11 Cranberry Recipes That Will Make You Forget the Canned Stuff Forever

For a lot of families, cranberries mean one thing: a wobbly log of sauce sliding out of a can with ridges still on it. No judgment, but these little red berries can do so much more. These cranberry recipes are bright, tangy and festive, and most of them take less than an hour. Hosting a party too? Pair them with our holiday appetizers guests love. Grab a bag of fresh berries before they sell out..

Cranberry Recipes Start With a 10 Minute Homemade Sauce

Once you make fresh cranberry sauce, you will never go back to the can. It takes 10 minutes and only a few ingredients. The berries pop as they cook, and the sauce thickens on its own as it cools. Orange zest makes it taste bright and fresh. Of all the cranberry recipes here, this is the one to master first. Quick poll: A) Canned with ridges B) Homemade chunky C) Both on the table D) Skip it.

You will need: 12 ounces fresh cranberries, 3/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup orange juice, 1/4 cup water, zest of 1 orange, pinch of cinnamon, pinch of salt.

How to make it: 1. Add sugar, orange juice and water to a pot and bring to a simmer. 2. Add the cranberries. 3. Cook 8 to 10 minutes, stirring, until most berries pop. 4. Stir in the zest, cinnamon and salt. 5. Cool completely; it will thicken as it sits. Keeps 1 week in the fridge.

Cranberry Recipes for Gifting: Orange Bread With Glaze

Every list of cranberry recipes needs a good loaf. This quick bread is moist, tangy and dotted with ruby berries in every slice. No yeast, no mixer, just two bowls and a spoon. It makes a lovely gift wrapped in parchment and ribbon, and it freezes well too. Slice it thick and toast it with butter in the morning. Who would you bake a loaf for this season?

You will need: 2 cups flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt, zest of 1 orange, 3/4 cup orange juice, 1/4 cup melted butter, 1 egg, 1 1/2 cups fresh cranberries chopped. Glaze: 1 cup powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons orange juice.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 350 F and grease a loaf pan. 2. Whisk the dry ingredients with the zest. 3. Mix in juice, butter and egg until just combined. 4. Fold in the cranberries and bake 55 to 60 minutes. 5. Cool, then drizzle with the glaze.

Cranberry Recipes for Breakfast: Bakery Style Muffins

Tall, golden muffin tops are not a bakery secret anymore. The trick is a hot oven for the first five minutes, then lower the heat. The tart berries burst into little pockets of jam, and a sprinkle of coarse sugar on top makes them sparkle. These cranberry recipes for breakfast are perfect for busy holiday mornings. Coffee or hot cocoa with yours?

You will need: 2 cups flour, 3/4 cup sugar, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 cup melted butter, 2 eggs, 3/4 cup milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries, coarse sugar for the top.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 425 F and line a muffin pan. 2. Mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. 3. Whisk butter, eggs, milk and vanilla, then stir into the dry mix. 4. Fold in the berries, fill the cups to the top and sprinkle sugar. 5. Bake 5 minutes, lower to 375 F and bake 15 to 17 minutes more.

Flaky Orange Scones With Fresh Berries

Scones sound fancy, but they are one of the fastest things you can bake. Cold butter is the secret to flaky layers, so keep everything chilled. The fresh berries add a little pop of tart flavor that goes perfectly with orange. Serve them warm with butter or clotted cream for a cozy holiday brunch. Have you ever had a proper scone?

You will need: 2 cups flour, 1/3 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 cup cold butter cubed, 1 cup fresh cranberries, zest of 1 orange, 1/2 cup heavy cream, 1 egg.

How to make it: 1. Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and zest. 2. Cut in the cold butter until it looks like coarse crumbs. 3. Stir in the berries. 4. Whisk cream and egg, add to the bowl and press into a round. 5. Cut into 8 wedges and bake at 400 F for 18 to 20 minutes.

Cranberry Recipes for the Table: Crunchy Pecan Salad

Every heavy holiday meal needs one bright, crunchy salad. This one has crisp greens, sweet dried cranberries, toasted pecans, apple slices and crumbled goat cheese with a quick maple dressing. It takes 10 minutes and looks gorgeous in a big bowl. It is one of those cranberry recipes people ask about before dessert. Feta or goat cheese?

You will need: 8 cups mixed greens, 1/2 cup dried cranberries, 1/2 cup toasted pecans, 1 apple sliced thin, 1/2 cup crumbled goat cheese. Dressing: 1/4 cup olive oil, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon maple syrup, 1 teaspoon Dijon, salt, pepper.

How to make it: 1. Toast the pecans in a dry skillet for 3 minutes. 2. Whisk the dressing ingredients in a jar. 3. Add greens, apple and cranberries to a large bowl. 4. Toss with dressing right before serving. 5. Top with pecans and goat cheese.

Cream Cheese Party Dip in 5 Minutes

Of all the cranberry recipes for parties, this might be the easiest. Spread cream cheese on a plate and spoon a sweet and spicy cranberry topping over it. With green onion and a little jalapeno, it is sweet, tangy, creamy and a little hot. Serve with crackers and watch it disappear. Make the topping a day ahead so the flavors come together. Would you add jalapeno or keep it mild?

You will need: 8 ounces cream cheese softened, 1 cup fresh cranberries, 1/4 cup sugar, 1 green onion, 1 small jalapeno seeded, 2 tablespoons cilantro, 1 tablespoon lime juice, pinch of salt, crackers to serve.

How to make it: 1. Pulse the cranberries, sugar, green onion, jalapeno and cilantro in a food processor until finely chopped. 2. Stir in lime juice and salt. 3. Chill at least 1 hour or overnight. 4. Spread the cream cheese on a plate or in a shallow bowl. 5. Spoon the topping over and serve with crackers.

Cranberry Recipes for Parties: Sweet and Tangy Meatballs

These are the meatballs that vanish first at every holiday party. Frozen meatballs simmer in a sauce made from cranberry sauce and chili sauce. It sounds strange, but the sweet and tangy glaze is addictive. Make them in a slow cooker and they stay warm all evening. Of all the party cranberry recipes, this one gets the most compliments for the least work.

You will need: 2 pounds frozen cooked meatballs, 1 can whole berry cranberry sauce (14 ounces), 1 cup chili sauce, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, orange slices and parsley for serving.

How to make it: 1. Whisk cranberry sauce, chili sauce, brown sugar and lemon juice in a slow cooker. 2. Add the frozen meatballs and stir to coat. 3. Cook on low for 4 hours or high for 2 hours. 4. Stir once or twice so they glaze evenly. 5. Serve warm with toothpicks, orange slices and parsley.

Lattice Apple Pie With Tart Red Berries

Apple pie gets a holiday makeover when you add a handful of fresh cranberries. They melt into the apples and turn the filling a beautiful rosy pink, with just enough tang to balance the sweetness. A lattice or leaf crust shows off the color. Quick poll: A) Lattice top B) Full crust C) Crumb topping D) Leaves cut from dough.

You will need: 2 pie crusts, 6 cups sliced apples, 1 1/2 cups fresh cranberries, 3/4 cup sugar, 3 tablespoons flour, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 egg for brushing, coarse sugar.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 400 F and line a pie dish with one crust. 2. Toss apples, cranberries, sugar, flour, cinnamon and lemon juice. 3. Pour into the crust. 4. Top with lattice strips from the second crust, brush with egg and sprinkle sugar. 5. Bake 50 to 60 minutes until bubbly, covering the edges if they brown too fast.

Creamy Cheesecake With Ruby Red Sauce

Plain cheesecake is wonderful, but a spoonful of glossy berry sauce on top makes it look like a holiday dessert from a fancy bakery. The sauce is just cranberries, sugar and orange, cooked down until thick. Make the whole thing a day ahead, because cheesecake needs a night in the fridge anyway. Is cheesecake your number one dessert?

You will need: Crust: 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs, 1/4 cup melted butter, 2 tablespoons sugar. Filling: 24 ounces cream cheese, 1 cup sugar, 3 eggs, 1 cup sour cream, 1 teaspoon vanilla. Sauce: 2 cups cranberries, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/4 cup orange juice.

How to make it: 1. Press the crust into a springform pan and bake at 325 F for 8 minutes. 2. Beat cream cheese and sugar, then add eggs, sour cream and vanilla. 3. Pour over the crust and bake 55 to 60 minutes. 4. Turn off the oven and let it cool inside for 1 hour, then chill overnight. 5. Simmer the sauce 10 minutes, cool and spoon over slices.

White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

These cookies look like Christmas: creamy white chocolate chips and bright red dried cranberries in a chewy, buttery cookie. They are great for cookie swaps, gift tins and Santa plates. Chilling the dough for 30 minutes keeps them thick and soft in the middle. How many cookies do you usually bake in December? Be honest!

You will need: 1 cup butter softened, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup sugar, 2 eggs, 2 teaspoons vanilla, 2 1/4 cups flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 cup white chocolate chips, 1 cup dried cranberries.

How to make it: 1. Cream butter and both sugars until fluffy. 2. Beat in eggs and vanilla. 3. Stir in flour, baking soda and salt. 4. Fold in white chocolate and cranberries, then chill 30 minutes. 5. Scoop onto lined pans and bake at 350 F for 10 to 12 minutes.

Sparkling Cranberry Orange Spritz

Every party needs a signature drink, and this one is as pretty as it is easy. Tart cranberry juice, fresh orange and sparkling water make a bubbly, refreshing glass that works for kids and adults. Add a splash of prosecco for a grown up version. Garnish with orange slices and a few frozen berries that float like ice. Cheers to the end of our cranberry recipes list!

You will need: 1 cup cranberry juice, 1/2 cup fresh orange juice, 1 cup sparkling water or prosecco, 1 tablespoon honey or simple syrup, ice, orange slices, fresh cranberries, rosemary sprigs.

How to make it: 1. Stir cranberry juice, orange juice and honey in a pitcher. 2. Fill glasses with ice. 3. Pour the juice mix halfway up each glass. 4. Top with sparkling water or prosecco. 5. Garnish with an orange slice, a few cranberries and a rosemary sprig.