15 Unique Cranberry Recipes for The Holidays
Updated on March 13, 2023
Cranberries are the kind of classic dessert and dish ingredient that will always make us think of the holiday season, even when we encounter them in foods during the rest of the year. Of course, we find them delicious no matter the month, but December is our favourite because suddenly everything is cranberry flavoured! That’s why we’ve always got our eyes peeled around this time of year for mouthwatering cranberry recipes that we haven’t tried yet.
Just in case your family loves cranberry holiday dishes just as much as we do, if not more, here are 15 of the very best and most unique recipes and flavour ideas we’ve come across so far this season!
1. Chocolate cranberry pumpkin bread
If you’re going to make something with one holiday ingredient, would you actually like to tie at least one other seasonal flavour into the mix as well, just to really drive the point home? Then we’d absolutely suggest taking a look at how Hungry Hobby brought pumpkin into their mixture as well! Between those two things and chocolate, this dessert bread is enough to make our mouths water just thinking about it.
2. Cranberry scones with coconut vanilla drizzle
Have you actually been hoping to find a cranberry treat that has some kind of unexpected contrasting flavour, even if it’s not something that really follows the holiday theme? Well, coconut lovers rejoice, because we’ve got just the recipe for you! Check out how Nutrition Reviews made these lovely cranberry scones topped with coconut vanilla drizzle.
3. Cranberry almond biscotti
Just in case you’re actually looking for something that’s a little more classic because you’re a beginner in the kitchen and you just feel like you could use some guidance, here’s a lovely biscotti recipe that’s nothing short of scrumptious! Food, Pleasure, and Health walks you step by step through the process of making cranberry almond biscotti specifically, drizzled with sweet glaze and melted chocolate.
4. Coconut pineapple cranberry rice pudding
Did we really catch your attention when we started talking about the unique combination of cranberry and coconut but you can’t help wondering whether there might be an even more unconventional way of enjoying the two together out there somewhere? Well, we’re pleased to report that we’ve found it! Kelly’s Knack for Cooking shows you how to make a delicious coconut pineapple cranberry rice pudding that will warm your tummy on a cold winter’s night.
5. Cranberry apricot chicken
As you’ll know from eating cranberry sauce with your turkey at Christmas dinner, sweet treats aren’t the only things you can make with cranberries! We love the way Kroll’s Korner included the whole berries in a mouthwatering savoury entree when they made this cranberry apricot chicken that’s packed full of flavour.
6. Butternut squash, kale, and cranberry rice
Are you actually looking for gluten free and vegan dishes that you can make as alternatives to a few of the more mainstream elements of your usual holiday meal because one of your friends or loved ones has dietary restrictions? Then we’d definitely suggest taking a look at how Nutritionist Review made this delicious butternut squash, kale, and cranberry rice dish!
7. Cranberry white chocolate oatmeal cookies
If you’re going to invest the time it takes to make a delicious cranberry flavoured baked goods, would you most like to make a delicious batch of cookies because they’re your favourite thing? In that case, we’d definitely suggest taking a look at how Dishing Out Health took the idea of cranberry cookies to the next level in this cranberry white chocolate oatmeal cookie recipe!
8. Blood orange cranberry muffins
Orange and cranberries have long been regarded as complementary flavours for one another and that’s because they simply taste fantastic together! We’ve have orange cranberry muffins any time of year in coffee shops and so on many times before, but even the best ones didn’t hold a candle to the flavour of this amazing holiday flavoured blood orange cranberry recipe featured on Bite of Health Nutrition.
9. Cranberry sauce cream cheese dip with candied pecans
Would you rather make something with a few more flavour elements than what you’ve seen so far so that you really get a satisfying blend of flavours along with your great cranberry taste? In that case, we’d definitely suggest taking a look at how The Every Kitchen made this delectable cranberry sauce cream cheese dip topped with candied pecans for some crunch!
10. Mini turkey meatballs with curried cranberry sauce
As if the idea of making delicious homemade mini turkey meatballs wasn’t enough on its own, this fantastic recipe from Craving Something Healthy also walks you through the process of making one of the best sauces we’ve ever had to go with it! Take a look at their tutorial to learn more about how their fragrant curried cranberry sauce was made.
11. Spiced cheesecake with roasted cranberries
Just in case we caught your attention with the idea of cranberries and cheese in one place but you’ve already made a cheese dip this holiday season and you’d rather not repeat dishes, here’s a sweet option for mixing them instead! Take a look at how Jenny Shea Rawn made this spiced cheesecake and topped it with juicy roasted cranberries for a thoroughly winter taste.
12. Cranberry lime frozen Greek yogurt
Just because it’s cold outside right now doesn’t mean that everything you make has to be a hot, toasty recipe. We know that not everyone likes eating ice cream and frozen treats in the winter but as long as the flavour is worth it, we’ll happily get a little chilly for the sake of good taste! This scrumptious cranberry lime frozen Greek yogurt featured on Nourished Simply is the perfect example of what we mean.
13. Roasted Brussel sprouts, delicata squash, and cranberries with balsamic syrup
Are you actually quite a kitchen enthusiast and you’re feeling rather confident indeed in your skills, so you’re looking for a cranberry recipe that’s a little closer to something you might order in a fancy restaurant? In that case, we’d definitely suggest taking a look at how Craving Something Healthy made this fantastic dish using roasted Brussel sprouts, delicata squash, and cranberries with balsamic syrup!
14. Healthy cranberry sauce
Have you actually been scrolling through this entire list and wondering whether you might prefer to keep things simple and just make your very own fully homemade cranberry sauce for the first time? Then we’d definitely suggest taking a look at how Snacking in Sneakers did theirs in a way that’s actually a little healthier, more natural, and more flavourful than what you’d buy in stores anyways!
15. Cranberry and apple baked brie
Just in case you’re still feeling like you’d rather make something a little more classic but give it your own homemade touch, even though you’d still like some guidance, here’s a fantastic recipe to help you along the path towards a mouthwatering baked brie experience! Jenny Shea Rawn shows you how to make it happen with cranberries and apples.
Do you have another favourite cranberry dish that you love serving around the holidays because your family adores it but that you don’t see here on our list? Tell us all about it or link us to the recipe in the comments section so we can all give it a try as well!