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Home » Produce guides » Fresh cranberry recipes: 50+ seasonal ideas

Modified: Sep 20, 2021 by Vee

Fresh cranberry recipes: 50+ seasonal ideas

Cranberries are in season from September through December and add a nice tart flavor to recipes. When you plan to cook with them, there are a few things to keep in mind:

  • They will store in the fridge for a month (or more)
  • A 12 oz bag equals about 3 cups of whole cranberries, and 2-2.5 cups chopped
  • Frozen can be often substituted for fresh cranberries if you can't find fresh ones (or they are out of season)
Jump to:
  • Breakfast recipes
  • Muffins & breads
  • Appetizers
  • Dinner recipes
  • Side dishes
  • Cranberry sauce
  • Dessert
  • More about cranberries

Breakfast recipes

Cranberries balance out sweet breakfast recipes and add a bunch of healthy antioxidants. If you're trying to keep added-sugar intake low, note that some recipes have higher-than-usual sugar because cranberries are so tart.

Roasted maple-cranberry scones with dark chocolate recipe by Floating Kitchen
Roasted maple-cranberry scones with dark chocolate
Cranberry apple french toast casserole by Recipe Runner
Cranberry apple french toast casserole
Cranberry apple butter recipe by The View from Great Island
Cranberry apple butter
Cranberry banana baked oatmeal recipe by Nutmeg Nanny
Cranberry banana baked oatmeal
Cranberry, orange, and banana smoothie recipe by Jessica Gavin
Cranberry, orange, and banana smoothie
Cranberry sauce granola recipe by Kitchen Confidante
Cranberry sauce granola
Cranberry pumpkin steel-cut oats recipe by Minimalist Baker
Cranberry pumpkin steel-cut oats
Cranberry eggnog scones recipe by My Diary of Us
Cranberry eggnog scones
Triple-glazed cranberry pecan sticky buns recipe by Broma Bakery
Triple-glazed cranberry pecan sticky buns
Fall flavored donut varieties by Broma Bakery
Fall donuts (including a cranberry-orange glaze)

Muffins & breads

A lot of muffins and breads call for dried cranberries, and while delicious, fresh ones taste even brighter and tarter. Frozen cranberries can be substituted - use them frozen (no need to thaw).

Cranberry orange nut bread by Simply Recipes
Cranberry orange nut bread
Cranberry sauce muffins recipe by Foxes Love Lemons
Cranberry sauce muffins
Healthy lemon-cranberry bread recipe by Sweet Peas and Saffron
Healthy lemon-cranberry bread
Coconut cranberry muffins recipe by Sweet Peas and Saffron
Coconut cranberry muffins
Cranberry tea cake recipe by Kitchen Confidante
Cranberry tea cake
Cranberry cardamom spice muffins recipe by Sally's Baking Addiction
Cranberry cardamom spice muffins
Fluffy, fresh cranberry orange muffins recipe by Cookie + Kate
Fluffy cranberry orange muffins

Appetizers

Appetizers can end up salty and rich (no one's complaining here). Cranberries add another dimension, taking appetizers to a new level.

Cranberry brie focaccia recipe by How Sweet Eats
Cranberry brie focaccia
Roasted cranberry and goat cheese flatbread by Healthy Seasonal Recipes
Roasted cranberry and goat cheese flatbread
Whipped cranberry goat cheese spread recipe by How Sweet Eats
Whipped cranberry goat cheese spread
Cranberry pepper jelly recipe by Love & Olive Oil
Cranberry pepper jelly
Cranberry jalapeno cream cheese dip recipe by A Spicy Perspective
Cranberry jalapeno cream cheese dip
Caramelized cranberry-onion crostini topped with figs, a recipe by Heather Christo
Caramelized cranberry-onion crostini topped with figs
Cranberry basil shrimp cocktail recipe by Cotter Crunch
Cranberry basil shrimp cocktail
Pastry-wrapped cranberry baked brie bites recipe by Half Baked Harvest
Pastry-wrapped cranberry baked brie bites

Dinner recipes

Some of these recipes may seem odd, but are worth a try if you like cranberries. Sometimes cranberries end up a little bitter, but that actually works in your favor with rich, salty dishes. (It's the same reason green bell peppers work on pizza).

Cranberry chili with cinnamon and cocoa recipe by Rhubarbarians
Cranberry chili with cinnamon and cocoa
Roast turkey breast with cranberry sauce recipe by Jo Cooks
Roast turkey breast with cranberry sauce
Pressure cooker cranberry sauce pulled pork recipe by Nutmeg Nanny
Pressure cooker cranberry sauce pulled pork
Sheet pan cranberry balsamic chicken and green beans by Nutmeg Nanny
Sheet pan cranberry balsamic chicken and green beans
Cranberry chicken wings by the Cookie Rookie
Cranberry chicken wings (sub in fresh cranberry sauce)
Orange cranberry pork loin roast recipe by The Cookie Rookie
Orange cranberry pork loin roast
Cranberry balsamic roasted chicken recipe by Cotter Crunch
Cranberry balsamic roasted chicken
Turkey tacos with cranberry salsa by Simply Recipes
Turkey tacos with cranberry salsa
Cranberry pot roast recipe by Feasting At Home
Cranberry pot roast
Cranberry beef burgundy recipe by Half Baked Harvest
Cranberry beef burgundy

Side dishes

Maple-roasted delicata squash with cranberry glaze recipe by Floating Kitchen
Maple-roasted delicata squash with cranberry glaze
Cranberry whole wheat buttermilk biscuits recipe by How Sweet Eats
Cranberry whole wheat buttermilk biscuits
Cranberry sauce vinaigrette in a bottle, recipe by Kitchen Confidante
Cranberry sauce vinaigrette
Brie and roasted thyme cranberry paninis recipe by My Diary of Us
Brie and roasted thyme cranberry paninis
Turkey grilled cheese sandwich with cranberry mustard recipe by Feasting At Home
Turkey grilled cheese sandwich with cranberry mustard
Cranberry-maple skillet cornbread recipe by Cookie + Kate
Cranberry-maple skillet cornbread

Cranberry sauce

Pick from the best cranberry sauce recipes, to jellied, and everything in between.... boozy, fruity, floral, and spicy.

Fresh cranberry sauce recipe
12+ seasonal cranberry sauce recipes
Smoked cranberry sauce with bourbon & blood oranges recipe by Kitchen Laughter
Smoked cranberry sauce with bourbon & blood oranges
Instant Pot cranberry sauce recipe by Jessica Gavin
Instant Pot cranberry sauce
Ginger cranberry sauce with Riesling recipe by Floating Kitchen
Ginger cranberry sauce with Riesling

Dessert

Sometimes desserts end up sweet without a whole lot else going on. That will never be the case when cranberries are involved. I love the idea of cranberry whipped cream and the festiveness of an eggnog cheesecake with cranberries on top.

Cranberry syrup and intensely almond cake recipe by Smitten Kitchen
Cranberry syrup and intensely almond cake
Bourbon apple cranberry cobbler recipe by Vanilla and Bean
Bourbon apple cranberry cobbler
Vanilla orange sugared cranberries recipe by A Spicy Perspective
Vanilla orange sugared cranberries
Eggnog cheesecake with cranberry topping by Carlsbad Cravings
Eggnog cheesecake with cranberry topping
Cranberry whipped cream recipe by The View from Great Island
Cranberry whipped cream
Chocolate cake with cranberry buttercream recipe by The View From Great Island
Chocolate cake with cranberry buttercream
Cranberry orange Linzer cookies recipe by Jessica Gavin
Cranberry orange Linzer cookies
Rugelach with cranberry jam & chocolate in a basket, recipe by the Bojon Gourmet
Rugelach with cranberry jam & chocolate (gluten free)
Orange mousse with cranberry sauce recipe by Sugar Hero
Orange mousse with cranberry sauce
Cranberry sorbet scoops by Simply Recipes
Cranberry sorbet
Cranberry upside down cake by Simply Recipes
Cranberry upside down cake
Rustic cranberry galette recipe by Salt & Lavender
Rustic cranberry galette

More about cranberries

Fresh cranberry sauce recipe
12+ seasonal cranberry sauce recipes
November seasonal fruit recipes
Cooking with fruit in season: November edition
Fruits and vegetables in season for November
November seasonal produce guide
Cranberries in season
Cranberries: everything you need to know

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