24 Cranberry Recipes You'll Want to Make Forever

Cranberry-Balsamic Chicken Thighs

You might only see cranberries in the limelight around the fall holidays, but the nutrient-packed fruit is delicious any time of year with these recipes. From traditional cranberry sauce to the many appetizers, desserts, dinners and more, this collection pairs the sweet and tart fruit with other foods like lean proteins, veggies and whole grains to make an unforgettable dish. Recipes like our Cranberry-Almond Energy Balls and Cranberry-Balsamic Chicken Thighs have received four- and five-star ratings for their year-round deliciousness.

01 of 24

Cranberry-Almond Energy Balls

a recipe photo of the Cranberry and Almond Energy Balls
Ali Redmond

These energy balls are the perfect make-ahead snack. Filled with cranberries, almonds, oats and dates, these energy balls come together in minutes. Maple syrup and tahini help bind everything together while adding a touch of sweetness and bitterness.

02 of 24

Kale Salad with Cranberries

Kale Salad with Cranberries

This easy holiday salad gets its flavor from a sweet citrus dressing that's infused into the kale by massaging the greens and the dressing together with your hands. We like a mix of kale for this recipe, but any type of kale will work.

03 of 24

Cranberry-Balsamic Chicken Thighs

Cranberry-Balsamic Chicken Thighs

To round out this healthy chicken dinner recipe, put some farro on to cook before you start cooking the chicken. Add some steamed broccoli and serve with a glass of pinot noir.

04 of 24

Cranberry-Lemon Cheesecake Bars

the recipe photo of the Cranberry-Lemon Cheesecake Bars
Alexandra Shytsman

These festive cheesecake bars are the perfect balance of sweet and tangy. Cranberries add a pop of color and tang.

05 of 24

The Best Homemade Cranberry Sauce

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This is our go-to recipe for homemade cranberry sauce. It's simple (just five ingredients!), is lightly sweet without being too sugary and has just the right amount of zesty flavor from orange peel. Plus, it's so easy--it goes from stove to table in just 20 minutes!

06 of 24

Cranberry-Prosecco Cocktail

Cranberry Prosecco Cocktail

A splash of cranberry juice in sparkling wine and a garnish of cranberries and rosemary sprigs make an exceptionally festive party-ready cocktail that's easy to make, too.

07 of 24

3-Ingredient Cranberry-Brie Bites

Five 3-ingredient cranberry brie bites on deli paper over a gray surface and few glasses of rosé

Baked Brie is a perennially popular appetizer. Here, we complement the Brie with tart cranberry sauce and bake it in pretty individual tartlets using premade pie crust for an ultra-easy crowd-pleasing appetizer.

08 of 24

Apple-Cranberry Stuffing

Apple-Cranberry Stuffing

Make this stuffing with an apple variety that holds its shape rather than turns to sauce during the cooking process, so there will be tender bites of fruit throughout. Honeycrisp, Granny Smith or Pink Lady are all easy-to-find options.

09 of 24

Cranberry-Apple Smoothie

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This riff on a classic fruit juice combines sweet apples with tart cranberries for a healthy, fiber-filled smoothie.

10 of 24

Cranberry Salad

Cranberry Salad

This colorful and healthy cranberry salad recipe will brighten up any holiday meal. It's sweet but not overly so, with juicy oranges, crunchy walnuts and crisp celery and apples.

11 of 24

Cranberry-Brie Bites with Puff Pastry

a recipe photo of the Cranberry Brie Bites with Puff Pastries served on a platter
Sara Haas

Festive for any holiday gathering, yet simple enough for a weeknight dinner party, these cranberry-Brie bites are the perfect appetizer. Made with just three ingredients, these bites come together quickly and present beautifully.

12 of 24

Broccoli-Cranberry Salad

Broccoli-Cranberry Salad

This easy broccoli salad is tossed in a creamy dressing and spiked with sweet cranberries, Cheddar cheese and toasty walnuts. This easy side is great for lunch--add shredded chicken to make it a main dish.

13 of 24

No-Sugar-Added Cranberry Sauce

No-Sugar-Added Cranberry Sauce

Most cranberry sauce recipes add tons of sugar to mask the tart taste of the cranberries. In this simple cranberry sauce, we lighten things up by skipping the sugar and opting for a healthier combination of dates and apple cider which adds just enough sweetness without overpowering the cranberry flavor.

14 of 24

Cranberry-Walnut Chickpea Salad

a recipe photo of the Cranberry Walnut Chickpea Salad served in a bowl
Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Lauren McAnelly

We swap chickpeas in for chicken to create a satisfying vegetarian main that's perfect for lunch. Cranberries add a sweet-tart flavor, while toasted walnuts and celery provide crunch. Serve over leafy greens or use as a sandwich filling.

15 of 24

Cranberry-Almond Broccoli Salad

Cranberry Almond Broccoli Salad
Iain Bagwell Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Broccoli salad is usually drowning in a creamy, often very sweet, dressing and studded with 1/2 pound crumbled bacon, making it more about the creamy dressing and bacon than about the actual broccoli. Ours uses a combination of canola mayonnaise and Greek yogurt to keep the calories in check. We opt for center-cut bacon (a bit less of it) and swap the usual raisins for lower-sugar dried cranberries to pack a subtle punch of tart. The best part of this salad? The longer it sits, the better it gets.

16 of 24

Cranberry Buttermilk Pie

Cranberry Buttermilk Pie

This custard filling is what takes this buttermilk pie recipe to the next level. It tastes like a panna cotta with a bit of attitude from the tang of the buttermilk and a generous sprinkling of cranberries on top.

17 of 24

Pumpkin-Cranberry Bundt Cake with Cream Cheese Filling

Pumpkin-Cranberry Bundt Cake with Cream Cheese Filling
Greg DuPree

Pumpkin puree and applesauce provide tenderness and moisture to this pumpkin Bundt cake, eliminating the need for butter or oil.

18 of 24

Cranberry-Orange Punch

cranberry orange punch

This gorgeous fruity punch is perfect for any party—serve it on its own for a fun mocktail that will please kids and adults alike.

19 of 24

Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Cranberry-Port Sauce

Roast Pork Tenderloin with Cranberry-Port Sauce
Greg DuPree

Here, mustard topped with fresh herbs makes a crisp, flavorful crust on the roasted pork tenderloin that plays well with the juicy sauce.

20 of 24

Lemon-Cranberry Muffins

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These lemony cranberry-studded muffins crunch lightly with cornmeal and are topped with a kiss of sugared lemon zest. They're great warm from the oven, but also keep well for a few days and freeze beautifully.

21 of 24

Cranberry Pancakes

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Start your day off right with these easy pancakes, packed with cranberry's sour spike. One of you can make the coffee and heat the maple syrup while the other makes the pancakes. It's instant relationship bliss.

22 of 24

Roasted Cranberry, Squash & Cauliflower Salad

roasted cranberry squash cauliflower salad

Serve this healthy salad as a main course or as a starter for a special meal. To speed up prep, look for precut butternut squash in the refrigerated area of the produce section at your grocery store.

23 of 24

Cranberry Cheesecake Bars

cranberry cheesecake bars

A great dessert option for your next holiday party, these sweet cheesecake bars have an oat crust and a cranberry-orange sauce that's swirled on top and baked right in.

24 of 24

Jalapeno-Cranberry Relish

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Give some zing to your traditional cranberry sauce recipe by adding jalapeño and lime. This healthy, homemade cranberry relish pairs beautifully with turkey, but also works just as well as a spread for sandwiches or even as a taco topping.

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