44 Fresh and Dried Cranberry Recipes for Thanksgiving and Beyond

It’s that time of year! We’re getting excited for the chance to brighten up holiday menus with any number of creative cranberry recipes. These pretty, deep red berries are loaded with tart, juicy flavor, making them the perfect foil on your Thanksgiving table (all that rich gravy!) and at Christmas too. Cranberry recipes are often a home cook’s go-to when it comes to appetizers, like a cheese ball coated in dried cranberries, and festive cocktails, such as cranberry gin and tonics made with cranberry simple syrup. To get your Thanksgiving side dish menus in order, stock up on bags of fresh berries, which freeze beautifully for weeks, and dried ones, too, so you’re ready to bake when the season starts.

Related: Ready For Thanksgiving? Here’s How Many Bags of Cranberries You’ll Need

Cute Cranberry Ideas for Holiday Drinks

When it comes to cranberry recipes, most folks think of cranberry sauce or cranberry walnut pie when they spot a bag of fresh cranberries. Or breakfast granola springs to mind when dried ones are in the pantry. But a whole world of other creative uses for cranberries exists beyond these common go-tos. For example, cranberries can (and should!) pop up on your home bar since these gorgeous orbs are delightful when spied in a cocktail glass and they stain drinks with a lovely ruby shade that’s the epitome of holiday cheer.

You could consider muddling a few cranberries at the bottom of your mixing glass when making a Manhattan (add liquor and strain as usual). Or float a few cranberries on top of a glass of Prosecco or in a kir royale. And cranberry juice is ideal in a Christmas punch, along with an ice mold in the center of the bowl that contains frozen cranberries and orange slices.

Related: 70 Classic Thanksgiving Recipes That’ll Cover Your Whole Menu

Cranberry Recipes that Use Dried Berries

Dried cranberries may be an afterthought when you’re deciding on which cranberry recipes to try this year. But remember, these rosy nuggets can do anything a raisin can—and maybe even better. Mix dried berries into your morning oatmeal or yogurt, or top a salad with cranberries, especially one made with baby spinach, sliced red pepper, walnut pieces and feta. Dried cranberries also add oomph to basic white rice (mix a handful in toward the end of the cooking time so they plump up a bit, along with toasted pine nuts and lemon zest). And don’t forget to use dried cranberries in every kind of sweet this holiday season, from pies, muffins and quick bread to Christmas cookies made with white chocolate and macadamia nuts.

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Thanksgiving and Christmas Menu Inspiration

Creating a holiday menu can be tricky since you don’t want to repeat what you served last year and you need to consider certain food preferences and allergies. And then if you have a lot of kids coming to your house, you’ll want to make dishes that appeal to young palates too. To help you get ready, start with your table setting. If you arrange your tablescape a day or two in advance, you’ll feel more prepared. Next, your holiday bird, which is a very common centerpiece at Christmas as well as Thanksgiving. Side dishes are a big deal on both of these holidays as you need at least four or five if you’ve invited a sizable crowd. Lastly, the best part—dessert. These Christmas desserts and Thanksgiving sweets will please everyone at your table.

The Best Cranberry Recipes

Best Recipes with Fresh and Dried Cranberries

Cranberries are vibrantly red, a little tangy, a little sweet—and very versatile. They give both sweet and savory dishes a pop of red that instantly ups their festive feel, and they look so pretty on a Thanksgiving or Christmas table. Each preparation—raw, candied, or cooked—brings a new flavor profile. Make any one of these recipes featuring cranberries to liven up your holiday menus.

Cranberry, Pecan and Goat Cheese Sweet Potato Bites

Danae Halliday

Roasted sweet potato “coins” stand in for traditional crackers in this healthy and colorful holiday appetizer.

Get the recipe: Cranberry, Pecan and Goat Cheese Sweet Potato Bites

This cranberry pork tenderloin recipe needs up to eight hours in a slow cooker for an amazing meal.

Get the recipe: Cranberry Pork Loin

Need a winning appetizer to kick off your holiday revels? Brie is always a good idea.

Get the recipe: Cranberry and Brie Holiday Pull-Apart Bread

Skip the canned cranberry sauce this year and wow your holiday guests with a savory, tangy and completely memorable cranberry relish.

Get the recipe: Zesty Orange Cranberry Relish

Just as it ought to be, this Christmas cocktail offers something festive looking for your table, and of course, it tastes divine too.

Get the recipe: Cranberry Crush Cocktail

Make this spicy and sweet cranberry meatball appetizer up to two days ahead of the holiday—then just refrigerate the meatballs in their sauce.

Get the recipe: Spicy-Sweet Cranberry Meatballs

Ready in just five minutes, this is the leftover Thanksgiving sandwich recipe of your dreams.

Get the recipe: Turkey-Cranberry Sandwiches

These petite parfaits are easy to assemble and look spectacular. You can make the cheesecake up to two days ahead of time.

Get the recipe: Mini Cranberry Cheesecake Parfaits

It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without cranberry sauce! Acclaimed baker and cookbook author Dorie Greenspan spikes hers with ginger and dried apricots.

Get the recipe: Ginger-Apricot Cranberry Sauce

Use this basic cranberry sauce recipe as a guide to finding what flavors you like in a cranberry sauce—the cranberry-walnut recipe variation is a winner!

Get the recipe: Homemade Cranberry-Walnut Sauce

Mark Boughton Photography / styling by Teresa Blackburn

This weeknight cranberry dish gets its deep ﬂavor from cranberry juice, honey and hot sauce. Prep and marinate the chicken the night before for a speedy supper.

Get the recipe: Spicy Cranberry Chicken

Related: Best Leftover Cranberry Sauce Recipes

Mark Boughton Photography/Styling by Teresa Blackburn&semi; Cindy Ord/Getty Images for George Foreman and BLACK+DECKER

Use a waffle iron to transform leftover stuffing into “bread” topped with amped-up cranberry sauce and barbecue turkey.

Get the recipe: BBQ Turkey and Stuffing Waffles with Crispy Onions and Cranberry-Jalapeño Mayo

Leftover turkey and cranberry sauce star in this easy, one-pot chili.

Get the recipe: Cranberry Turkey Chili

Cranberries are one of the most festive treats of the holiday season, and nothing is better than maximizing the flavors with your own easy cranberry sauce.

Get the recipe: Sam Sifton’s Classic Cranberry Sauce Recipe

Dining destination Puesto may be famous for its tacos, but their latest margarita recipe will prove that cranberries aren’t just for Thanksgiving anymore.

Get the recipe: Cranberry Sauced Margarita

Watch the clock: Cooking this sauce for more than 10 minutes is too long, meaning this is the quick cranberry sauce recipe of your dreams!

Get the recipe: Gingered Cranberry Sauce

Take a break from the too-sweet treats crowding the dessert table with this cheese-and-cranberry cookie.

Get the recipe: Cranberry Blue Cheese Thumbprints

Featuring shiitake mushroom powder and cranberry juice, this is a delicious dinner you can enjoy all year round.

Get the recipe: Shiitake and Rosemary Crusted Beef Tenderloin

You can make this easy recipe days in advance, and just de-fridge it on the day and dump it into a scenic bowl.

Get the recipe: Merlot Cranberry Sauce

This compote is like an upscale cranberry sauce and works well alongside the Thanksgiving turkey, on a cheese plate or as a garnish for desserts.

Get the recipe: Balsamic Cranberry-Fig Compote

This holiday appetizer is great because you buy some deli meat for the “before” and then the next day you use leftovers for the “after.”

Get the recipe: Cranberry Turkey Bites

Wahlberg notes that this recipe, using fresh cranberries and apples, packs so much flavor and texture, it really makes for a delicious and more elevated alternative to canned, jellied cranberry sauce.

Get the recipe: Caramelized Apple Cranberry Chutney

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These sparkly berries are real showstoppers. Use them to garnish cakes, pies and cocktails.

Get the recipe: Sugared Cranberries

Anyone who thinks Thanksgiving leftovers are boring hasn’t tried this gooey, tart-sweet post-holiday sandwich.

Get the recipe: Grilled Turkey, Cranberry & Brie

This recipe makes enough for a crowd, meaning it’s the perfect condiment for your holiday tablescape.

Get the recipe: Jellied Cranberry Relish

Cranberries add a gorgeous ruby tint to this spin on a classic cocktail—top with cold Champagne just before serving.

Get the recipe: Cranberry French 75

Photo by Mark Boughton / Styling by Teresa Blackburn

With just three ingredients (four, if you go for the rosemary garnish), you can serve up this bite-size savory-sweet appetizer.

Get the recipe: Cranberry-Brie Puff Pastry Bites

Give yourself a boost this holiday season—start the day with something healthy and nutritious.

Get the recipe: Apple Cranberry & Walnut Smoothie

Photo by&colon; Veganbaking&period;net via Flickr

For when you just need a quick option for the dinner table, this cranberry sauce will get the job done.

Get the recipe: Whole Orange Ginger Cranberries

Simple but special, this spicy, cheesy leftover sandwich upgrade hits the spot.

Get the recipe: Leftover Open-Face Turkey-Cranberry Sandwich

Move over, apple, pumpkin and pecan: This citrusy two-layer dessert is a flavorful addition to your holiday menu.

Get the recipe: Cranberry-Orange Pie

Enjoy autumnal antioxidants with this tasty cranberry recipe.

Get the recipe: Cranberry-Orange Relish

Dried cranberries add zing to this sweet and chewy old-fashioned favorite.

Get the recipe: Cranberry Cookies

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Cranberries and oranges with a hint of cinnamon make the base of this festive holiday cocktail.

Get the recipe: Spiked Cranberry Lemonade

Andrew Purcell for Dash&semi; Food styling, Carrie Purcell&semi; Prop styling, Stephanie Hanes

Decadent and quite simple to prepare—you’ll go back for seconds on this delicious cranberry recipe.

Get the recipe: Cranberry-Pecan Bread Pudding with Cranberry Whipped Cream

If you prefer to make a non-alcoholic cocktail, substitute sparkling cider for champagne and orange juice for the orange-flavored liqueur.

Get the recipe: Cranberry Champagne Cocktail

Creating your own ketchup can be easy and fun, especially when you add tart and tangy cranberries.

Get the recipe: Cranberry Ketchup

Make sure your family leaves room for this warm, easy-to-make crumble.

Get the recipe: Cranberry Crumble

This simple, yet scrumptious, fruit salad has all the flavors of fall in one dish.

Get the recipe: Apple-Cranberry-Pecan Fruit Salad

Your guests will go crazy for these scrumptious, easy-to-prepare cranberry squares. Serve them after dinner for a perfect sweet ending.

Get the recipe: Cranberry Squares

These muffins are slightly sweetened, they have the texture of cornbread, and the pumpkin and cranberry add an interesting flavor profile to the recipe.

Get the recipe: Pumpkin- Cranberry Cornbread Muffins

These cookies are a crazy delicious holiday twist on classic chocolate chip cookies.

Get the recipe: Cranberry Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookies

Whip up a pitcher of this festive sipper from Parade chef Jon Ashton and you’ll be ready for any holiday gathering. Ginger ale, orange and sugared cranberries make this martini pop. Cheers!

Get the recipe: Sugared Cranberry Martini

This cranberry lime salsa is perfect for holiday entertaining during this time of year, when cranberries are abundant—and on sale.

Get the recipe: Cranberry Lime Salsa

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44 Fresh and Dried Cranberry Recipes for Thanksgiving and Beyond

Cute Cranberry Ideas for Holiday Drinks

Cranberry Recipes that Use Dried Berries

Thanksgiving and Christmas Menu Inspiration

The Best Cranberry Recipes

Best Recipes with Fresh and Dried Cranberries

Cranberry, Pecan and Goat Cheese Sweet Potato Bites

Cranberry Pork Loin

Cranberry and Brie Holiday Pull-Apart Bread

Zesty Orange Cranberry Relish

Cranberry Crush Cocktail

Spicy-Sweet Cranberry Meatballs

Turkey-Cranberry Sandwiches

Mini Cranberry Cheesecake Parfaits

Ginger-Apricot Cranberry Sauce

Homemade Cranberry-Walnut Sauce

Spicy Cranberry Chicken

BBQ Turkey and Stuffing Waffles with Crispy Onions and Cranberry-Jalapeño Mayo

Cranberry Turkey Chili

Sam Sifton’s Classic Cranberry Sauce Recipe

Cranberry Sauced Margarita

Gingered Cranberry Sauce

Cranberry Blue Cheese Thumbprints

Shiitake and Rosemary Crusted Beef Tenderloin

Merlot Cranberry Sauce

Balsamic Cranberry-Fig Compote

Cranberry Turkey Bites

Chef Paul Wahlberg’s Caramelized Apple Cranberry Chutney

Sugared Cranberries

Grilled Turkey, Cranberry & Brie

Jellied Cranberry Relish

Cranberry French 75

Cranberry-Brie Puff Pastry Bites

Apple Cranberry & Walnut Smoothie

Whole Orange Ginger Cranberries

Leftover Open-Face Turkey-Cranberry Sandwich

Cranberry-Orange Pie

Cranberry-Orange Relish

Cranberry Cookies

Winter-Inspired Spiked Cranberry Lemonade

Cranberry-Pecan Bread Pudding with Cranberry Whipped Cream

Cranberry Champagne Cocktail

Cranberry Ketchup

Cranberry Crumble

Apple-Cranberry-Pecan Fruit Salad

Cranberry Squares

Pumpkin- Cranberry Cornbread Muffins

Cranberry Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookies

Sugared Cranberry Martini

Cranberry Lime Salsa

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