Fresh cranberry season is short, so I make the most of it ~ muffins, cakes, pies, sauces, preserves, and savory recipes that put those tart little berries to work.
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fresh cranberry recipes for cranberry season
This is what you do with those bags of crimson gems you score in October through December. Don’t forget to stock your freezer to keep the fun going all year long.
FRESH CRANBERRY BAKING
The minute fresh cranberries hit the stores, this is where I start. Cranberries’ sharp tartness is especially good in sweet batters.
- You can generally use frozen cranberries in place of fresh, just use them straight from frozen, no thawing needed.
Cranberry Crumble Tart
Cranberry Crumble Tart is a fabulous buttery shortbread crust filled with a tart cranberry filling and cranberry whipped cream ~ so yummy!
Vanilla Cranberry Bundt Cake
A soft vanilla Bundt with bursts of tart cranberry and a silky glaze that catches the light ~ simple to make, beautiful to serve, and unmistakably festive.
Fresh Cranberry Muffins
When Fresh Cranberries Hit the Stores, I Make These Muffins.
Cranberry Orange Cake
My cranberry orange cake is a celebration of bright seasonal flavors that’s easy to make, moist, and so festive. It’s great for holiday mornings.
Cranberry Apple Crisp
It has all the hallmarks of an extra special fall dessert with juicy apples, tart cranberries, and a cinnamon-y oatmeal pecan crisp topping.
Fresh Cranberry Bars
Fresh Cranberry Bars are buttery shortbread crumble bars bursting with fresh tart cranberries and the combination is pure heaven.
Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies
Cranberry orange shortbread cookies are an easy holiday slice and bake recipe with a burst of cranberry and citrus. Use fresh or dried cranberries!
HOLIDAY DESSERTS
Cranberries are made for holiday desserts ~ that brilliant pink color and tart flavor are so fun next to the standard pumpkin and pecan pies.
- Rich cranberry curd can be used to fill pies and flavor buttercream frostings.
Chocolate Cranberry Cake
This Chocolate Cake with Cranberry Buttercream is a super quick moist chocolate layer cake recipe made right in a saucepan!
Nantucket Cranberry Pie
Nantucket cranberry pie is a vintage inspired dessert with tart juicy cranberries baked beneath a sweet almond cake layer.
Cranberry Mousse Pie
Cranberry Mousse Pie ~ it's light and fluffy, the flavor is tart and tangy, and the gingersnap crust gives it a pop of holiday spice.
Cranberry Whipped Cream
Cranberry Whipped Cream is a lovely sweet tart dessert topping made with fresh cranberries and sweet cream.
Cranberry Almond Tart
This cranberry almond tart recipe is a beautiful alternative to traditional Thanksgiving pie and a showstopper for Christmas or New Year's dessert.
No Churn Cranberry Ice Cream
No churn cranberry ice cream is a fabulously sweet tart ice cream anyone can make ~ no ice cream machine needed!
Scandinavian Rice Pudding
Scandinavian Rice Pudding with Cranberries is the very definition of comfort food, whatever corner of the earth you currently call home.
Cranberry Pie
My show stopping Cranberry Pie with a gingersnap crumb crust is guaranteed to bring a little va-va-voom to your holiday dessert table this year.
CRANBERRY SAUCE, RELISH, AND PRESERVES
The bowl of cranberry sauce or helly on the Thanksgiving table is how most of us meet cranberries for the first time.
- Cranberries are naturally high in pectin, which is why they thicken so beautifully into sauces, jams, butters, and curds.
Mulled Cranberry Sauce
Red wine and mulling spices balance out the tartness of the cranberries and give the sauce a whole new warmth and depth of flavor.
Cranberry Orange Curd
Cranberry orange curd is like lemon curd, but with blended cranberries standing in for the citrus ~ so good with toast, biscuits and scones!
Crock Pot Cranberry Butter
Let the slow cooker do its thing and watch a pot of humble cranberries melt into a glossy, spoonable cranberry butter.
Hot Pepper Cranberry Jam
Hot Pepper Cranberry Jam is is a step up from your favorite hot pepper jelly. The tart and tangy cranberries marry up perfectly with the heat of the hot pepper.
Creamy Cranberry Relish
Creamy Cranberry Relish with Horseradish and Sour Cream is a cranberry sauce upgrade for Thanksgiving and leftover turkey sandwiches.
Maple Cranberry Butter
Silky doesn’t even begin to describe this sweet tart cranberry butter, you’ll want to scoop it, spread it, slather it, dollop it, and definitely, definitely, lick the spoon.
Spiced Orange Cranberry Relish
A no-cook cranberry condiment that brightens up just about anything you can think of!
CRANBERRIES FOR BREAKFAST
During cranberry season the day starts with cranberries around here ~ muffins, scones, pancakes, breakfast cakes, even smoothies.
- For muffins I leave the berries whole, but for scones I often chop the berries so you get cranberry in every bite rather than a few big tart pockets.
Cranberry Breakfast Cake
This easy cranberry cake recipe is a holiday favorite ~ the tartness of fresh cranberries adds a burst of flavor to every bite.
Cranberry Orange Bread
Making Cranberry Orange Bread is one of my favorite holiday traditions. It’s an easy quick bread with a crazy light delicate texture.
Cranberry Orange Muffins
Quick and easy muffins bursting with the festive flavors of cranberry and orange.
Cranberry Crumble Pancakes
Cranberry crumble pancakes topped with a sweet tart cranberry compote, crisp buttery crumble, and a vibrant cranberry maple syrup!
Cranberry Smoothie
My simple Cranberry Cleanse Smoothie is packed with health benefits and has a fabulous sweet tart flavor!
Cranberry Wild Rice Porridge
Cranberry Walnut Wild Rice Porridge ~ swap out your usual oatmeal for this cozy hot cereal full of antioxidants, protein, and fiber.
Fresh Cranberry Scones
Cozy up with these Fresh Cranberry Scones ~ they're moist and flaky, loaded with lots of tart cranberries, and a touch of white chocolate ~ all topped with a vanilla bean glaze.
SAVORY CRANBERRY RECIPES
Cranberries are one of the least sweet fruits ~ which makes them especially suited to savory recipes as well.
- Their acidity cuts through rich foods much the same way a squeeze of lemon would.
Baked Brie & Cranberries
Baked Brie with Maple Roasted Cranberries is an easy holiday appetizer, and it's so darned pretty!
Cranberry Vinaigrette
Cranberry Vinaigrette is a gorgeously vibrant healthy salad dressing and all around flavor booster for winter meals.
Cranberry Glazed Pork
My Cranberry Glazed Pork Roast is a show-stopping main dish that's perfect for winter gatherings and holidays!
Cranberry Pumpkin Cornbread
Warm up your fall meals with Cranberry Pumpkin Cornbread ~ serve it with soups, stews, chilis, and it's a must on the Thanksgiving table!
Turkey Cranberry Sliders
Turkey cranberry sliders bring together turkey, tangy cranberry sauce, and melty cheese, all packed into soft Hawaiian roll buns and baked to golden perfection.
fresh cranberry faqs
When can you find cranberries in the grocery store?
- During cranberry season (mid September through December) you’ll find them fresh, in plastic bags, in the produce section. Every store locates them differently, so ask if you don’t spot them. You can usually find frozen cranberries year round in the freezer aisle.Add image
What is the best way to store fresh cranberries?
- They’re pretty hardy so they’ll last up to a month in the refrigerator. They can be kept in their original packaging or in a breathable container. Do not wash them until you’re ready to use them.
How can I freeze my cranberries?
- Yes, just throw the unopened bags of berries right in the freezer.
Can I eat fresh cranberries raw?
- Yes! Contrary to popular belief, you can eat raw cranberries, although they are very tart.
Can I substitute dried cranberries for fresh cranberries in recipes?
- It really depends on the recipe. You can substitute dried cranberries in some baked goods, but in most fresh cranberry recipes I would stick to the fresh.
I love almost every single recipe you share with us! There is one recipe I can’t seem to find, though: your spiced cranberry relish. It is featured with brats in your Fresh Cranberry Recipes for 2025 email. Can you help? That’s a great-looking relish!
That recipe is no longer on the site, but here is the relish recipe:
1 heaping cup fresh or frozen and thawed cranberries
1/2 medium onion
1 or 2 jalapenos
1 medium apple
1 Tbsp lemon juice
INSTRUCTIONS
Finely chop the cranberries and put them in a bowl.
Finely chop the onion and add to the bowl.
Finely mince the jalapenos. For more heat use the seeds, for less heat, discard them. Add to the bowl.
Peel and finely chop the apple, toss with the lemon juice to prevent browning. Add to the bowl.
Toss all the ingredients and refrigerate until needed.
Thank you so much for sharing your recipes and kitchen knowledge. I get your emails and then share them with my mom. We LOVE discussing them & trying different things. You manage to strike exactly the right tone of sophisticated-yet-not-complicated. It’s one of our favorite things to share and we enjoy it so much. You have become our number one go-to and we are on your site regularly. Thank you – and keep it up!
Thanks to you (and your mom!) Erika, you’ve made my day 🙂
Could not find the recipe for the first picture. Looks like a cinnamon role