Food & Cooking Recipes Ingredients Fruit 16 Fresh Cranberry Recipes, Including Drinks, Sides, and Lots of Desserts These native North American berries shine in more dishes than just sauce! By Marie Viljoen Marie Viljoen Marie Viljoen is a Brooklyn-based food writer and horticultural expert with more than two decades of experience. In addition to her work found in MarthaStewart.com, Marie is the author of Forage, Harvest, Feast - A Wild-Inspired Cuisine and 66 Square Feet - A Delicious Life. Editorial Guidelines Updated on November 18, 2024 Close Photo: David Malosh Cranberries are synonymous with Thanksgiving and sauce, but they don't stop there; there are many ways to enjoy these native North American berries beyond the usual condiment. Cranberries are tart and complex, beautifully suited to every aspect of any cold-season meal, and versatile enough to deserve more than that once-off annual and obligatory seat at our holiday tables. They have the personality to define every course, from bright cocktails to refreshing sides and salads, entrées, and lots of desserts. How to Shop for Cranberries Because of their staggered harvest (with crops ripening across the country and on opposite coasts at different times), fresh cranberries are in season from early fall and available through late winter, thanks to their excellent shelf life. Look for brightly colored, firm cranberries in the produce section. Avoid bags that have brown or shriveled berries at the bottom. Storing Fresh Cranberries Store in the original packaging for up to two weeks in the refrigerator or up to one year in the freezer. To prep, rinse and discard any discolored or soft berries; if frozen, there's no need to thaw before using. 20 Pomegranate Recipes You'll Want to Make This Fall 01 of 16 Cranberry Swirl Cheesecake Justin Walker Need a spectacular holiday dessert? This easy cranberry cheesecake combines a buttery graham-cracker crust with a creamy filling and tangy swirls of cranberry. View Recipe 02 of 16 Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Winter Squash With Cranberries David Malosh This roasted vegetable side dish is hearty, delicious, and just right for any fall dinner. It comes together quickly and cooks hands-off in the oven. Everything roasts together on a sheet pan and gets a spritz of orange juice and a sprinkle of herbs just before heading to the table. View Recipe 03 of 16 Cranberry-Pumpkin Muffins David Malosh Our cranberry-pumpkin muffins are an irresistible, easy bake—all you need is one bowl for mixing, A touch of pumpkin pie spice amps up the pumpkin while buttermilk ensures a tender crumb. The cranberries are bright, juicy bites throughout each muffin and pepitas on top bring crunchy contrast. View Recipe 04 of 16 Cranberry Shrub David Malosh This sweet-tart syrup is ready for a party. Dilute it with seltzer for serving—or try a boozy version by adding wine, gin, vodka, or vermouth. View Recipe 05 of 16 Chewy Cran-Apple Pecan Bars David Malosh Part bar cookie, part fruit crumble, these bars are doubly delicious. They’re chewy, fruity treats with a toasted pecan mixture that works twice as hard because it’s both the bottom crust and the crumbly topping. The filling is a fall-forward mixture of fresh cranberries, dried apples, and Medjool dates with a touch of lemon zest and allspice. View Recipe 06 of 16 Cornish Hens With Cranberry-Sage Stuffing and Gravy David Malosh A great alternative to turkey for the Thanksgiving meal or as a special main for a holiday dinner, these Cornish hens are filled with Cranberry-Sage Stuffing made with rye bread and served with a drizzle of quick pan gravy. View Recipe 07 of 16 Cranberry Poached Pears Poached pears are a classic fall dessert but when you add cranberries to the recipe, the dish takes on a glorious hue. It's not just about looks, cranberries and pears are a wonderful pairing for flavor too. View Recipe 08 of 16 No-Knead Cranberry Focaccia DAVID MALOSH This easy focaccia is a no-knead, no-mixer-necessary recipe. The dough comes together quickly, and a 12-hour, hands-off fermentation in the fridge gives it a nice tang. Cranberries provide zesty bursts, rosemary lends an earthy quality, and the sprinkle of sugar on top imparts an irresistible crunch. View Recipe 09 of 16 Cranberry Chiffon Pie David Malosh With its airy texture and bright flavor, our cranberry chiffon pie deserves a place on your Thanksgiving dessert table. It’s light yet fruity, bold yet creamy. A custardy base of egg yolks, whole milk, and sugar gives the filling extra silkiness. The crust is our homemade all-butter favorite. And the crowning glory is a ring of lightly sweetened whipped cream and sugared sparkling cranberries. View Recipe 10 of 16 Cranberry-Blood Orange Spritz Louise Hagger This vodka spritz gets its tangy flavor and gorgeous color from an easy, homemade cranberry and blood orange syrup. Since it makes one large batch and the syrup can be prepared ahead of time, this drink is ideal for entertaining. View Recipe 11 of 16 Wild-Rice and Lima-Bean Salad With Cranberry Relish Martyn Thompson Wild rice, lima beans, and cranberries meet in this hearty, protein-rich salad. It's a stellar option for the holiday table, great for a buffet, and a colorful addition to any night's dinner. View Recipe 12 of 16 Cranberry Bread Emily Laurae Bake this easy, quick bread anytime you have fresh cranberries (or grab a bag when they are on sale post-Thanksgiving). It takes about 15 minutes to mix and just over an hour to bake. And it doesn't require a mixer; simply hand-mix dry ingredients in one bowl and wet ingredients in another. View Recipe 13 of 16 Cranberry Trifle While it's a stunner, this cranberry trifle is also easy to make. It starts with store-bought pound cake, there's a cranberry compote that cooks quickly on the stovetop, and a creamy filling that's whipped together fast. Then it's assembled and chilled to allow the flavors to meld, meaning it's a stellar make-ahead dessert for entertaining. View Recipe 14 of 16 Sugared Cranberries David Malosh These sparkling berries take just a few minutes to make and are the best decoration for Thanksgiving pies, cakes, cocktails, and more. They're cooked for a minute, sit in sugar syrup off the heat for five minutes, and then are tossed them in sanding sugar and left to dry. View Recipe 15 of 16 Apple Cider, Cranberry, and Ginger Punch Cranberries offer the essential acid element to a chilled and festive winter punch, with warming aromatic ginger beer and fresh apple cider. View Recipe 16 of 16 Cranberry Cobbler An easy cranberry cobbler baked in a cast-iron skillet is rustic and delicious. Even better, it takes just minutes to assemble. View Recipe Updated by Victoria Spencer Victoria Spencer Victoria Spencer is an experienced food editor, writer, and recipe developer. She manages the Martha Stewart recipe archive and is always curious about new ingredients and the best techniques. She has been working in food media for over 20 years. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit