38 Cranberry Recipes That Aren't Cranberry Sauce

01 of 38

Cranberry-Orange Bundt Cake

Put a festive spin on your traditional pound cake recipe with tart cranberries, orange liqueur, and orange zest. Be sure to allow it to cool before adding the sweet orange glaze so it doesn't melt into the cake.

Get The Recipe

02 of 38

Cranberry Apple Pie

Move over plain apple pie, there's a new fall favorite on the table. Juicy and tart cranberries pair perfectly with sweet and crisp apples for an all around delicious pie. To save time, this recipe uses store-bought pie crust.

Get The Recipe

03 of 38

Cranberry Upside-Down Cake

Use fresh cranberries when they're in season for this holiday-perfect upside-down cake. Finish with a sprinkle of powdered sugar or a dollop of whipped cream.

get the recipe

04 of 38

Cranberry Orange Muffins

The combination of orange and cranberry is a blend of tart and sweet. And in the fall, it's the perfect choice for this breakfast quick bread.

Get the Recipe

05 of 38

Cranberry Fluff Salad

Side or dessert, who's to say? You can find this retro fluff salad at any Southern gathering anytime of year, though it always feels particularly festive around Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Get The Recipe

06 of 38

Pear-Cranberry Crisp

This warm dessert leans on two winter fruits that balance each other out. While slightly tart on their own, when you combine cranberries with neutral-flavored pears which impart their subtle sweetness on the red berries, you have a match-made-in-heaven treat.

Get The Recipe

07 of 38

Cranberry-Orange Bread

Have you ever seen a prettier slice of bread? Orange zest and cranberries give a pop of color throughout the loaf while a glaze made with orange juice and zest adds bright color on top.

Get The Recipe

08 of 38

Cranberry-Citrus Parfaits

If you like cheesecake, you'll love this fuss-free, individually portioned alternative. Just be sure to prepare it in advance of your gathering, allowing time for the cranberry compote to chill for 4 hours or overnight in the refrigerator.

Get The Recipe

09 of 38

White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

Dried cranberries and rich white chocolate are the star of these soft and chewy cookies. If you're looking for an extra hint of flavor, try adding a dash of nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, or orange zest.

Get The Recipe

10 of 38

Cranberry Mules

A classic Moscow Mule gets a festive and fruity upgrade with cranberry juice. To cut down on day-of party prep, prepare the mule mixture a day ahead, but wait to add the ginger beer until guests arrive so it doesn't lose its fizz.

Get The Recipe

11 of 38

Melissa Gray's Cranberry Granita

southern living cranberry granita — Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey; Prop Stylist: Audrey Davis

Think of this refreshing treat like an fancier, homemade spin on the snow cones from your childhood. With just five ingredients, this recipe is made for the non-bakers.

Get The Recipe

12 of 38

Orange Chess Pie With Cranberry Gelée

Orange chess pie with cranberry gelÃ©e on white plate — Antonis Achilleos; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell

This stunning pie is made up of three layers within a flaky pie crust. The custard-like base gets a flavorful addition of orange zest and juice, while the jello-like topping is flavored with cranberries. Add an extra festive finish to the whipped topping with sugared cranberries.

Get The Recipe

13 of 38

Slow-Cooker Cranberry-Pear Butter

Apple butter gets enough attention in the fall, which makes this cranberry-pear version all the more special. Serve it with any array of breakfast breads or add it to your next charcuterie board.

Get The Recipe

14 of 38

Gingerbread Cake With Cranberry-Vanilla Frosting

If you're looking to impress, you'll want to make this showstopping layer cake that is easier to pull together than it looks. Fresh cranberries give the otherwise vanilla buttercream its stunning shade of pink while sugar-crusted berries make for an eye-catching garnish.

Get The Recipe

15 of 38

Cranberry-Apple Casserole

This simple, fruit-filled casserole can pass as breakfast, dessert, or even a side dish on your dining table. We'll leave that decision up to you.

Get The Recipe

16 of 38

Cranberry Noel Cookies

Nutty pecans and tart cranberries come together to give these buttery, shortbread-like cookies a hint of texture, flavor, and pop of red. To achieve their uniform circular shape, roll the dough into a smooth log and chill for two hours before slicing.

Get The Recipe

17 of 38

Brown Sugar-Cranberry Pound Cake With Caramel Frosting

If cake decorating isn't your cup of tea, a Bundt cake is your no-fail answer. This one is speckled with fresh berries and toasted pecan pieces, then drizzled with a buttery caramel frosting.

Get The Recipe

18 of 38

Frosted Cranberry Kir Royale

Cranberries give this classic champagne cocktail a festive twist. The tartness of the fruit juice balances the sweetness of the creme de cassis liqueur. Garnish with sugar-rolled berries for extra pizzaz.

Get The RecipeFrosted Cranberry Kir Royale

19 of 38

Cranberry Chiffon Pie

Add this pie to your Thanksgiving line up for a burst of color and tangy flavor. The gingersnap crust is the perfect complement to the mousse-like cranberry filling. And while you could easily used the canned stuff, go the extra mile and make a homemade whipped topping with dash of ground ginger.

Get The Recipe

20 of 38

Cranberry Brie Bites

Keep holiday entertaining simple by serving this four-ingredient (all store-bought items) appetizer that's ready in just 20 minutes. All you have to do is fill the mini phyllo pastry shells with a slice of brie, dollop of cranberry sauce, and sprinkle of pistachios before popping them in the oven.

Get The Recipe

21 of 38

Cranberry Christmas Cake

Orange zest, cinnamon, and chopped cranberries give this cake lots of flavor while buttermilk ensures it's tender. Frost with an orange buttercream and garnish with more cranberries, orange slices, and rosemary for a pretty presentation.

Get The Recipe

22 of 38

Apple-Cranberry Salad

Cranberries aren't just for baked goods. This hearty mixed greens salad gets an extra autumnal touch thanks to dried cranberries and fresh apple slices.

Get The Recipe

23 of 38

Mini Cranberry-Cheesecake Pies

Instead of a ho-hum graham cracker crust, crushed gingersnap cookies add an extra layer of flavor to these bite-sized cheesecake pies.

Get The Recipe

24 of 38

Cranberry-Jalapeño Cream Cheese Dip

Cranberry Jalapeno Cream Cheese Dip — Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Emily Neighbors Hall Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Everyone loves cream cheese and pepper jelly together, so we took that concept and put a winter twist on it. Generously top a spread of whipped cream cheese with a blend of fresh and dried cranberries, orange zest and juice, parsley, and chopped jalapeño.

Get The Recipe

25 of 38

White Cake With Cranberry Filling And Orange Buttercream

This cranberry filling-flooded layer cake is reader approved. "I made this for a luncheon at my women's club and it was absolutely gorgeous. Everyone was very impressed not only with presentation, but also with the taste," says Priscilla.

Get The Recipe

26 of 38

Cranberry-Orange Butter Cookies

While it's hard to beat a traditional butter cookie, this holiday version is the perfect recipe for cookie swaps and gifting throughout the season.

Get The Recipe

27 of 38

Cranberry Sangría Punch

Cranberry SangrÃa Punch — Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Karin Olsen; Food Styling: William Smith

Sangria isn't just for enjoying in the summertime heat. This cranberry, orange, and apple version is one you'll want to make all winter long.

Get The Reicipe

28 of 38

Chewy Apple-Cran-Oatmeal Cookies

Throw out the raisins and toss in finely chopped fresh apple slices, dried cranberries, and walnuts to upgrade your oatmeal cookies. Finish with a drizzle of powdered sugar and orange juice glaze.

Get The Recipe

29 of 38

Cranberry-Orange Cake with Orange Buttercream

Looking for a festive, but not overly decadent way to end your Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner? This cranberry studded orange cake is just the thing.

Get The Recipe

30 of 38

Sugared Cranberries

Sparkling cranberries on white background — Antonis Achilleos; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell

There are endless ways to use sugared (or sparkling) cranberries throughout the holiday season. Prepare a batch and keep them on hand for anything from a cocktail garnish to sprucing up a cake.

Get The Recipe

31 of 38

Baked Oatmeal with Apple, Cranberries, and Pecans

Loaded with oats, nuts, and fruits, you'll want to prepare this spiced breakfast bake the night before so all you have to do is pop it in the oven.

Get The Recipe

32 of 38

Cranberry-Lemon Bars

Lemon bars are the ideal make-ahead dessert which makes them great for busy holiday seasons. Adding a layer of homemade cranberry jam between the pastry dough and tangy lemon curd makes these fit for any celebration.

Get The Recipe

33 of 38

Cranberry Dreamsicle

Is it really a Southern holiday if there isn't a trifle at the table? There are endless reasons we love these desserts, especially because they're easy to throw together, taste better the longer they sit, and are pretty enough for the buffet table.

Get The Recipe

34 of 38

Cranberry Chicken Salad

There are countless renditions of this lunchtime favorite, but in this interpretation among the expected ingredients we're also calling for dried cranberries, sweet pickle relish, parsley, and chives.

Get The Recipe

35 of 38

Cranberry Mojito

A dash of cranberry reduction gives this beloved beachy rum cocktail a wintertime spin. Garnish with sprigs of mint and lime slices. For a bonus touch, add sugared berries.

Get The Recipe

36 of 38

Cranberry-Almond Cookies

This recipe makes a whopping three and a half dozen cookies, so you won't even need to double the batch to have enough for your family and friends.

Get The Recipe

37 of 38

Spice Cake with Cranberry Filling Recipe

This glowing review from one reader says it all. "I made this cake many years ago for a Christmas party and it was such a hit that my family doesn’t consider it Christmas without this cake! It’s a great combination of winter flavors with a stunning presentation."

Get The Recipe

38 of 38

Classic Cranberry Salad

This crunchy alternative to cranberry sauce might call for an unusual combination of ingredients, but we promise once you try it, you'll see why it's Test-Kitchen approved.

Get The Recipe

38 Festive Cranberry Recipes That Aren't Cranberry Sauce

Related Articles