Our Favorite Cranberry Recipes for the Fall Season

By Jorie Nicole McDonald
Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Buffy Hargett
We won't deny that the majority of our annual cranberry cooking takes place around the holidays with seasonal cranberry sauces. But, some of our favorite cranberry recipes can easily be transformed from a holiday treat to an everyday delight. From muffins and pie to margaritas and salsa, these cranberry recipes will make you realize this sweet and tart ingredient is more nimble than you might think. The versatility of our Cranberry-Pepper Jelly will transform cranberries into a condiment you crave while our Mini Banana-Cranberry-Nut Bread Loaves will offer you the perfect hostess gift for any gathering, no matter the season. Our Cranberry-Almond Coleslaw just might become your new favorite dinner side dish, and you definitely have to try our Cranberry Roasted Winter Vegetables – it's a delight. Taste these delicious dishes, and be ready to fall in love with cranberries outside of the holiday season with our best cranberry recipes.
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Make The Most of Fall Cranberries With These Delicious Recipes

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Cranberry Upside-Down Cake

Oxmoor House

Recipe: Cranberry Upside-Down Cake

This delightful sweet only requires 10 minutes of hands-on time, so you can serve a praiseworthy dessert without spending hours in the kitchen.

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Candy Roaster Squash with Sorghum, Black Walnuts, and Cranberries

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Candy Roaster Squash with Sorghum, Black Walnuts, and Cranberries

The sweet-meets-savory flavor of candy roaster squash beautifully combines with tart cranberries and black walnuts in this recipe to create the ultimate fall side dish.

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Pear-Cranberry Pie with Ginger-Almond Streusel

Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Marian Cooper Cairns

Recipe: Pear-Cranberry Pie with Ginger-Almond Streusel

Sweet fruit filling, vanilla bean piecrust, and textured ginger-almond streusel make this cranberry dessert a true showstopper.

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Slow-Cooker Cranberry-Pear Butter

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Cranberry-Pear Butter

Spread this decadent topping on a slice of toast or add it to a cheese plate for a sweet burst of cranberry-pear flavor.

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Baked Oatmeal with Apple, Cranberries, and Pecans

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Maggie Ruggiero

Recipe: Baked Oatmeal with Apple, Cranberries, and Pecans

Mornings just got sweeter. This make-ahead oatmeal is packed with fruits, spices, and nuts that come together to create a second-serving-worthy breakfast.

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Cranberry-Apple Pie with Pecan Shortbread Crust

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Cranberry-Apple Pie with Pecan Shortbread Crust

The fresh cranberries in this classic apple pie recipe give the desert a sensational, tart taste. It'll instantly become your new fall favorite.

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Transparent Pie with Whipped Creme Fraiche and Sugared Cranberries

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Transparent Pie with Whipped Crème Fraîche and Sugared Cranberries

Sugared cranberries take this custard-like buttermilk pie to the next level. Topped with whipped crème fraiche, this dessert is sinfully sweet.

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Festive Cranberry-Walnut Salad

Jennifer Causey

Recipe: Festive Cranberry-Walnut Salad

Take a break from the heavy dishes and give this cranberry-walnut salad a spin. It's a beautifully light and refreshing appetizer.

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Cranberry-Apple Tartlets

Linda Pugliese

Recipe: Cranberry-Apple Tartlets

Cranberry-apple tartlets are the perfect bite-sized treats to serve at your next fall dinner party. This cranberry recipe is bursting with warm and irresistibly tangy filling.

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Spice Cake with Cranberry Filling

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Spice Cake with Cranberry Filling

Cranberry filling hides between moist, spice cake layers in this mouthwatering treat. Topped with apple cider frosting, it will make your fall dessert dreams come to life.

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Cranberry Mojito

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Cranberry Mojito

Searching for the perfect fall cocktail? Look no more. This cranberry mojito is festive, delicious, and easy to make.

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White Cake with Cranberry Filling and Orange Buttercream

Hector Sanchez

Recipe: White Cake with Cranberry Filling and Orange Buttercream

The orange buttercream on this cranberry-filled confection is sure to impress even the pickiest dessert connoisseurs.

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Molded Cranberry Salad

Hector M Sanchez

Recipe: Molded Cranberry Salad

We'll admit it: We wouldn't want to revisit many of the congealed salads we published in the sixties, but rediscovering this jewel of a recipe was like finding a timeless dress at a vintage store.

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Cranberry-Orange Muffins

Photo: Alison Miksch; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Recipe: Cranberry-Orange Muffins

Sprinkle the tops of the glazed muffins with coarse sugar to add texture and a little sparkle.

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Wine-Spiked Cranberry Cheese Log

Photo: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Wine-Spiked Cranberry Cheese Log

Use this succulent, syrupy fruit as a topping for pound cake or ice cream. You can also spoon it over a softened log of goat cheese instead of cream cheese.

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Spicy Cranberry Salsa

Photo: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Spicy Cranberry Salsa

Here's our new go-to condiment to use on everything from tamales to turkey sandwiches.

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Cranberry-Goat Cheese Canapés

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Cranberry-Goat Cheese Canapés

Stir together the cranberry mixture up to 3 days ahead of time. Assemble the canapés the day of your party.

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Cranberry Margaritas

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Cranberry Margaritas

From the kitchen of Shawnda Horn, Houston, Texas, jasonandshawnda.com
"Who says margaritas are just for the summertime? Mix up a beautiful batch of this sipper for a festive holiday party pleaser."

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Apple-Cranberry-Pomegranate Salsa

Photo: Melina Hammer; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Recipe: Apple-Cranberry-Pomegranate Salsa

This bracing and fresh all-purpose condiment pairs well with any holiday pork roast or turkey. Look for refrigerated prepackaged pomegranate seeds in the supermarket this time of year, or buy whole fruit for the recipe and garnish with any extra.

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Apple, Pear, and Cranberry Pie

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Apple, Pear, and Cranberry Pie

Use slightly firm pears and crisp, tart apples here to achieve the best texture in the filling, and let this mountainous pie cool and settle for at least two hours before serving.

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Sparkling Cranberries

Photo: Melina Hammer; Styling: Buffy Hargett 

Recipe: Sparkling Cranberries

From the kitchen of Marina Delio, yummymummykitchen.com, Santa Barbara, California
Serve them with baked Brie or as a pretty garnish for cakes or pies.

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Cranberry Roasted Winter Vegetables

Photo: Jim Franco

Recipe: Cranberry Roasted Winter Vegetables

A medley of roasted vegetables including carrots and turnips combine with Brussels sprouts, cranberries, and a drizzle of molasses in one delicious side dish.

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Cranberry-Pepper Jelly

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Recipe: Cranberry-Pepper Jelly

We love the versatility of Cranberry-Pepper Jelly. This peppery-tart condiment is just as good with cream cheese and a cracker as it is topped on pork tenderloin.

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Cranberry-Pecan Pilau

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Recipe: Cranberry-Pecan Pilau

Delicious as a weekday side or worthy of a place on your holiday sideboard.

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Cranberry-Apricot Sauce

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Cranberry-Apricot Sauce

Keep the canned stuff on the shelf and serve this instead with your ham or as a topping for a turkey panini.

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Turkey-and-Spinach Wraps with Cranberry-Walnut-Cream Cheese Spread

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Recipe: Turkey-and-Spinach Wraps with Cranberry-Walnut-Cream Cheese Spread

A pound of leftover roasted turkey is all you for these bite-sized Thanksgiving favorites.

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Cranberry-Pecan Cheese Wafers

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Recipe: Cranberry-Pecan Cheese Wafers

Dried cranberries give a slightly sweet flavor to crispy, buttery Cranberry-Pecan Cheese Wafers.

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Mini Banana-Cranberry-Nut Bread Loaves

Photo: Luca Trovato

Recipe: Mini Banana-Cranberry-Nut Bread Loaves

Cranberries and a citrus glaze add a sweet-and-tart note to this delicious bread. The recipe makes five mini loaves—great for hostess gifts!

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Cranberry-Almond Coleslaw

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Amy Burke

Recipe: Cranberry-Almond Coleslaw

Smoked almonds and dried cranberries give this sideline favorite just the right amount of flavor.

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Orange-Cranberry Braised Cabbage

Howard Lee Puckett

Recipe: Orange-Cranberry Braised Cabbage

Add some zip to braised cabbage with a delicious mix of cranberries, orange juice, honey, and nutmeg.

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Cranberry-Pistachio Scones

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas, Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett, Food Styling: Rebecca Kracke Gordon

Recipe: Cranberry-Pistachio Scones

Brew a cup of tea and enjoy this variation of a classic afternoon treat.

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Cranberry-Almond Chicken Salad

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Recipe: Cranberry-Almond Chicken Salad

This easy chicken salad recipe is perfect for showers, luncheons, and friendly gatherings. Serve in a lettuce-lined bowl for a beautiful display.

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