Food & Cooking Recipes Ingredients Fruit 15 Fresh Cranberry Recipes (That Aren't Sauce) These native North American berries shine in drinks, desserts, salads, main courses, and salsas. By Marie Viljoen Marie Viljoen Marie is a freelance writer for MarthaStewart.com. Editorial Guidelines Updated on October 25, 2023 Close Photo: Yunhee Kim 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 appetizers and salads, entrées and desserts. The puckering tannins and tartness of cranberries are a boon to mixologists and cooks, who can use the fruit to add sourness and balance where they are needed. The relatively dry nature of the berries also turns them into sponges for absorbing sweetness without becoming cloying. The crimson berries are as beautifully suited to long, slow braises as they are to simple baked goods. Shopping 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. 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 use. 26 Pomegranate Recipes You'll Want to Make All Through the Fall 01 of 15 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 02 of 15 Cranberry Curd and Citrus Pavlova Ryan Liebe Need a spectacular holiday dessert? This pavlova with homemade cranberry curd, whipped cream, and segmented clementines, oranges, and blood oranges fits the bill. It tastes as good as it looks. View Recipe 03 of 15 Bourbon Cranberry Shrub Marcus Nilsson For this colorful, refreshing fall cocktail, you can make the shrub with cranberries, sugar, and white-wine vinegar up to three weeks ahead. Then mix the cocktails with bourbon and seltzer right before serving. View Recipe 04 of 15 Cranberry Poached Pears Poached pears is 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 05 of 15 Endive and Apple Salad With Cranberry Dressing Cranberries flavor the mustard vinaigrette for this salad of endive, apple, frisée, and yellow bell pepper. View Recipe 06 of 15 Cranberry and Port Sorbet The velvet roundness of port together with tart cranberries makes a luscious, ruby-hued sorbet. It's just the right way to end a warming winter meal that needs a light but memorably beautiful finish. View Recipe 07 of 15 Cranberry and Pearly Onion Relish The natural sweetness of pearl onions is emphasized by brown sugar and tamed by sour cranberries, orange, and vinegar. This relish is wonderful with strong cheese, on creamy avocado toast, and adds oomph to pan juices. View Recipe 08 of 15 Cranberry Avocado Salsa In this brilliantly simple reimagining of classic salsa, cranberries boost the sour volume. The contrast between creamy green avocado and the bright fruit is arrestingly pretty and very tasty. View Recipe 09 of 15 Cranberry Cider 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 10 of 15 Cranberry and Maple Bread Pudding Classic bread pudding is given a seasonal makeover via the winter weather combination of maple syrup and tart cranberries. A crème fraîche batter adds delicious complexity to each mouthful. View Recipe 11 of 15 Braised Brisket with Cranberries Supported by red wine and richly aromatic molasses, cranberries cook down with brisket to make a comforting one-pot wonder meal for a cold night. View Recipe 12 of 15 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 13 of 15 Chicken with Cranberry Sauce Succulent roasted sheet pan chicken is cloaked in a savory cranberry and herb sauce. As an added bonus, the sauce is perfect for leftover turkey, too! View Recipe 14 of 15 Cranberry Dressing for Red Cabbage Slaw This vivid dressing is made mouthwatering by the combination of fresh cranberries and smoky maple syrup. The red-on-red of the slaw and the dressing are the perfect colorful antidote for long winter nights. View Recipe 15 of 15 Cranberry Clafoutis Yunhee Kim A simple winter riff on clafoutis, a simple French dessert most often made with cherries in the summer. Here, the creamy custard is gorgeous with the bright contrast of refreshing cranberries. 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