25 Delicious Cranberry Recipes for the Holidays

Cranberries are the star of the show in some of our favorite recipes for holiday side dishes, appetizers, breakfasts, and desserts.

These easy cranberry recipes are festive options for both Thanksgiving and Christmas, bringing their classic tart and sweet flavor to a variety of dishes.

collage image featuring five photos of different cranberry recipes for the holidays, including pie, cookies, dip, bread, and muffins that are perfect for Thanksgiving or Christmas.

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I’ve been a fan of all things cranberry ever since I was a child. I think I was the only kid in our family whose favorite holiday side dish was cranberry sauce!

Even now, as an adult, I love finding ways to incorporate this seasonal berry into all sorts of delicious recipes.

Whether I’m baking a batch of muffins for breakfast, a quick bread for handmade gifts, a pie to add to our holiday dessert table, or classic cranberry sauce for the dinner table, there are so many festive ways to put the fruit to use!

I especially love that cranberries can be used for both Thanksgiving and Christmas, so I get to enjoy their flavor for a longer period of time.

I’m sharing some of my favorite cranberry recipes, so you can add a couple to your own holiday plans!

1. Cream Cheese Cranberry Bread

This easy cream cheese cranberry bread recipe is made with cream cheese, so it has a soft, velvety texture that’s just so satisfying. It’s one of my absolute favorite holiday treats!

Dotted with plenty of berries, the bread is colorful, moist, tender, and oh so good.

Perfect for giving out as handmade gifts, or for serving as a make-ahead holiday breakfast!

2. Nantucket Cranberry Pie

This Nantucket cranberry pie is a New England classic! Its texture is more cake-like than what you’d typically think of as a pie.

We love how the sweetness of the pie and its sugary topping pairs so well with the tart cranberry flavor.

It’s delicious served with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

3. Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce

No list of cranberry recipes would be complete without a cranberry sauce recipe!

I like to make it in the Instant Pot, because it frees up my stove for other holiday dishes, and I don’t have to worry about berry splatter.

Such a simple yet classic whole berry sauce that goes great with turkey or ham.

4. Cranberry Pistachio Bread

This easy cranberry pistachio bread is a homemade favorite this time of year.

Made with fresh cranberries, pistachio pudding mix, and chopped pistachios, it pairs the bright flavor of cranberries with a nuttiness that’s hard to beat.

I also love the pale green hue it gets from the pudding mix, and you can add some food coloring if you want a brighter hue.

Another great gift idea!

5. Cranberry Orange Muffins with Pecans

Cranberry and orange are two flavors that were meant to be together, and these cranberry pecan muffins are the proof. The zippy citrus flavor goes perfectly with the sweet-tart cranberries.

I add pecans to these muffins for a bit of crunch, but you could use walnuts or pistachios if preferred, or leave the nuts out all together if you need a nut-free treat.

These muffins are a tasty breakfast or afternoon snack with a cup of tea or coffee.

6. Cake Mix Cranberry Orange Muffins

Need an easy shortcut recipe for the holidays? Try this recipe for cake mix cranberry orange muffins!

They’re soft, fluffy, and topped with a sweet streusel, so this is a fantastic time-saving recipe for this busy time of year.

Nobody will ever guess you made them with a doctored-up cake mix, because they taste like they’re made from scratch!

7. Cranberry Boursin Dip

If an easy appetizer is what you need, this cranberry Boursin dip is just the ticket.

The soft, herbed cheese is transformed into a creamy whipped spread, which is paired with cranberry sauce or relish.

It’s one of my favorite holiday dip recipes–perfect served with crackers or sliced baguette at your next holiday party.

8. No-Bake Cranberry Pie

I love a good make-ahead recipe, and this no-bake cranberry pie is one that you can whip up a day or two in advance while still offering a delicious and lovely dessert.

It’s ultra creamy and fluffy, so it’s not a super heavy dessert after a holiday meal. I use a store-bought crust to save time!

9. Cake Mix Cranberry Orange Cookies

Another easy dessert that combines citrus and berry flavors, these cake mix cranberry orange cookies are a cinch to make.

We like to top them with an orange powdered sugar glaze, but you can skip that if you’d like.

They’re great for a holiday bake sale or an addition to a cookie tray this season!

10. Cranberry Banana Bread

Save those overripe bananas from an unfortunate demise by putting them to use in this cranberry banana bread.

Soft and moist, it brings an extra pop of flavor to the classic banana bread, dressing it up into a festive treat everyone will enjoy.

It’s a simple breakfast or gift idea!

11. Cranberry Streusel Pie

If you’re a fan of cranberry sauce, you have to try this cranberry streusel pie.

The filling is like a sweet cranberry jam, baked in a pastry crust, topped with an oat and pecan-based streusel topping.

It’s different from the typical fruit pies you might see during the holidays, but is delicious nonetheless!

12. Cream Cheese Cranberry Muffins

These from-scratch cranberry cream cheese muffins are moist and tender, with a simple sugar streusel on top.

It’s one of those deceptively simple recipes that creates a delicious muffin that’s one of our favorites.

They have more of a pound cake type texture than a light and fluffy muffin, so they feel a little more decadent.

13. Cranberry Whipped Ricotta Spread

If you’ve ever had whipped ricotta, you know what an airy, fluffy delight it is. Dress it up for the holidays with this cranberry whipped ricotta dip recipe, and things get taken up a notch!

The lemon-infused ricotta is topped with a drizzle of olive oil, some cranberry sauce or relish, and a sprinkling of crunchy pistachios for a beautiful and delicious spread.

It’s a heavenly appetizer for the holidays–just add some sliced baguette, crostini, or pita wedges alongside the dip. So good!

14. Cake Mix Cranberry Bread

If you want loaves of quickbread but without all the effort, try this cake mix cranberry bread.

A few simple additions to the cake mix results in loaves that are velvety soft and chock full of fresh cranberries.

This is another option that makes a great gift idea, or can pull double-duty as both breakfast, snack, or dessert!

15. Cranberry Orange Cream Cheese Dip

All you need is five simple ingredients to whip up this cranberry orange cream cheese dip!

This make-ahead dip is a sweet appetizer option that pairs the tanginess of cream cheese and cranberries with the sweetness of honey and citrus.

I love spreading it on buttery crackers, but it’s also great with salty pretzel crisps or crunchy pita chips.

16. Instant Pot Nantucket Cranberry Pie

This Instant Pot Nantucket cranberry pie is like the traditional Nantucket cranberry pie above, only it’s a smaller version “baked” in the Instant Pot.

It has the same great flavor and texture as the oven-baked version, but is a great option if you’re only cooking for a few people, or if you want to free up your oven space for other things during your holiday meal prep.

17. Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies

Shortbread really shines during the holidays, and these cranberry orange shortbread cookies are a flavorful and beautiful variety.

The fresh cranberries give them a festive look and plenty of flavor.

They’re great for bringing to a cookie exchange, adding to your holiday dessert tray, or leaving out for Santa!

18. Cranberry Ice Cream

If you have a Ninja Creami machine, put it to work with this festive cranberry ice cream recipe!

It’s a great way to use up leftover cranberry sauce, creating a beautiful, silky smooth ice cream that’s amazing served with Christmas cookies (ask me how I know!).

19. Cranberry Fluff Salad

This cranberry fluff salad is one of those vintage-inspired recipes that makes a sweet side dish to go along with all the savory ones on the holiday table.

Made with fresh (or frozen) cranberries and crushed pineapple, it’s paired with cream cheese and Cool Whip to create a light and fluffy treat.

20. No-Bake Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies

If you only have dried cranberries on hand, these no-bake cranberry oatmeal cookies are the dessert for you!

They’re simple to make, with a lightly-spiced and perfectly sweet base that includes Biscoff cookie butter.

21. Cranberry Pistachio Cookies

Another favorite recipe using dried cranberries is these cranberry pistachio cookies.

They combine salty, nutty pistachios with sweet dried cranberries, along with white chocolate chips. Red, white, and green colors make them expecially festive!

We love adding these to a cookie tray for a pop of color and delicious flavor.

22. Cranberry Pecan Dessert Dip

For a sweet appetizer or fruit dip, this cranberry pecan dessert dip is light and fluffy, with a hint of cinnamon, plenty of dried cranberries, and crunchy pecans.

Marshmallow fluff and Cool Whip give it that creamy, airy texture that makes it irresistible. My kids especially love it!

I love to serve this with apple slices, graham crackers, and pretzel crisps.

23. White Chocolate Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies

If you love oatmeal raisin cookies, you should try these white chocolate oatmeal cranberry cookies!

The Craisins are a fantastic addition, along with white chocolate chips, making these a festive and colorful favorite that can be enjoyed during the holidays (or any time of year when the cranberry craving strikes!).

They’re soft and chewy and disappear fast!

24. Cranberry Orange Scones

Buttery, flaky cranberry orange scones are a delicious breakfast option for the holidays!

Grating the butter makes it easier to work into the dough, and the scones are baked long enough for the berries to develop a jammy sweetness without making the scones soggy.

Grab a cuppa tea and enjoy!