make and the flavors all blend so nicely with each other.

Cranberry Jell-O Salad served on a gray plate with a baking dish in the background.
Cranberry Jello Salad
Cranberry Jello Salad is a sweet-tart, dessert salad loaded with crushed pineapple, chopped pecans, cranberries and a tangy cream cheese topping!  It’s perfect to serve for Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas dinner, or any night of the year!
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  1. Cranberry Jello Salad with Cream Cheese Topping

Nothing makes me happier than a good Jello salad. Not surprisingly this is one of my most popular Jello recipes. It adds a bright pop of color to your plate and no one can pass up on this sweet tangy dish. It requires little prep and is made in advance which is great if you have a busy cooking day.

A slice of cranberry apple pie on a plate.
Cranberry Apple Pie Recipe
Cranberry Apple Pie is a sweet-tart and totally refreshing take on a classic apple pie with bright bursts of cranberry flavor! The flaky, buttery crust, sweet apple-cranberry pie filling, and tart bursts of fresh cranberries with just a hint of cinnamon make for a delicious and festive Fall dessert, sure to delight guests and family this holiday season.
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  1. Easy Cranberry Apple Pie

Everyone loves a good traditional apple pie but lets make it even better by adding the surprise flavor, cranberries. It’s a whole new twist on the traditional apple pie. Each bite is exhilarating and frankly nothing beats the tart burst of fresh cranberries with the sweet cinnamon apples.

An overhead image of white chocolate cranberry blondies.
White Chocolate Cranberry Blondies
These festive and fun White Chocolate Cranberry Blondies are made with fresh cranberries, white chocolate chips, and chopped pecans, with a little extra melted white chocolate drizzled over the top for good measure!  A perfect addition to a holiday cookie platter at a Christmas cookie exchange party!
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  1. White Chocolate Cranberry Blondies

This is one of those dishes that looks complicated or time consuming to make but really isn’t. It’s an easy one-bowl recipe and to make it look extra fancy cut them into triangles drizzled with white chocolate. The soft buttery texture melts in your mouth with sweet white chocolate chunks and tart cranberries complementing each other making this a delicious experience.

A loaf of cranberry orange monkey bread on a white plate next to a striped linen napkin.
Cranberry Orange Pull-Apart Monkey Bread
Orange zest and tart cranberries are tucked into every nook and cranny between pillowy soft rolls in this Cranberry Orange Pull-Apart Monkey Bread that will be a showstopper at any gathering, whether it's for breakfast, brunch, or dessert! Premade frozen dinner rolls make assembling this monkey bread recipe a snap!
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  1. Cranberry Orange Monkey Bread

Everyone knows about the traditional cinnamon and caramel monkey bread but this cranberry orange version is a showstopper. Using premade frozen dinner rolls makes assembling this a breeze. All the work is done the night before so in the morning just pop it in the oven and you will have a delicious pillowy buttery bite of sweet-tart monkey bread with the orange and cranberry combo that just melts in your mouth and tastes like the holidays. 

Cranberry Orange Quick Bread Recipe
Citrusy sweet and tart Cranberry Orange Bread is quick and easy to make with fresh or frozen cranberries and an easy orange glaze. It's a delicious for breakfast, snacking, or gifting to friends or neighbors!
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  1. The BEST Cranberry Orange Bread

What is it with cranberry and orange that just goes so well together! There is no yeast in this bread so you don’t need to worry about any rising time. It comes together quick in one bowl and I would suggest doubling it because you are going to want two loaves. The easy orange glaze on top might just be my favorite part.

Fresh cranberry shortbread bars on a white plate.
Fresh Cranberry Shortbread Bars
These Fresh Cranberry Shortbread Bars make a great Thanksgiving dessert or a beautiful addition to a Christmas cookie platter!  Simple, buttery, and full of sweet-tart cranberry flavor, the white chocolate and macadamia nuts make them even more special!
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  1. Fresh Cranberry Shortbread Bars

Easy cranberry shortbread bars are a heavenly combination of buttery richness and tart cranberry goodness. The crumbly, melt-in-your-mouth shortbread base is perfectly complemented by the sweet-tart cranberries with a crunch of macadamia nuts and white chocolate creating a delightful contrast of flavors. They are perfect to share with neighbors or bring a big platter to a holiday party.

An image of a bowl of fluffy pink dessert salad made with fresh cranberries, pineapple, marshmallows, and whipped cream.
Cranberry Fluff Salad
Cranberry fluff salad is an amazing dessert salad worthy of your holiday plates this year. You’ll find it hard to not fill your plate with seconds and thirds of this sweet-tart salad! After all, you do have to share, right?
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  1. Cranberry Fluff Salad

This cranberry fluff salad is a perfect addition to your holiday spread. This chilled salad is a great contrast to the savory rich foods on your plate. Cranberry fluff salad is an easy to make fluffy salad full of pineapple, cranberries, mini marshmallows and other delicious flavors that meld together to create a unique and flavorful experience with each bite. 

An image of a coconut cake filled with cranberry filling.
Festive Cranberry Coconut Cake
Cranberry Coconut Cake is a showstopping dessert, perfect for any holiday party or festive occasion! Layers of moist coconut cake are filled with a sweet-tart homemade cranberry filling, frosted with rich cream cheese frosting, and coated in a layer of sweetened coconut.
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  1. Cranberry Coconut Cake

I am not an expert cake decorator by any means but this cake turned out absolutely stunning. It’s as easy as pressing coconut and placing some beautiful cranberries to make this a showstopping dessert. The layers of cranberry filling with coconut cake and rich cream cheese frosting makes this cake unbelievably delicious. This snowy magical cake with frosted cranberries are what holiday dreams are made of.

Sugared cranberries in a large bowl.
Sugared Cranberries
Sugared cranberries are possibly the easiest and least expensive way to dress up any holiday dessert. Not only is it a fool-proof way off adding pops of color to the dishes they adorn, but they are also so tasty! With a burst of sweet and tart exploding in your mouth with every bite, they may have you eating them by handfuls.
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  1. Easy Festive Sugared Cranberries

Most people don’t really think of making sugared cranberries but its an easy inexpensive way to add a festive touch to any holiday dessert or table. Bonus they are delicious to eat on their own as well.

White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies
White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies are an easy and delicious cookie that are perfect for a holiday cookie exchange or at any other time of the year. We actually enjoy them all year long and especially like adding chopped pecans for a little added crunch!
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  1. White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

These White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies can be enjoyed all year long thanks to the dried cranberries used in this recipe. Each cookie features a perfectly chewy texture, offering a delightful contrast between the smooth, sweet chocolate and the bright, fruity bursts of cranberry. I like adding chopped pecans to my cookies but you can leave them out if you want to. These cookies will satisfy any sweet tooth craving.

Cranberry sauce muffins in a muffin pan.
Cranberry Sauce Muffins
Got leftover cranberry sauce from a holiday meal? These Cranberry Sauce Muffins are our favorite way to use it up. Easy to make and ready in right around 30 minutes, these festive muffins with sweet-tart bursts of real cranberry flavor are sure to be a hit!
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  1. Cranberry Sauce Muffins

One of my favorite ways to use up any leftover cranberry sauce is Cranberry Sauce Muffins. You can use leftover homemade cranberry sauce or canned cranberry sauce. Make them for breakfast, brunch, or a snack and enjoy one while they are still warm with a glass of cold milk. Or freeze them for a quick and tasty treat at a moments notice!

A close image of cranberry brie bites made with crescent roll dough.
Cranberry Brie Bites
Cranberry Brie Bites are the perfect holiday appetizer, combining creamy brie cheese, tart cranberry sauce, and flaky crescent roll dough! Whether you're hosting a festive holiday party or simply want an easy appetizer, this very easy recipe is a quick crowd-pleaser for any gathering!
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  1. Cranberry Brie Bites

Let’s branch out from the regular cranberry desserts and try something more savory! These Cranberry Brie Bites are the perfect appetizer with a little bit of sweet and a little bit of salty and so so easy to make.

Christmas Stovetop Potpourri
Christmas is the season of gift-giving and cozy, warm scents! This Christmas Stovetop Potpourri is the best combination of the two! It's very quick to throw together, and you can even package it up and give pre-made stovetop potpourri bags as gifts to bring some extra cheer to your loved ones this year!
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  1. Christmas Stovetop Potpourri

Nothing makes it feel more like the holidays than a good stovetop potpourri wafting the smell of Christmas throughout the house. The oranges, the cranberries, the cinnamon all coming together to make an unforgettable aroma. This is easy to pull together for yourself or great to give as a gift. I’ve never met anyone that doesn’t want their house to smell like Christmas.

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About the author

Hi, I'm Amy

I enjoy exploring the world through food, culture, and travel and sharing the adventure with mostly from-scratch, family friendly recipes that I think of as modern comfort cooking.

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Reader questions and reviews

  1. Christine Evans says:

    I had surgery a little over scared ago and started getting my recipes lined up for the holidays while layed up and just wanted to thank you for so many I canโ€™t wait to try.

    1. Amy says:

      Oh man I hope you have a full recovery! I am very excited you found my recipes! You are going to love them. Get better soon!

  2. MaryAnn says:

    Thank you for the Cranberry recipes. I for one love to serve cranberries for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Besides, Thanksgiving comes first and I like to see Thanksgiving recipes before Thanksgiving, and save Christmas until after Thanksgiving has been thoroughly celebrated.

    1. Amy says:

      Yes it is nice to separate the two holidays! I hope you enjoy the Cranberry recipes!