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  6. 15 Desserts That'll Put You on a Cranberry Kick All Season

15 Desserts That'll Put You on a Cranberry Kick All Season

Southern Living May 2021 Cover
By Southern Living Editors Updated October 19, 2020
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Mini Cranberry-Cheesecake Pies
Credit: David Malosh; Prop Styling: Robyn Glaser; Food Styling: Maggie Ruggiero

It's a well-known fact that most families think of cranberries as the ultimate accompaniment to turkey. We often categorize them as that one-time-a-year, essential side that fits squarely with our holiday traditions–the cranberry salad your aunt always offered to bring or the cranberry sauce mom used to slide right out of the tube.

But cranberries should be celebrated as more than your bird's sidekick. Their bright color and tangy flavor offer the perfect opportunity to amp up the ending to your holiday menu with a dessert that wows your guests. 

From bite-sized pies, like our Mini Cranberry Cheesecake Pies or our Mini-Pear Cranberry Pies, to can't-have-just-one cookies and bars, cranberries are the stars to some of our favorite festive desserts. Plus, once you make a cranberry cake (might we suggest our White Cake with Cranberry Filling and Orange Buttercream?), you may never be able to go back to only serving this tangy-tart fruit as a sauce on the side. 

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White Cake with Cranberry Filling and Orange Buttercream

White Cake with Cranberry Filling and Orange Buttercream
Credit: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: White Cake with Cranberry Filling and Orange Buttercream

The ultimate holiday centerpiece, this layer cake is flooded with a homemade cranberry filling. It's a fan-favorite white cake for good reasons. 

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Mini Cranberry-Cheesecake Pies

Mini Cranberry-Cheesecake Pies
Credit: David Malosh; Prop Styling: Robyn Glaser; Food Styling: Maggie Ruggiero

Recipe: Mini Cranberry-Cheesecake Pies

These mini pies are the most festive little winter bites we ever did see. Cranberry compote makes the ultimate finishing touch for a cheesecake center and gingersnap crust.

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Cranberry-Pecan Coffee Cake

Cranberry-Pecan Coffee Cake
Credit: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Cranberry-Pecan Coffee Cake

Flavored with cranberries, toasted pecans, and a hint of cinnamon, this coffee cake will be the bright spot on any holiday breakfast or dessert table. 

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Cranberry-Almond Cookies

Cranberry-Almond Cookies
Credit: Ralph Anderson; Styling: Mary Lyn Hill

Recipe: Cranberry-Almond Cookies

These tasty drop cookies are ready in a snap. Plus, since the recipe makes three and a half dozen cookies, you'll have enough left after the cookie swap to save some for your own sweet tooth. 

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Cranberry Dreamsicle Trifle

Cranberry Dreamsicle Trifle
Credit: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Cranberry Dreamsicle Trifle

This trifle is truly the trifecta of holiday desserts: easy to put together, tastes even better the longer it sits, and pretty enough to place at the center of the buffet table. 

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Pear-Cranberry Pie with Ginger-Almond Streusel

Pear-Cranberry Pie with Ginger-Almond Streusel
Credit: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Marian Cooper Cairns

Recipe: Pear-Cranberry Pie with Ginger-Almond Streusel

This festive fall pie is anything but typical. From the buttery vanilla bean crust, to the juicy fruit filling, to the chunky ginger-almond streusel on top, this recipe is the ultimate alternative to your average holiday pie. 

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Hot Cranberry Bake

Hot Cranberry Bake Recipe
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Hot Cranberry Bake

This simple, crisp-like dessert can be made dairy-free for holiday guests with special requests by using an equal amount of melted or liquid coconut oil in place of butter.

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Mini Pear-Cranberry Pies

Mini Pear-Cranberry Pies and Mini Pumpkin Pies with Maple Whipped Cream
Credit: David Malosh; Prop Styling: Robyn Glaser; Food Styling: Maggie Ruggiero

Recipe: Mini Pear-Cranberry Pies

They may be mini, but this petite dessert packs in the flavor. The perfect balance of tart cranberries and sweet pears, this bite-size pie can be made even simpler by using a refrigerated piecrust. 

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Apple Cranberry Pie

Cranberry-Apple Pie with Pecan Shortbread Crust
Credit: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Apple Cranberry Pie

Dial up your favorite all-American dessert with sweet, fresh cranberries. 

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Cranberry-Orange Butter Cookies

Cranberry-Orange Butter Cookies
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Cranberry-Orange Butter Cookies

This butter cookie is the holiday treat your cookie swap is missing. With notes of cranberry and orange, this festive cookie is destined for your next cookie tin. 

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Cranberry Pull-Apart Bread with Orange-Cream Cheese Icing

Cranberry Pull-Apart Bread with Orange-Cream Cheese Icing
Credit: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Cranberry Pull-Apart Bread with Orange-Cream Icing

Sticky fingers are only half the fun in this two-loaf recipe. Tear apart these sweet layers and you'll find tangy cranberries and bright orange zest just waiting to be enjoyed. 

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Cranberry Upside-Down Cake

Cranberry Upside-Down Cake
Credit: Oxmoor House

Recipe: Cranberry Upside-Down Cake

This upside-down cake comes together in your slow cooker so you can keep the oven free for the rest of your holiday cooking marathon.

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Cranberry Shortbread Bars

Cranberry Shortbread Bars
Credit: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Cranberry Shortbread Bars

Wow Santa with an extra festive treat by the tree. These Plus, the cranberry filling can be made be made a week ahead of time if you need to get an early start. 

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Cranberry-Apple Tartlets

Cranberry-Apple Tartlets
Credit: Linda Pugliese

Recipe: Cranberry-Apple Tartlets

The tangy filling in these holiday tartlets can be made with either fresh or frozen cranberries. 

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Pecan-Cranberry Shortbread

Pecan-Cranberry Shortbread
Credit: Linda Pugliese, Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas, Buffy Hargett Miller

Recipe: Pecan-Cranberry Shortbread

Drizzled with melted chocolate and speckled with cranberry flavor, this shortbread is sure to disappear from the dessert table fast. 

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    1 of 15 White Cake with Cranberry Filling and Orange Buttercream
    2 of 15 Mini Cranberry-Cheesecake Pies
    3 of 15 Cranberry-Pecan Coffee Cake
    4 of 15 Cranberry-Almond Cookies
    5 of 15 Cranberry Dreamsicle Trifle
    6 of 15 Pear-Cranberry Pie with Ginger-Almond Streusel
    7 of 15 Hot Cranberry Bake
    8 of 15 Mini Pear-Cranberry Pies
    9 of 15 Apple Cranberry Pie
    10 of 15 Cranberry-Orange Butter Cookies
    11 of 15 Cranberry Pull-Apart Bread with Orange-Cream Cheese Icing
    12 of 15 Cranberry Upside-Down Cake
    13 of 15 Cranberry Shortbread Bars
    14 of 15 Cranberry-Apple Tartlets
    15 of 15 Pecan-Cranberry Shortbread

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    15 Desserts That'll Put You on a Cranberry Kick All Season
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