15 Cranberry Recipes You'll Want to Eat Well Beyond Thanksgiving

Roasted Cauliflower with Cranberries
Photo: Andy Lyons

Don't just save this ruby red fruit for Thanksgiving! Our Test Kitchen has recipes featuring fresh cranberries and dried cranberries that are perfect for any time of the year. In cookies, cocktails, and even chicken dinners, cranberries can make any day sweeter.

01 of 15

Bourbon Cranberry Cookies

Bourbon Cranberry Chippers
Andy Lyons

That's right, booze meets cookies in this dried cranberry recipe. Transform oatmeal cookies from ordinary to outstanding by soaking dried cranberries in bourbon, then mix both right into the batter before baking. And to make it even more fun, the cookie is finished with a delightful bourbon ganache.

02 of 15

Cranberry-Chipotle Chicken

Cranberry-Chipotle Chicken
Andy Lyons

Got some leftover cranberry sauce after your holiday feast? Put it to good use with this slow cooker chicken recipe. The chipotle pepper in adobo sauce adds a nice smoky flavor to the sweet-tart cranberries. Serve over hot cooked rice for an easy dinner to remember.

Buy It: Crock-Pot 8 qt. Programmable Slow Cooker ($75, Bed Bath & Beyond)

03 of 15

Tarragon Chicken Salad with Cranberries

Tarragon Chicken Salad Cranberries
Jason Donnelly

A handful of sweet-tart dried cranberries cuts through the richness of mayo-base sauce. Pack a batch of these sandwiches for your next picnic or to mix up your brown-bag lunch routine. All you need is 15 minutes to make this cranberry chicken salad. Use a purchased rotisserie chicken to make the process even speedier.

04 of 15

Fresh Citrus and Cranberry Salad

Fresh Citrus and Cranberry Salad
Andy Lyons

This salad is loaded with color and flavor. With fresh ginger, oranges, arugula, mint, and cranberries, this side dish will make you say "so long!" to those sad plates of iceberg lettuce.

05 of 15

Cranberry-Orange Tea Ring

Cranberry-Orange Tea Ring
Blaine Moats

Citrus-infused cranberries, plus a blend of warm fall spices and pecans, make the filling of this pretty pastry irresistible. The orange icing really brightens the flavors of this semi-homemade tea ring recipe, so feel free to serve it any time of year to wow your brunch crowd.

06 of 15

Orange-Cranberry Cake

Orange-Cranberry Cake
Andy Lyons

Made with fresh cranberries, this orange-infused cake will be a hit at your next holiday gathering. The simple powdered sugar glaze also gets some citrus flair thanks to some bright orange zest.

07 of 15

Cranberry-Vanilla Bean Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

Cranberry-Vanilla Bean Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting
Jason Donnelly

A cranberry sauce-inspired filling is hiding between layers of vanilla buttermilk cake in this festive dessert suitable for any occasion. For birthdays or spring or summer parties, top with sugared cranberries and lemon peel; for Christmas, try sugared cranberries and mint or rosemary.

08 of 15

Cran-Sage Rolls

Cran-Sage Rolls
Andy Lyons

Make over frozen bread dough into a giftable treat with these cranberry and sage dinner rolls. Flipping them on their side ensures that the filling stays tucked between the layers (rather than spilling out into the pan). Brilliant!

09 of 15

Maple and Cranberry Farro Cereal

Maple and Cranberry Farro Cereal
Blaine Moats

Whole grains, healthy fats, fruit—this grain bowl has all you need for a strong start any morning. Toss all of the ingredients, including dried cranberries, into your slow cooker before bed so you can wake up to a nutritious breakfast.

10 of 15

Cranberry Chai Cupcakes

cranberry chai cupcakes
Scott Little

Roll frozen cranberries in sugar for a showy garnish to these delightful cranberry cupcakes. There's also chopped fresh cranberries mixed into the batter of these chai-spiced sweets, too.

11 of 15

Cranberry-Sauced Meatballs

Cranberry-Sauced Meatballs
Marty Baldwin

Cranberries star in both the sauce and the meatball mixture (sounds crazy, but tastes amazing!). That's right, no frozen meatballs here. It's a slow cooker appetizer that will keep everyone coming back for more.

12 of 15

Cranberry-Nut Bread

Cranberry Nut Bread
Jason Donnelly

Take a break from making banana bread and opt for this sweet-tart cranberry bread instead. This quick bread is easily adaptable to whatever nuts you've got on hand, too. We like using pecans or walnuts.

13 of 15

Roasted Cranberry Chicken

Roasted Cranberry Chicken
Kritsada Panichgul

Cranberry juice, fresh berries, thyme, and brown sugar make a sweet topping that plays nicely with the savory roasted chicken thighs. Plate this healthy chicken dinner with mashed cauliflower and green beans for a crowd-pleasing comfort-food meal.

14 of 15

Pan-Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Carrots, Chickpeas, and Cranberries

Pan Roasted Pork Tenderloin Carrots Chickpeas Cranberries
Andy Lyons

For a complex pan sauce that has the perfect mix of sweet and savory notes, combine dried cranberries with orange juice and a variety of herbs (parsley, oregano) and spices (star anise, paprika). The flavors pair beautifully with the juicy pork tenderloin in this quick-cooking, yet fancy dinner.

15 of 15

Maple Brunch Cake with Apples and Cranberries

Maple Brunch Cake with Apples and Cranberries
Andy Lyons

With a layer of apples atop the spice cake batter, this slow cooker dessert bakes with a whole cup of cranberries hiding inside. Top with a dollop of whipped cream for a showy sweet that works at brunch or after dinner.

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