24 Cranberry Recipes You'll Want to Make Forever

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a recipe photo of the Whipped Feta with Cranberries & Walnuts
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Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Melissa Gray, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

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 of cranberry recipes pairs the sweet and tart fruit with other foods like lean proteins, veggies and whole grains to make an unforgettable dish. Recipes like our Whipped Feta with Cranberries & Walnuts and Buttermilk Cranberry Pie with Gingersnap Crust have received four- and five-star ratings for their year-round deliciousness.

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01 of 24

Whipped Feta with Cranberries & Walnuts

a recipe photo of the Whipped Feta with Cranberries & Walnuts

Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Melissa Gray, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

This festive whipped feta dip is the perfect appetizer for any gathering. If the feta seems too thick, add 1 teaspoon water at a time until loosened. Walnuts provide a nice crunchiness, but you could easily swap in another nut like pecans or pistachios. If you have leftover cranberry sauce, try a dollop in some yogurt or oatmeal for an easy breakfast.

02 of 24

Cranberry Nut Bread

an overhead image of the Cranberry Nut Bread sliced on a cutting board

Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Sally McKay, Prop Stylist Hannah Greenwood

This cranberry nut bread brings together the tartness of fresh cranberries with the crunch of walnuts, all wrapped in a moist, tender loaf. Whether enjoyed as a breakfast, snack or dessert with coffee, cranberry nut bread offers a little bit of holiday cheer in every bite. To make it a little sweeter and to bring out more citrusy flavor, drizzle it with the optional orange glaze before slicing and serving.

03 of 24

Cranberry-Orange Energy Balls

a recipe photo of the Cranberry-Orange Energy Balls

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel

These orange-cranberry energy balls are the perfect combination of sweet, tangy and nutty flavors, with a refreshing hint of citrus. These bite-size snacks are perfect for on the go, pre- or post-workout fuel or a healthy pick-me-up any time of day. We love the subtle flavor of almond butter, but any nut butter will work well here.

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

Buttermilk Cranberry Pie with Gingersnap Crust

Buttermilk Cranberry Swirl Pie
Johnny Autry

This buttermilk pie is a stunner—and perfect for the holidays—with its creamy, golden custard marbled with a crimson cranberry swirl.

06 of 24

Apple Crisp with Cranberries

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Sticking to its food-waste mission, L.A. Kitchen created this dessert to work with almost any fruit you have on hand. We've done it here with cranberries, pears and apples, but you can use berries or even tropical fruits instead. The addition of dried fruit adds a concentrated hit of flavor you won't get from fresh alone.

07 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.

08 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.

09 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.

10 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!

11 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.

12 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.

13 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.

14 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.

15 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.

16 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.

17 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.

18 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.

19 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.

20 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.

21 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.

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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