Recipes Using Fresh Cranberries (2024)

Cranberry season is in full swing! Celebrate the holidays and wintertime with Recipes Using Fresh Cranberries.

In this collection of recipes using fresh cranberries, you will find a range of sweet and savory dishes that showcase this delicious fruit.

From appetizers and side dishes to desserts and drinks, these recipes are perfect for any occasion.

Be sure to check out my other delicious Winter Recipes!

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Fresh cranberries are a staple of the holiday season, and their tart flavor and bright red color can add a burst of flavor to a variety of dishes.

From cranberry sauce and relish to baked goods and cocktails, fresh cranberries are a versatile ingredient that can be used in many recipes.

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Whether you are looking to make a classic cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving or want to experiment with new flavor combinations, there are plenty of ways to incorporate fresh cranberries into your cooking.

Recipes Using Fresh Cranberries

Recipes Using Fresh Cranberries (10)

Cranberry Cheesecake

This rich, festive Cranberry Cheesecake combines classic flavor with a homemade cranberry compote-infused layer above a crust sweetly made with light brown sugar and graham crackers.

Recipes Using Fresh Cranberries (11)

Slow Cooker Cranberry Sauce

Perfectly blending the sweetness of sugar with the tartness of cranberries, this ridiculously easy Slow Cooker Cranberry Sauce will be a hit at your next holiday dinner.

Recipes Using Fresh Cranberries (12)

Photo Credit:www.therusticelk.com

Pork Chops with Cranberry

Delicious and full of flavor fresh cranberries are combined with pork chops to create the juiciest, most flavorful pork chops you’ve ever had.

Recipes Using Fresh Cranberries (13)

Holiday Cranberry Punch

Tangy, tart, sweet and absolutely delicious, this Holiday Cranberry Punch is sure to be the star of the celebration with its powerful berry flavor of cranberries and raspberries with a hint of vanilla.

Recipes Using Fresh Cranberries (14)

Photo Credit:simplyscrumptiouseats.com

Roasted Maple Brussel Sprouts with Bacon

Roasted Brussel sprouts tossed with fresh cranberries, bacon and seasoned with real maple syrup. You can't go wrong with this amazing holiday side dish.

Recipes Using Fresh Cranberries (15)

Photo Credit:www.beyondthechickencoop.com

Cranberry Bread

This cranberry bread is full of whole cranberries and is topped with an orange glaze. A perfect holiday treat for breakfast or brunch!

Recipes Using Fresh Cranberries (16)

Photo Credit:boulderlocavore.com

Cranberry Apple Skillet Chicken

Tender juicy chicken in a sweet and savory sauce full of apple cider, cranberries and apple slices. After searing the chicken thighs on the stove top the one pan dish is finished in the oven.

Recipes Using Fresh Cranberries (17)

Cranberry Pear Sauce with Rosemary and Ginger

This gorgeous, delicious Cranberry Pear Sauce is super quick, easy to make and does not include any refined sugar.

Recipes Using Fresh Cranberries (18)

Photo Credit:www.theredheadbaker.com

Baked Brie with Cabernet Cranberry Cherry Sauce

Baked brie en croute is a luxurious appetizer, and this one goes the extra mile with a flavorful cabernet cranberry cherry sauce.

Fresh cranberries become the star of this Easy Cranberry Upside Down Bundt Cake! It is the perfect recipe for your holiday celebration.

This vibrant side dish has amazing textures and flavors. Add Roasted Butternut Squash with Cranberries and Feta to your holiday table.

Recipes Using Fresh Cranberries (21)

Photo Credit:www.ihearteating.com

Cranberry Apple Crisp

Cranberry Apple Crisp takes the best of sweet apple crisp and adds a tart cranberry twist! The fruit is topped with a delicious brown sugar oatmeal topping for a deliciously comforting dessert.

These sweet/tart Sugared Cranberries (aka Candied Cranberries) have a hint of vanilla flavor and a ton of sparkle and holiday bling! They’re very easy to make and a fun project to do with kids around the holidays.

Recipes Using Fresh Cranberries (24)

Photo Credit:theoregondietitian.com

Cranberry Custard Pie

Cranberry custard pie is made with fresh cranberries, homemade custard filling, and a little bit of orange, too! It is perfect for the holidays!

Recipes Using Fresh Cranberries (25)

Photo Credit:www.ihearteating.com

Cranberry Orange Relish

Cranberry orange relish is a fresh side dish that goes perfectly with chicken or turkey. This easy, 3-ingredient side dish takes just 5 minutes to make!

Recipes Using Fresh Cranberries (26)

Photo Credit:nibbleanddine.com

Cranberry Upside Down Cake

Cranberries add a beautiful and festive touch to this tender and moist upside down cake!

Recipes Using Fresh Cranberries (27)

Photo Credit:numstheword.com

Cranberry Fluff

Cranberry Fluff is the perfect side dish for Thanksgiving, Christmas or any great meal. A simple, easy and kid friendly recipe that has been around for generations!

Recipes Using Fresh Cranberries (28)

Photo Credit:belleofthekitchen.com

Cranberry Muffins Recipe

These Cranberry Muffins are soft and fluffy with a bakery-quality crumb. Bursting with fresh cranberries and finished with a sparkling sugar crust, they’re hard to resist!

Recipes Using Fresh Cranberries (29)

Photo Credit:goodthingsbaking.com

Apple Cranberry Pie

Apples get a tart, pretty companion in the Apple Cranberry Pie. A hint of orange and spices give this pie a perfect blend of unique and traditional flavors.

Recipes Using Fresh Cranberries (30)

Photo Credit:www.rhubarbarians.com

Crispy cranberry buttermilk pancakes

These old fashioned cranberry buttermilk pancakes are crispy, buttery, and delicious! Cinnamon spiced, with some tart bursts from cranberries, you will love these!

Recipes Using Fresh Cranberries (31)

Photo Credit:www.barleyandsage.com

Fresh Cranberry White Chocolate Cookies

These cranberry white chocolate cookies are filled with fresh cranberries for bursts of tang balanced by the sweetness of white chocolate! They're soft, chewy and full of flavor for a fun, wintery Christmas cookie!

Recipes Using Fresh Cranberries (32)

Photo Credit:confessionsofparenting.com

15 Minute Cranberry Brie Bites

These cranberry Brie bites are easy to make and ready in a snap! They are the perfect appetizer for every holiday gathering!

Recipes Using Fresh Cranberries (33)

Photo Credit:thriftyjinxy.com

Cranberry Apple Walnut Stuffing Recipe

This delicious Cranberry Apple Walnut Stuffing Recipe is chock-full of yummy fruits and veggies and looks really beautiful too.

Recipes Using Fresh Cranberries (34)

Photo Credit:kitskitchen.com

No-Bake Christmas Cheesecake Bars

These no-bake cheesecake bars are delicious, easy to make, and topped with the cutest sparkling cranberries! Perfect for the holidays!

Recipes Using Fresh Cranberries (35)

Photo Credit:dishnthekitchen.com

Tasty Jalapeno Cranberry Salsa

This Cranberry Salsa will add a little extra spice to your holiday season. It’s a simple salsa, made with fresh cranberries along with a little bit of jalapeno heat.

Recipes Using Fresh Cranberries (36)

Photo Credit:champagne-tastes.com

Cranberry Tea with Warming Spices

This easy homemade cranberry tea is made with fresh or frozen cranberries, water, and warming spices. Add a splash of bourbon for a winter cocktail!

Recipes Using Fresh Cranberries (37)

Photo Credit:www.theroastedroot.net

Grain-Free Cranberry Orange Breakfast Cake

Grain-Free Cranberry Orange Breakfast Cake made with fresh cranberries and orange zest is a perfectly sweet treat that is healthy enough for breakfast or snack! This paleo cakerecipe will knock your socks off and please your guests!

Recipes Using Fresh Cranberries (2024)

FAQs

Can you freeze fresh cranberries to use later? ›

Place plastic bags of cranberries directly in the freezer for up to twelve months and use without thawing—just run cold water over them to rinse before using. Because some bruised and soft berries and some stems and leaves are often in the bags, you might prefer to sort and wash the berries before freezing them.

How do you take the bitterness out of fresh cranberries? ›

Anything from a drizzle of honey to agave, maple syrup, or molasses will also fare well. After a few minutes of maceration, the sour fruit juices will mix with the sugar and alleviate some of the cranberries' natural tartness.

Do you need to cook fresh cranberries before baking? ›

Do you need to cook fresh cranberries before baking? While cranberries should not be eaten as is (they are unpleasantly tart), they do not need to be cooked before they are used in baked goods.

Do cranberries get mushy after freezing? ›

If cranberries are frozen then removed from the freezer then thawed, they will have a soft texture and are usable for cooking and baking. Adding frozen cranberries to recipes is often recommended.

Do fresh bagged cranberries need to be refrigerated? ›

Refrigerator. Cranberries can be stored in the refrigerator up to three (3) months if they are kept in their original plastic packaging or in an airtight, sealed container. Left in the open air, at room temperature, cranberries quickly lose their freshness.

Do I need to rinse fresh cranberries? ›

Avoid cranberries that look bruised or shriveled. Before use, rinse fresh or frozen cranberries and discard any that are damaged. It is not necessary to rinse before freezing, and there is also no need to clean dried cranberries. When cooking, heat cranberries just until they pop.

Why do you soak cranberries? ›

However, some people might choose to soak dried cranberries briefly (15-30 minutes) in warm water or fruit juice to rehydrate them slightly if they prefer a softer texture or if they plan to use them in recipes where a softer consistency is desired. Soaking can also help reduce their natural tartness.

Do cranberries sweeten when cooked? ›

When fresh cranberries are cooked, they release all their sweet-tart flavor and the jammy goodness (from natural pectins) that makes cranberry sauces and relishes so popular at Thanksgiving. Use them to add zingy flavor to all kinds of desserts and help thicken pie and cobbler fillings.

Why should cranberries not be eaten raw? ›

Yes, raw cranberries are safe to consume raw, but you probably don't want to eat them that way. "Cranberries are safe to eat raw. However, usually they are cooked and have sugar added because of the bitter and sharp taste they have when raw," says Kelly West Keyser, a registered dietitian in Alabama.

How long to soak cranberries before baking? ›

Rehydrate the fruits: Dried fruits can be quite hard and dry, so it's often a good idea to rehydrate them before adding them to your baked goods. To do this, simply soak the dried fruits in warm water or fruit juice for 15-20 minutes until they are plump and tender.

Can I use fresh cranberries instead of dried in baking? ›

You'll probably want to use about 1 cup of fresh cranberries for every 1/2 cup of dried cranberries called for in the recipe. You can also look for recipes calling for fresh blueberries and use cranberries instead. Since they're similar in size, fresh blueberries and cranberries can be substituted one-for-one.

What does cranberries do for the female body? ›

Several studies indicate that cranberry helps prevent UTIs of the bladder and urethra (the tube that drains urine from the bladder), especially for women who have frequent UTIs. In one study of older women, cranberry juice reduced the amount of bacteria in the bladder compared to placebo.

What do cranberries do for your stomach? ›

If you eat a lot of meat, dairy, and sugar, these little fruits can help put good bacteria back into your digestive system. Also, cranberries might be able to stop a bacteria called Heliobacter pylori, which causes ulcers, from latching onto the walls of your stomach. However, more research is needed to be sure.

What illness can cranberries prevent? ›

Cranberries contain a substance that can prevent bacteria from sticking on the walls of the bladder. This may help reduce bladder and other urinary tract infections (UTIs). Cranberries (usually as cranberry juice) have been used to try and treat UTIs, particularly in high risk groups such as older people.

Are frozen cranberries as good as fresh? ›

Yes! Fresh cranberries freeze for up to a year and can often be substituted in recipes that call for fresh cranberries. When cooking with frozen cranberries, do not thaw before using.

Do you have to thaw frozen cranberries before cooking? ›

If you are using frozen cranberries, there is no need to defrost before cooking. Pull the sauce off the stove once you hear or see the first few cranberries burst. You want some of them to burst but others to remain whole for the best texture.

How do you store raw cranberries? ›

Cranberries like to be kept cold. If you bought them in a plastic bag, they can be kept right in the bag and stored in the crisper drawer of your fridge. If purchased from the farmers market and they're in a brown paper bag, just transfer them to an airtight container or zip-top bag.

Will frozen cranberries float? ›

Cranberries do float, so to get the at the bottom of a vase you need to freeze them in water.

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